Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1889-04-19
PRAIRIE FIRES:
Eastern Dakota Swept by Dis
astrOuS Flames.
Villages, Farm Houses and Live
Stock Destroyed.

A dispatch from Scotland, Dakota, says:
Another terrible prairie fire swept over the
country south Of Scotland during the after
noon, and its path WAS marked by the smould
ering embers of many homes. A very high
wind prevailed all day, and with the grass
as dry as finders the terrific force OF
the fire is beyond description. At three
o'clock word was brought TO town that the
prairie was afire north Of West Town, and
Immediately a hundred men started in
teams to ward off the approaching
flames armed with brooms and sacks
Arriving at Alfred Browns farm, two
miles north, all his barns, diaries and cattle
sheds we're one blazing mass, and
the 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 household goods that had
been carried out by ne family were burned.
One mile north of Browns the fire burned
Henry Hagelfry out of every possession. His
house, barns and stock were consumed, and
he barely escaped with his family A eros
linson, prosperous farmer, and
everything about his place except
his house was swept away. Five houses
and several head of live stock were among his
losses. His wife was at home alone when the
fire began, and could do nothing to save the
property. By evening the fire in the west had
been extingushed, but it is still raging in the
southeast. The town of Ohvet, the county
seat of Hutchinson County, eight miles
north, is reported to be more than half
burned up The bridges on the railroad
west of the town were burned. The loss
for the two days we're fully $50, 900
Almost the entire population of Beaver
Creek, Mimi, about thirty miles east of
Sioux Falls. were aroused by the flames and
turned out to fight them, but not before they
had consumed considerable property. The
telegraph wires running into Minnesota
Eal ha burned
communication practically cut off.
At Rapid City, Dakota, the flames were
driven before sixty-fve mile gale, destroy
lug three houses in their course. In one of
these was Mrs g. G. Bailey, Etoise Madison,
and mall servant named Aston. This
party abandoned the burning house and ran
through the prairie fire. Mrs. Bailey and
the man escaped with sight burns, but Miss
MadisOn'S clothing was ignlted and burned
from her body, intiicting fatal injuries.
Several buildings ia the neighborhood of
Blunt were destroyed, j. [. Richardson los
ing 500 sheep and many other farmers their
homes At Desmet $4,000 damage was done.
The fires extended over an area of nearly
fifty miles and were confined almost entirely
within the Territory. The damage will
amount to nearly quarter Of & million OF
dollars.
Leola, the county seat of Mcpherson
County, thirty-tive miles north of Aberdeen,
was destroyed by the prairie fire during the
whirlwind. The fire came from the West
and was not noticed until it struck the town
on account of the terrible storm. Sixty
dwellings and business houses were
burned, entailing loss of $l5O,OOO
The only buildings remaining are the
court house. two stores and six dwellings. G.
w Old and Thomas Wardell were terribly
and fatally burned Leola is an interior
town with no railroads or telegraph and fur
Their particulars cannot be obtained. Per
sons who drove across the country to West
port, the nearest railaOad station, say that
the surrounding country is nearly de-
vastated. Hundreds of farmhouses are in
ashes and the bones Of burned animals are
lying about the road