Chariton courier. (Keytesville, Chariton County, Mo.) 1878-current, 1879-04-12
THE DEMON OF THE PRAIRIE.

THE DEMON OF THE PRAIRIE.
Terrible Prairie Fires in the Sioux Valley
The Loss of Life and Property.
From the Sioux City Journal.l
The Sioux Valley from McCook as far
north as Beloit, and the country to the
westward, was on Saturday the scene of
prairie fires which were indescribably
appalling in the ruin and widespread
devastation they wrought. Our prairie
country has heretofore been the theater
of thrilling experiences in this line, but
the fires of Saturday seem to have been
the most destructive to property of any
on record in this region. The wind
blew gale and hurled the flames along
in great pillows which leaped over all
ordinary fire breaks, and consumed
thought to be safe from fiery invasion.
usually heavy, and having had no rain
since early last fall, every thing was dry
as tinder and burned with great rapidity
and fierceness.
West of Eden the fire was very furious
and destructive. So far as heard from,
several townships were burned over,
and in that immediate section more than
forty farmers have lost their houses,
barns, hay, seed grain, implements,
stock, in. fact about all the personal
property they possessed. o.. .Wheelock
of Eden, who was in the city yes
terday, tells us that from his store door
he counted thirteen burning houses
at one time. Many of the men burned
out were in town that day, and seeing
the fire sweeping down almost with the
speed of the wind, started .heir teams
in hot haste for home, which in some
cases were in plain sight of the village,
but before they could get there the
flames had swooped down upon their
places and left nothing but ruins where
but few moments before had stood
house, barn, stacks, and all the conven-
fences and appointments of prosperous
homes. 1t was simply awful. and our
stricken people are almost dazed by the
terrible blow which has fallen upon
them. Among the buildings burned
was large Norwegian church FIVE miles
west of Eden. It is reported that in
this neighborhood child was SO badly
burned that it died in a few hours, and
the father in attempting to save it was
also so seriously scorched that his life
was despaired of. At this writing de-
tails from the stricken section are very
meager, and it is sad to think that when
the particulars of the dire disaster begin
to, come in we shall undoubtedly have
to chronicle individual cases of death
and suffering which will fairly
make our hearts bleed with sor-
row and pity. Five miles north
west of Beloit Norwegian NAM
ed Nicholson, while endeavoring to
save his house, was caught in the fire and
fatally burned. He was taken to Beloit
still alive, but there was no hope of his
surviving. There is also report from
that locality of two men, being burned
to death, but no particulars could be
| obtained. The fire was very destructive
in the vicinity of Portlandville, and it is
said that not less than 20 farmers lost
barns, grain, stock, ETC., though at this
writing it is not known that any dwell
g-houses. were destroyed. Andrew
HOyt, two and half miles from Port
landville, lost his barn, granary, farm
machinery, several head of young cattle
and a lot of hogs. A school-house in
this vicinity was burned. The fire ragged
fercely at McCook, and did considers
BILE damage, as reported in our columns
Sunday morning. 1t was at this point
the telegraph poles were burned and
communication by wire cut off. The
damage, however, was promptly repair
ed, and the line is now working all
right. Our Elk Point correspond
ent writes that the fire struck
in six miles west of that place,
on the south side of the railroad
track, burning granary belonging to
Eric Richardson, and destroying 700
bushels of seed wheat-burning 200
bushels and spelling the balance, so that
it is worthless except for feed. The fire
also burned a school-house with all the
contents, also much fence and hay and
an unoccupied house on the Rennick
place. By the same fire John D. Wood
lost his house, barn and three COWS. F.
M. Budde lost his house and stabling,
and place known as the Abbott House
was also burned. The destruction on
every hand is widespread. On the same
day, at White Swan, just opposite Fort
Randall, q prairie fire burned the tele-
graph, express and post offices, the
Government stables with contents, ex-
cept stock, which was saved. The tele-
graph office lost its instruments, and,
until new ones are supplied, the point is
cut off from telegraphic communication,
| OF 6lS6 VIC WOulu udt0 4uuOA RbA oAouioAo
from that point, where the fire seems to
have been very destructive. Further
intelligence from the burned section
will be awaited with sad yet eager inter-
est.
Following are particulars of the prai-
rie fire west of Eden Saturday and Sum
day. The fire started near Lincoln Center
Saturday forenoon about IL O'Clock, q
/ y>ov-fo,t rrol a
at the time, which caused the fire to
spread over several townships and burn
ed about half of the settlers out of house
and home. Most of those who succeed
ed in saving their houses lost all their
stables, hay, grain, seed and farm ma,
chinery. A great many who had good
fire breaks around their property and
thought themselves safe from the fire,
: were burned to the ground. The wind
would carry the fire in the air for sew
eral hundred yards at time and drop
on hay stacks and hay roofs, and moth
ing could be done to save them from
!, destruction People who left their homes
in the morning returned in the evening
and found their homes and Buildings in
ashes. One man, two boys and one
child were so badly burned that they
were at the point of death when last
heard from-all of different families.
Others were badly singed in trying to
quench the flames. The stock was
saved by turning it at large. 1t was
compelled to go with the fire until it
got on plowed ground, where it stayed
in safety. One man lost one horse and
one colt as he turned them out. They
became frightened and returning to the
burning stable, perished in the flames.
Other stock is reported lost in the same
way. 1t will take the settlers long
time to get over the loss by the fire, and
q great many who have mortgaged
; their lands in order to get start have
lost their little all.