Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1884-12-17
From the lneleside.) y
the FIRE AT h0MESTAKE,

from the lneleaide.) a q
the FIRE AT h0MESTAKE,
. BY FLORA HA1NEs ApPoNY1.
The isolated mining settlement {
Homestake was in state of high q
element. It is true that this stateme1
will be viewed with small concern b
those familiar with the habits of th
place. The gauge of human emotion
is generally adapted to the condition
that surround the individuals, and Will
the average metropolitan citizen ca
face the bloodiest tragedy with marvelou
equanimity, it requires nothing NOR
than dog-6ght to evoke the citizen
of Homestake from their habitation
and excite their iveliest interest ant
concern.
In the present instance, however, th,
sentiments aroused were of q more se
rlous and weighty order. Three time
within week had the torch of an in
cendiary been applied to their town
only failing to accomplish it's purpos.
through the prompt discovery and Wig
orous measures of extinction, and AGAR
that night had the sudden cry of fire
gone up like pecan of disaster on thu
still night air, while the inhabitants
congregated to witness the destruction
of the principal business block.
! Like all small populations gathered
into restricted area, each man was
brought into near contact with his fell
bowman and the various ties of human
friendship and business interest were sc
closely interviewer throughout the on
tire community that there were few Of
the inhabitants who had not personal
interest at stake in the threatened dis
trict.
At the fourth repetition of the Hateful
cry, the citizens, on the alert for the
dreaded signal even in their dreams
turned out almost to a man. Nav. WON.
en-, too, were not wanting, and did
faithful service in the lines along which
the buckets were passed on their way to
and from the pump.
The fire had gained such Roadway be.
fore it was discovered that any attempt
to check it's progress was from the first
plainly a losing fight. Constructed OF
wood from which every trace of the
sweet sap had been greedily extracted
by the dry mountain atmosphere, the
flames found a toothsome banquet
Rioting in the very faces of the workers
one moment retreating at the touch OF
the hated watery element only to ad.
vance with new and uncomfortable
fury the next, creeping stealthily along
cornices and leaping from roof to roof
blazing and cracking about door and
window-frames, they rose at length in
mighty and resistless power and held
mad carnival over the territory they
had subdued.
The street was strewn with a medley
of stuff, af-charred boots and shoes
sacks of -four begrined with dirt aud
discharging their snowy contents
through gaping rents; the glitterinq
stock of an optician was sown broadcast
over the battered loaves rescued from a
neighboring bakery; silks and laces
kegs of beer and smashed decanters
betokened the proximity of dry goods
store and a grog shop, and some
thoughtful hand had mounted the bon.
nets saved from millinery stock upon
the great meat hooks of butchers
stand near by.
The women greeted with proud, moist
eyes the men who at length, like de.
feated warriors, retreated from thei,
Eerilous posts; but sullen and threat
eniug spirit brooded over the crowd,
For the fourth time the incendiary's
torch had been applied to their settle.
ment. Only let the miscreant be iden-
tilted and terrible vengeance should
be dealt out to the offender.
The women, casting backward looks
at the greedy flames which apparently
unsatis6ed with their bountifal repast,
were still busily engaged in licking up
remnants, departed in silence for their
homes, and several of the men, who had
distinguished themselves by their exer:
tions, realizing that there was nothing
left to be done, retreated from the spot.
Among the latter, it was observed that
Jack Willoughby took his leave-the
stalwart young carpenter whose little
shop had been swallowed up in the
flames, and who had been a conspicu-
GUS figure of the occasion, running
lightly up ladders, q bucket of water in
either hand, venturing in the thick of
the leaping flames, tearing down over
hanging cornices, rushing through b]az-
ing buildings, where no one cared to
follow, ever foremost in the fray. Yet
the man had none the look of the dis
comfted warrior, worn by his fellow
workers. His step was light and free,
q jubilant smile was on his lips, and as
he passed out of the gaze of human
eyes and sprung swiftly along the sandy
path bordered with low bushes and
clumps of wild rhubarb, that led to his
hillside cabin, he gave free vent to the
glad emotions that filed his heart.
Gay snatches of song escaped his lips /;
he whistled merrily, and once yelled so
loudly that the hills caught up the
echoes and repeated them in the village
below; and some wild bird, started from
her nest in tall tree and deluded by
the redness of the sky into the belief
that daylight had put in premature
appearance, welled fourth melodious
refrain. Something in the appearance
VI VuAo 4OACy NcoS WuACu bIOOO 3 6OuG6ty
outpost on the border of the town, e1-
erted q singular influence upon the
young man. He stopped short in his
swift progress and looked with puzzled
expression into the long horizontal
branches overhead; but failing to catch
the meaning of the peculiar sensation
he had experienced, drew his knife from
his pocket, and stripping off goodly
strip Of bark proceeded to whittle it in
to fragments that he let carelessly fall
by the wayside. Arriving at his cabin
door he hesitated q moment and looked
about him. He stood upon his own
land, q government claim that he had
pre.empted when the town was first
surveyed. He turned for an instant to
the settlement, still lighted by the glare
of the dying flames, and while he looked
his secret sense of jubilation again
found expression on his face; an exult-
ing smile played about his lips, and en-
tering the cabin he laid down to rest, no
foreboding Of evil disturbing his quiet
slumber. ..7ls. : @@.'.
Whi1o W;11o,1 n1,h~ :udulno5 IL.