Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-04-13
Awful Scores Witnessed in
the Wake Of the Da-
kOta Fires.
Aid Is Badly Needed in Quite
a Number of the Coun-
ties Afflicted.
~ Strnr Feeling Exists Against the
Parties W no Are Responsible
for the Fires Funeral
OF the Victims.



known in these parts since settled by
white men. 1t was something like the
great blizzard Of January IL, 1888, ex-
cept the cold. The velocity Of the wind
was sixty miles per hour. The air
was filled with dust and small gravel and
all kinds of debris, so tEat it was nearly
impossible to go about, and at times the
sun was nearly obscured, although not a
cloud was TO be seen in the SKY. 1t came
whirling and twirling around and around.
The only damage in 81. Lawrence was
The blowing down Of awnings, %chimneys,
and the uplifting of sidewalks.
But in the country south and west,
where the fire ragged, it was appalling.
There are many persons that are today
burned out; not left with a stitch
except what is on their backs. The fire
that started at Rec Heights burned
seventeen houses and two barns. AT
night, looking south, you could see the
light Of the terrible fire that was work
IN. such damage. Now and then the
AiSut ~ONiu SioV bAiShhti 49, shCh bAS
down, and anon sparks of it would shoot
up and again recede, showing that build
ings were being destroyed. The track
Of the fire is about twenty miles long
and ten miles VIDE, with hardly a person
but is more or less damaged within its
track. Some are without a place 10 lay
their heads, without food, shelter or
clothing. A trip through the burnt dis
trict revealed = sight even worse than
predicted. Heavy losses were sustained
by the farmers, some losing their all.
Mr.. Crawford was burned SO bad as to
he in great agony and his recovery
doubtful; Louis Peterson, burned so as
his recovery 10 said by the doctor to be
doubtful. unless by the %strictest care.
The sight witnessed WAS horrible.
The tracA of lhe fire is plsinly visible,
black aud begrimmed. The dead animals
with flesh burned TO the bones; cattle
with horns buried in each other showed
The awful state in which death had struck
them. There are many who are left
homeless and without anything with
which 10 go through he year. A Get
ing was held lastnightan aid is solicited,
and a hearty appeal 10 those who can aid
the sufferers Of the burnt district OF
Hand county il asked. The town has
opened "a store room to receive Contribu.
lions and supplies will be taken to them
by the citizens committee, who are look
ing after the donations. Contributions
sent to John III. Baldwin, mayor of st.
Lawrence, viii be looked after and ap-
piled where directed.
AID AsKED FOR sULLY.
GRTTYsBuRG, April 5.-The county
commissioners left this morning on an in
spection tour among the fire sufferers,
with a view of relieving those in actua!
want. The losses in this county are not
80 great but that the people Of the county
can furnish all needed assistance. The
w. Il. G. held a special meeting
and provided clothing and other
accessory supplies for the immediate
wants. The corps will give a supper on
Monday next, with a fair, tor the purpose
Of raising funds for relief later on. A
letter from the recorder OF Suliy county
received t, day asking aid in clothes and
bedding gives a gloomy account Of The
suffering in that county, WLo G families
are homtlees, it'll nothing but the clothes
they have on, and some Of them with
those burned.
a warrant ia ont for the arrest Of Geo.
Lucas, WHO, II is said, set the fire in the
northeast part Of this county. The feel
ing il thai Tie parties Who are RESPONSE
ole shou 4 te dealt with severely, and
his fetlng Il, VS. stronger every hour;
3ut persona Violeice ], not talked Of and
would not be tolerated
Clothing and bedding sent to the w.
K G. here will be sent 10 Sully county.
THE LATEST FRoM HYDE CoeNTY.
HIoHM"RE, April 5.-The prairie fire
of April 2 that WAS so ia al to a part of
this county entered Hyde from Suliy and
Potter counties was borne,along by a wind
at the velocity of thirty or thlrty-ive
miles an hour. The force was so great
that burning weeds were hurled rods
ahead and the fire was swiftly guided
around fire breaks and k' pit alive until
an open prairie Of grass was reached
and then "a fierce fire border
was formed. The dust raised by the
wind and the smoke and ashes of the fire
were so dense that of the track onr-half
mile it was not known that there was a
fire. The characteristic of this fire was
that Of a cycione-a track 80 wide leav-
ing death and destruction behind. If 1t
were not for the loss of ones wits under
such a dr. al circumstance as this, there
would be need of scarcely any loss of
property, aud not at all of life. The
passing Of the flames is only q scorching
lash; and to prove that safety can be BE-
cured, Eugene Tibbs sought protection
behind a sod house wall, and the flame
passed by showering it's ashes and dis
pensing its intense heat upon him with
out any injury. The Indians lie on the
ground with their heads wrapped in a
blanket and towards the coming
fire, md they are never burned
or injured. If such a fire comes stay
in the house. and after the FIRE
has passed If the house should be burn
ing seek the burnt prairie. In . thickly
settled country like Dakota no one needs
to be caugh, by a Ere on the open prai.
rie away from q shelter Of breaking, or
burnt place. or q building.
Three victims of the fire of this vicin
ity were buried here yesterdsy-Miss
Annie Sweeney and Mrs Thomas w.
'Tibbs and little child. each In their own
,cofin. The scenes were memorable and