The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-04-06
THE Dakota FIRES.
Additional Reports Showing Loss of Life, Mar
row Escapes and Damage 40 Property.

ST. PAUL, April 5.-The list of losses by
prairie fires in Dakota increases, and the
descriptions of hair-breadth escapes are
very thrilling. In Yankton county alone
the damage is placed at $150,0O0. Near
Rapid City Prof. c. F. Bailey's ranch
was destroyed. When, with a party of
%neighbors he drove through the binding
smoke to the rear of the house, an appalling
sight met their gaze. Standing in a
house, was ElOise Madison, blistered
and scorched and burned, without
hardly a shred of clothing upon her.
The poor girl must have been in the condi-
ton in which she was found for at least a
quarter of an hour. Her clothing, save the
collar of her dress, part of the stock
ing on her right foot, and the right
shoe had been completely burned
from her body, which presented
an awful appearance, hardly a spot upon
her escaping unburned. Standing unaided
and conscious of her terrible condition, she
greeted the first person to her assistance
with, my God! can't you do something for
met" Strong men ~shuddered and for a
only. when ready hands did everything
that could be done for her. Mrs. G. f..
Bailey. in whose employ the girl was, and
VIM. Ashton, the hired man, had a very
n snt,epsd n ss1ape' nn and nos as ad it was;
injuries. Mrs. Bailey says that
when the fire caught the dwelling-house, it
blaZed up like finder and allowed them no
alternative but to run for their lives. This
they did, Ashton taking each of them and
starting throughthe smoke and flames. They
had gone but a short distance when Miss
Madison fell. The smoke was so thick that
when they stopped to look for her, think
ing that she had gone in another direction,
they resumed their efforts to escape. After
a severe struggle they succeeded in getting
to the windward side of the fire and made
their way to a neighboring ranch.
"At George Hunts place the family had
just seated themselves at the dinner table,
when Mrs. Hunt saw sparks flying through
blanket and threw it over. her
head, and started from the build
ing. By good fortune all succeeded
in reaching a place of safety. For twenty
feet their path was through a sheet of flame
thirty feet high. Many of the other farms
in Rapid Valley barely escaped the flames,
which spread across the ground like a flash
of lightning. The wind was blowing at
the rate of sixty miles an hour. Had the
velocity of the wind been less more damage
was confined to a narrow strip of country,
enabling those from the city to beat out the
flames by wet sacks. Thousands of dollars
worth of property was destroyed within ten
miles of Freeman. Thirty-twO families 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.
I'm Douglass county the fire was one OF
the worst ever known. Many farmers lost
everything, and are homeless and destitute
The house of William Cline was burned
| Mrs. Cline perishing in the flames. She was
seventy years old and was the mother of +
| w. Cline, prosecuting attorney of Douglass
| county.
Near lakewood lake lives Frank Good.
fellow. He was away from home when the
fire came. Mrs. GoOdfellow and her three
children heroically fought the flames fol
| several hours and then were forced to get
down on their knees while the flames
| passed over them. Mrs. GOOdfellOw is so
| badly burned that she will probably die.
In Brule county casualties are reported
daily. Fully 100 families lost everything
| the loss reaching $780, 600. Two women were
burned to death near Chamberlain. 1t il
| reported at the latter place that the fire
was started by Indians on a reservation
Crow Creek had a narrow escape"