Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1889-04-12
Prairie Fires and Cyclones.

series of wind-storms which have
caused hundreds of thousands of dol
lars damage to property, and several
lives have been lost. The storm
started Monday night and swept over
a large area south of the Northern
Pacific Road in Dakota and extend
ing into the southern tiers of counties
in Minnesota. The greatest damage
has not been caused by the wind
alone, but in many places fires, famed
into fury by the storms, have wiped
out of existence several small villages
and hundreds of farmers houses. The
towns almost completely destroyed
are Violin, Olivet. Pukawana, Lester
vile and Mt. Vernon, and three or
four other villages were badly dam
aged. At Violin every house in the
place except three is demolished and
100 people are without homes. Les
terville was flattened to the ground,
and twenty families are without a
roof. A terrible gale of wind struck
Mount Vernon, and fire started from
a small house that was blown over
early in the night. No human power
could stop the flames, and in an hour
the business portion of the place was
one great raging fire. Nearly 200
families are homeless, and the loss
will foot up S200,000 1t is reported
that several persons lost their lives in
this fire, but no confirmation has yet
been received. Four large elevators
and the Milwaukee depot were de-
stroyed. Near Blunt one man lost
800 head Of sheep which were caught
in a prairie fire. Several head of
horses were saved by swimming the
river. In many places the crops were
covered by the loose sand and dust
and will have to be replanted. Travel
was suspended on some lines of road,
so great was the force of the wind.
The clouds Of dust prevented engi-
neers from seeing the track. a report
from Gary says the sun was almost
totally obscured, and the superstitious
thought that the end of the world
had come. Farm-houses and barns
were swept away and horses and cat
were burned to death by scores.
Near Milbank fifty head Of live stock
are reported lost, and the fire was
swept over twenty miles of the coun-
try, causing immense loss. The storm
was abated somewhat, but the wind
is yet high enough to keep the fires
burning fiercely, and further heavy
losses are almost certain. The dam
age in Minnesota is much less than in
Dakota, as the force of the storm was
pretty we'll spent before it reached
the boundary.
AS the list of losses by prairie fires
in Dakota increases the descriptions
of hair breadth escapes are very thrill
ing. In Yankton county alone the
damage is placed at $4,000. Near
Rapid City, Prof. q. f. Bailey's ranch
was destroyed. When a party of
neighbors drove through the blind
ing smoke to the rear of the house an
appalling sight met their gaze. Stand
ing in a little hollow beneath the
ruins of the house was Eloise Madi.
son, blistered and scorched and burned
with hardly a shred of clothing upon
her. The poor girl must have been
in the condition which she was found
for at least a quarter OF an hour.
Standing unaided, and conscious of
her terrible condition, she greeted
the first person to her assistance with
the ejaculation, My God! can't you
do something for me?n Strong men
and for a minute turned
away, but with ready hands did ev-
that could be done for her.
At George Hunts place the family
had just seated themselves at the din
ner table, when Mrs. Hunt saw sparks
flying in the kitchen. Selling a blan-
ket apiece the people in the house
threw them over their heads and
started from the building. BY good
fortune all succeeded in reaching a
place of safety. For 20 feet their
path was through a sheet OF flame
fifty feet high. Many of the other
farms in Rapid Valley barely escaped
the flames which spread across the
ground like flash Of lightning. The
wind was blowing at the rate of 90
miles an hour. Had the velocity Of
the wind been less, more damage
would have undoubtedly resulted.
As it was the fire was confined to a |
narrow strip of country, enabling
those from the city to beat out the
flames with wet sacks.
Thousands of dollars worth Of |
was destroyed within 10
miles of Freeman. Thirty-two fami-
lies lost their homes, only escaping
partly clothed. Machinery, grain,
hay and a great amount of stock were
burned. The unfortunate farmers
are entirely destitute and without
food or shelter
In Douglas county the fire was one
Of the worst ever known. Many
farmers lost everything and are home
less and destitute. The house of WIN. |
Cline was burned, Mrs. Cline perish
ing in the flames.
Near lakewood lake lives Frank
Goodfellow. He was away from home (
when the fire came. Mrs. Goodfellow
and three children heroieally fought
the flames several hours, and then
were forced to get down on their