The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1889-04-12

CAUGHT in The FLAMES
A Passenger Train Is Badly
Scorched by a Prairie
Fire.
The Damage by Fire Will
Amount to Over
100000.
\ Total ofTiva Deaths Are Reported
Fiom the Scenes of Con fiagra-
t!on Near Righmore--
other News.
suffocating On Blaziog Track.

Suffocating On a Blaziog Track.
CHAMBERLAIN, April 4.-The blizzard
of 1888 became famous, and will be well
known for many years for its destructive
ness to life and its length and severity
But the windstorm Of Tuesday last which
visited southern Dakota, while probably
not having strewn In its pathway so
much of pain and death, has left black,
ened reminders in the ashes OF homes and
villages. 1t was veritable simeon OF
fire, smoke, dust and destruction. The
counties of Brule, Aurora and Dawson
will feel the effects of the storm for
years. The wind began blowing about
ii clock, and by the air was filled
with dust and ashes from the prairies
which had been burned over some days
previous, and it was next to Impossible
to cross the street CT live In the Storm:
The train from the east had q terrible ex.
perieDce two miles west of Mt. Vernon. 3
destructive prairie fire was raging at that
point aud the dust and smoke made the sur.
roundiGgs dark as night. The engineer
plunged the train into darkness and the
first thing he knew he fouud the ties on
fire for mile ahead Re checked the
train, fearing to advance lest he should
tind no track ahead of him and there in
the sutfucu,ing smoke aud scorching heat,
with blazing ties undernt ath the train
and flames or each side of the track, the
irain crew sought to cXhnguish the
flames and save the train. The passen.
gers became excited and coaxed to be re-
leased from the death by fire or suffoca.
tion that seemed SO near at hand, chill
'dren cried from pain and gasped for
fresh air, aud strong men nearly became
desperate and left the train to fight the
flames only to return TO the coaches ex-
hausted. For a few moments escape
looked impossible and not a few on the
train gave up; several ladies prayed
aloud, a few male passengers swore at
,he obtuaeness of the engineer for going
into that hell of fire and smoke SO far
that he could not return, while on
all faces were pictured the fright so
natural to mankind when death appears
to be only a few moments hence. Hardy,
determined manhood paled at the pros
pect. Train crew and passengers worked
heroicaliy. Men bent forward gasping
for breath would feel their ways to the
,eHaer and get water TO dash on the burn
ing ties under the train, while others
would 20 few feet ahead Of tie engine
TO see whether it were sefc 10 move
ahead. IL was dangerous to move. Be-
hind the read was on fire as fGr as one
could see, whiIr ahead al! wa5 darkness
and mystery But ii was death to Enger
in that caldfou Of fire and when the sui
ronBdings either meant moving OF death
tha effort 10 get away wa5 wotih the ut,
tempt and star. was made. The sns,
pense aud horrors IF the fcw-momenis re.
quifed to pass over the burning track
and through Inc terrible heat aud smoke
cGnno, he expressed None knew but
whal ihc train would tumble into Glitch
and be mass of flames in moment.
rnRsHmp IN THE FLAMES.
HlaHMoRE. April 4-The number of
deAtls by the prairie fire and electric
storm is nye, and Que by hoalt disease
during TIE excitement and exhaustion, rs
follows: Annie Sweeney burned to q
c,isp umd fonnd eighty rods from the
bouse she having cut lcosa me cattle
thAt wcie stgsed ont, and on her return
80 lhe house was overtakcn hv the fire
When found d large butcher knife was in
her hand.
Mrs. Thomas ". Tihbs and litfle child.
MIR. Tihhs had carried three children to
SO nc ploHea ground and was followed
b. his wife aud one child Ee then re-
turned ~ the house 10 save something, il
| possible anc; when his wife saw him
struggling with the fire and irving
to save some personal effects sic went to
his assistance, the little child following
and tAca he had to fight fire 10 gave his
wife aud cEild, and carried them to The
plowed ground, both SO badly burned tha,
| they died. MIR. Tibbs is baaiy burned in
the face and hands.
| Mrs. Albert Jessup and two cl ildrer
| were found in the cellar of their home
| smothcred and dead; but Mrs Jessup haC
been lighting fire, and suffering from
heart disease died from that, but the chill
dren were suffocsted.
Miss Ruby snd little nephew are lying
low from inhaling hot air They may re
cover.
| The county commissioners went to tn,
scene of this FIRE yesterday TO get all th
facts that they may inteiligently gran
some relief. Highmore citizens yesterda,
literally and promptly responded aid t,
the fire sufferers in clothing of oil kind
and food.
THE FIRE ROUND UP.
| MINNEAroLIs, April 4-During tn
past two days South Dakota and Mime
sofa have been swept by series o
wind storms which have caused thous
ands of dollars damage to property an
several lives have been lost. The storr
started Monday night and swept owe
large area south of the Northern Ps
cific railway in Dakota and extent
.ng on to the southern tiers G
counties in this state. The grea
est damage has not been cause
Dy wind alone. but in man
places fires, famed into fury by til
storms, have wiped out of existence Sc,
eral smatl villages and hundreds of farm
ers' houses, rendering hundreds of fan
lilies homeless. The towrs al.nost con
pletely destroyed are Violin, Olivet, PuI
wana, Lesterville and Mt. Vernon, an
three or four other villages were hadl
damaged. Many head of cattle, shee
: and hogs perished. In many places crol
were covered by loose sand and dust an
: will have to be replantcd.
AA