, 1889-04-04
FEARFUL PRAIRIE FIRES.
Prairie Fires Devastate POr-
tiOns of Dakota.
Heavy Gale Visits Minnesota
Buildings Wrecked and
UnroOfod.

ST. PAUL, April "A Pioneer Press
special from Bell, Dakota, says: The wi.
lage of Mt. Pleasant was almost entirely
consumed by fire this afternoon. All the
business part of the town has burned and
every business house and nearly all the
residences nave been destroyed. The de-
pot. together with about fifteen or twenty
freight cars and four large elevators. are
gone. The loss will be nearly $500 900,
with bpt very little insurance, and hun.
dred families are left homeless and utterly
destitute. Ii was caused by prairie FIRE
which came in from the northwest, One
hundred citizens from Mitchell went up to
help fight the fire but the raging wind
prevented and their efforts avaied but
little. A special train carrying provisions
was dispatched from here last night
ST. PAUL, April 2-Specials to the
Pioneer Press from Dakota and Minnesota
report severe gales, with considerable
damage at Jackson, Mimi The severest
storm that has prevailed in that country
for several years was experienced this aft
ernoon. A prairie fire was raging near
the village, and only the most strenuous
efforts prevented the destruction of the
town News gives report of great loss of
property at Gary, Dakota. The wind
blew with great force and the air was
filled with sand and dust to such an ex-
ecut 90 w icuuCi " iuitt udThs iut HUT
curry fell 16 degrees In two hours The
crops already sown are thought to be much
injured. Aberdeen reports that the roofs
have been blown of the Park Place hotel,
mills, Excelsior block and other buildings,
and many others were otherwise damaged.
As far as reported no one was hurt
iASKToN, OAK, April 2.--lt is report.
ed that Violin, ten miles east of here, was
burned tonight. The buildings destroyed
we're the station agents residence, depot,
two dwelling houses and large flour
mill, A thousand tons of hay was burned
and all the barns in the place. The fire
invaded large cattle corral and forty or
fifty cattle were badly burned. The rest
broke through the inclosure and escaped.
The destruction was caused by prairie
tire, which at last accounts was still burn
ing.
ST. PAUL, April "A special from
Andover, OAK, says. the residence of A.
Swan. about mile from town. was
burned together with its contents this af-
ternoon. The inmates we're at dinner
when prairie fire was discovered near
the house and all rushed for the door
barely in time 10 save their lives.
At Sacred Heart, Mimi, the house of
Charles .Jonnson, ii bachelor, living alone,
was discovered by neighbors to be on fire,
and before they could reach there il was en-
tirely destroyed. Johuson's remains were
taken from the ruins, a charred, unrecog-
nIzable mass.
SIOUX FALLS, OAK, April 2.-To-day
terrific gale has prevailed throughout this
section. RumOrs come that the entire
population of Beaver Creek, Mimi. thirty
miles east, are fighting fire; also that ex-
tensive fires prevail in various parts of
South western Minnesota. The wires are
badly damaged and rumors cannot be
verified, but the prairies are exceedingly
dry and the wind high, and grave fears
are felt of widespread calamity
RAPID CITY, Dak., April "A praire
fire started one mile northeast of here at
noon and was driven by sixty.fve mile
an hour gale with destruction. in it's path
Three houses were burned, one of them
occupied by Mrs. Baily, girl companion
aged II years named Eloise Madison, and
hired man named Astol. The
three left the house and ran
through the flames. Mrs. Bailey and
Astol escaped with some severe burns, but
Miss Madison fell and the FIRE catching her
clothing burned it completely from her
body. She was taken to a neighbors and
les at the point of death. The house and
household goods are a total loss.