The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1889-04-12

The vote has increased greatly since the
above record was made, and the table rep
resents little else than an indication Of
county favorites. Against the 81, 900 votes
cast as shown In the table, the question in
1889 will be settled by the vote Of over
5000 electors, and the estimate is that
instead Of winning IN $4,000 votes, the
neighborhood of 25.O0O votes. Should
the contest settle down to two towns, OF
even three, this number might be too few.
ABERDEEN LOSES THE COUNTY SEAT.
Judge Palmer, attorney for Columbia in
the Brown county seat contest, has received
q telegram from the clerk of tho United
States supreme court announcing that that
august body has affirmed the decision Of
the Dakota supreme court. This decision
is final, and settles the question that the
records of Brown county must be taken
back from Aberdeen to Columbia. It has
been a long, stubborn contest.
LOOKS FAVORABLE TO THE CONsTI-
TUITION.
The Pioneer Press editorial correspond
ence says: ESQ the farmers alliance has
declared for the Sioux Falls constitution.
Il has thousands of votes. With the re-
publicans virtually united for this instru-
ment. the friends Of constitutional prohi-
bition unanimously favoiing it, and the
farmers enthusiastic for its %readoption,
there is not a shadow of a chance to defeat
1t. The voters may doctor it later, but
this year the chief business before them is
to get into the union. In Gov. Mellette's
address to the G. A. B. at Aberdeen he
emphatically repeated his counsel to his
fellow citizens at Watertown by urging the
old soldiers to vote for the Sioux Falls
constitution. These two speeches will in
6uence thousands to pursue this course
who might have remained undecided until
the End Of the campaign. It makes a deal
campaign and how he gives it. Mellette
has struck 1t just right"
GOV. MELLETTE's APpoINTEEs.
Governor Meliette has appointed a new
board Of trustees for the school Of mines
at Rapid City as follows: Virgil T. Price
and John B. Brennan, of Pennington
county: 8. N. Booth, Of Custer county,
and Il. E. Grimshaw and n. @. Connors,
OF Lawrence county. He has also APP
pointed J.. G. McManima, of Pierre, terri
torial auditor, and F. H. Hagerty, Of
Aberdeen, commissioner Of immigration.
DESTRUCTIVE FIRES.
Reports Of the damage done by prairie
fires during the terrific wind of April End
come from widely distributed points
throughout South Dakota. Damage is not
confined to property alone, but even hui
man life was sacrificed to the awful com.
bination Of the natural eiements. The ex-
trenely dry condition which March left
things in made danger from FIRE specially
imminent, while the long continued and
ferocious wind drove the flames with ire.
sistable force. It will be weeks yet before
the full summary Of all tho damage wrought
can be fairly estimated.
Miss Annie Sweeney, aged about Is
years, was driven by the flames from her
fathers farm house near Highmore on
April And. into the burning prairie, where
she was sutocated BY smoke and burnedto
2 crisp. She had been left alone that day
by her father, q widower. for whom she
WAS housekeeper. aud the fire came in his
absence in Highmore, where he wal noti-
aed Of her death and Of the loss Of all the
buildings on bis farm. The news was
brought by Thomas F. Cody, who came
for q physician to attend Mrs. Thomas W,
TtNN, who was seriously burned, her little
q ,eing burned to q cinder.
the village Of Mt. Vernon Was almost
entlIeIy consumed 0y nf0 on tho Ind. All
the business part Of the town was burned,
Every business house and nearly ali the
residences were destroyed, The Chicago.
Milwaukee and st. Paul depot, together
with about fifteen or twenty freight cars.
aud four large elevators fell victims to the
flames. The loss reaches nearly $500, 600,
with but very little insurance. "A hundred
families are left homeless and utterly des-
titute. II was caused by . prairie fre
which came In from the northweat. One
hundred citizens from Mitchell went up to
hep 4 ht the iire. but . raging vlnd pre-
A special train carrying provisions was
The eastern portion Of Mcpherson
county ~, swept hy :. prairie 6rs Of the
Ind which LETT dsseraction and ruin In its
IN Of the hndtn the northwest. Lola,
tes county ssas. wasl literally wtpsd oui