Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-06

Sad Scenes of Peril and Disaster in
Dakota.
MANY THRILLING HAIRBREADTH ESCAPES, WHILE
SOME WERE CAUGHT AND PERIsHED IN THE
FLAMEs-GREAT DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY,
AND HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES HOMELESS.


CHICAGO, April 6.-The Daily Nors special
from St. Paul, Minn.. says: As the list of losses
by prairie fire in Dakota increases the descrip-
ton of hair-breadth escapes are very thrilling
In Gankton county alone the damage is placed
at Sl5000O. Near Rapid City. Prof. q. L.
Dalleys ranch was destroyed. When a party of
nelShbors drove through the binding smoke
to the rear OF the house an appalling sight met
their gaze. Standing in a little hollow beneath
the RUNS of the house was Eloise Madison,
BLIsTERED AND sCORCHED AND BURNED,
with hardly shred of clothing upon here. The
poor girl must have been in the condition in
which she was found for at least quaI ter of
an hour. Her clothing, save the collar of her
dress part of the stocking on her right foot and
the right shoe, had been completely burned from
her body. which presented an awful appear
ance. hardly a spot upon her escaping un-
burned. 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!"
STRONG MEN sHUDDERED.
and for minute turned away. but with ready
hands did everything that could be done for
her. Mrs. G. E. Bailey. in whose employ
the young girl was, and William Ashton
the hired man, had a very narrow escape,
and suffered painful but not dangerous iniu-
the dwelling house ii blaZed up like finder. and
allowed them no alternative but TO run for
their lives. This they did, Mr.. Ashton taking
each of the women by the arm and starting
with them through the smoke and flames They
had gone but short distance when Miss Madison
fell. The smoke was SO thick that when they
stopped to look for her she could not be seen.
and. thinking that she had gone in another di-
rectiOn, they resumed their efforts to escape
After a severe struggle they succeeded in get
ting 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 sparks flying in the kitchen
SeiZing a blanket apiece the people in the
house threw them over their heads and started
from the building. BY good fortune all sue
ceeded in reaching place of safety. For 20
feet their path was through
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 60 miles an hour
Had the velocity of the wind been less.
more damage would have undoubtedly resulted
As il 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 property was
destroyed within 10 miles of Freeman. Thirtv-
two families lost their homes. only escaping
partly clothed. Machinery, grain, hay and a
great amount of stock were burned. The un-
fortunate farmers are entirely destitute and
without food or shelter.
In Douglas county the fire was one OF the
worst ever known. Many farmers lost every
thing and are homeless and destitute The
house of Wm. Cline was burned,
MRS. CLINE PERIsHING IN THE FLAMES.
She was seventy years old and was the mother
of E. W. Kline, prosecuting attorney of Doug
las county.
Near Oakwood lake lives Frank Goodfellow.
He was away from home when the fire came.
Mrs Goodfellow and three children heroicallv
fought the flames 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 being reported
daily. Fully 100 families have lost everything,
the loss reaching Sl50,000. Two women were
burned to death near Chamberlain. 1t is re-
ported at the latter place that the fire was
started by Indians on a reservation. The Crow
had q