Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1889-04-06
THRILLING FIRE EXPERIENCE,

Passenger Train Rushes Through a
Prairte Blaze Over Burning Ties.
Chamberlain, April 1.-The blizzard of
1888 became famoue, snd will be known
Tor many years for its destructiveness to
life and its length and severity. But
the windssorm of Taesday last which
Visited southern Dakota. while probably
not having strewn in its pathway 81
much OF pain and death, has iett
blackened reminders in the nshes OF
homes and villages, 1t was verisable
simeon OF fire, smoke, dust and destrac-
tiop. The counties OF Brule, Aurora and
Dawson will feel the fleets OF the storm
TOR years. The wind began blowing
about IL O'Clock, and by the air was
dlled with dust and sshes from the
preiries which had been burned ovsi
,ome days preyions, and it WAS mex. TO
impossible TO cross the street or live III
the storm. The train from the e1ss had
terrible experience two miles west OF
Mt Vernon. A destructive prairir fire
was raging et that poias and the a.st
and smoke made the surroundings dark
as night. The engineer plunged the
train into the darkness. and che first
thing be knew he found the ties on fire
for mile ahead. He checked the train,
caring to advance lest he should find no
track ahead CT him, and there in the
uff oeat ng smoke and scorchirg heat,
with blez,ng tiee underneath the train
and flames on each side OF the track the
| train crew sought to extinguish the
| flames and save ths train. The paseen.
gers became excited and coaxed TO be
released from the death by fire or fuffo-
cation that seemed so near at
hand; children cried from psin and
sasped for fresh air, and strong
men nearly became desperate and left
the train to fight the flames only TO re-
turn TO the coaches exhausted. For q
few moments escape seemed impossible
snd not . few on the train gave up;
several ladies prayed aloud, few male
passengers swore at the obtuseness OF
the engineer for going into that hell oi
fire and smoke SO far that he could moi
return. while on ell faces was pictured
the fright SO natural to mankind wher
iesth appears to be only few momentt
hepoe. Hardy, determined manhood
peeled at the prospect. Train crew and
passengers worked heroicaliy. Mer
bent forward gasping for breath would
feel their way to the tsnder and get
water to dash on the burning ties under
the train, while others would GO few
feet ahead of the engine to see whethe
it were safe 20 move ahead. 1t was dan
| sereus to move. Behind the road wa
on fire ae far as one could see, Will,
ahead oil was darkness and mystery
But 1t was death to lipger in that cal
dron OF fire and when the surrounding
either meant moving or death the etfor
to get away was worth the attempt anG
q start was made. The suspense ant
horrors OF the few moments required .,
pass over the burning track and through
the terrible heat and smoke cannot b
expressed. None knew but what tn
train would tumble into a ditol
and be masa OF flames in q nom on
Your correspondents looks back upon tb
horrors OF that hour on burning track
in gale nearly equal to q Cyclone, @
the most trying scene OF his life. On
such experience is enough for O lifetime
II sheol is half as bad we will join th
church at once.
In BruIe and Aurora counties lon
list OF losses is reported. Many farmer
lost all their buildings and live stool
end several deaths are reported. It we
terrible storm and has ruined man
hounaE