The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-04-04
TERRIBLE PRAIRIE FIRHS.
Many Farmers in Dakota Are
Rendered Homeless,
CROPS AND HOUSES BURNED,
Villages Threatened With Destruc.
tIon-The Inhabitants Turn Out +.
and Battle With the Flames,
Lestervillo Destroyed,

SCOTLAND, DAEr April 3,-Anothel
terrible prairie fire swept over the coun,
try south Of Scotland yesterday after
noon and its path is marked by the
smouldering embers Of many homes, A
very high wind prevailed all day yester,
day, and with the grass as dry Us tinder
the terrific force of the fro Is sbOyond de,
scription, At 8 O'Clock word was brought
to town that the prairie was ailre north
Of Westtown, and Immediately hun,
dred men started In teams to check the
approaching fire, armed with brooms and
sacks Arriving at Alfred Brown's farm,
two miles north his barns, dairies and
cattle sheds were one blazing mass and
tho efforts Of the crowd were directed to
saving his residence and beating the fire
out that would IN a short time have
swept down upon the town. Browns
residence was saved, but all his house.
hold goods that had been carried out by
the family were burned.
One mile north Of Browns the fire
burned Henry Hagelfry out OF every
earthly possession, His house, barns and
stock were consumed, and he barely es-
capped with his family. Across from
Hagelfry lived ID. X, Tomlinson, q pros.
porous farmer, and everything about bis
place except his house was swept away.
Five houses and several head Of stock
were among his losses. His wife was
home alone when the fire broke out and
could do nothing to save the property.
By evening the fire in the west had been
extinguished, but 1t was still raging in
the southeast. The town OF OliYet, the
county seat OF Hutchinson county, eight
miles north, is reported to be more than
burned up, The bridges on the railroad
west OF the town were burned. The
losses for the last two days will be fully
$4,000.
A dispatch from Blunt, Dak., says:
The whole country around Blunt is
being devastated by prairie fires, Sew.
eral buildings in the suburbs have been
burned but the city is as yet safe. ].
Richardson lost 800 sheep, cattle and
hogs. Many farmers arc homeless.
A prairie fire started one mile north
east Of Rapid City at noon yesterday aud
was driven In southeastly course by
gale Of sixty miles an hour. Three
houses werO burned. The second was
occupied by Mrs. G. L. Bailey, Eloise
Madison. and hired man named Aston.
The three left the house and ran through
the flames, Mrs. Bailey and Aston escap.
ing with some severe burns. Miss Mud
ison fell, and the fire catching her cloth.
ing burned 1t completely from her body.
She was taken TO neighbors, and lies at
the point OF death.
A later dispatch from Yankton says:
The village Of Violin, nine miles east OF
Yankton, was entirely wiped out Inst
night with the exception Of three build
ings. Among the buildings destroyed
were the Chicago & Northwestern depot,
the school house and all the dwellings
in the town. Two thousand tons Of hay
and large grist mill were also destroy
ed. The loss will foot up 100000. It's
reported here that the village Of Lester.
vile was also destroyed.
A special from Aberdeen, Dak., says:
Leola, county seat OF MCPHERSON county,
thirty.fve miles northwest Of Aberdeen,
was destroyed by prairie fire during Sat.
urday's whirlwind. The fire came from
the west, and was not noticed until It
struck the town on account Of tho terri
BILE dust. Sixty dwellings and business
houses were burned, entailing loss OF
$4,000. The only buildings remaining
are the court house, two stores and six
dwellings. @, w. Old and Thomas Word
well were terribly burned.
Persons who drove across the country
to Westport, the nearest railroad station,
say that the surrounding country Is
nearly devastated. Hundreds OF farm
houses are in ashes, and the carcasses Of
burned animals are lying along the road.