The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-04-04
DAKOTA ABLAZE.
Furious Prairie Fires Raging Over
Our Sister Territory, Doing
Great Damage,
The Wind Blowing With Great Velocity
and the Grass just as Dry
as finder.
Houses and Outbuildings Destroyed, live
stock Killed and Hundreds Rem
dered Homeless.


SCOTLAND, Oak, April s.-Another
dreadful prairie fire swept over the country
south of Scotland yesterday, and Its path is
marked by the smoulderlng embers Of many
homes. A high wind prevailed, and the
grass being dry as tlnder. the terrific force
OF the fire was beyond description. Besides
Isolated farm houses, barns and the con.
tents reported destroyed, the town OF OIL
vet the county seat OF Hutchinson county,
was more than half consumed.
BLUNT, OAK, April 3-The whole coun-
try around Blunt is being devastated by
prairie fires. Several buildings In the
suburbs have been burned, but the city is
as yet safe. J. l. Richardson lost 500 sheep,
cattle and hogs, and many farmers are
homeless. A strong wind arose before the
IRE, doing considerable damage.
LEoLA DESTROYED.
ABERDEEN, OAK, April 3.-LeoIa, the
county seat Of Mcpherson county, twenty
i've miles northwest OF Aberdeen, WAS de-
stroyed by prairie fire during yesterdays
whirlwlnd. Sixty dwellings and business
houses were burned, entalling a loss Of
slbO'oOo. The only buildings remaining
are the court house, two stores and six
dwellings. G. W. Old and Thomas War
dell were terribly burned. aud couriers
from the demolished village say they can
not live until morning, Leols is Q town
with no railroads or telegraph and further
particulars can not be obtained. Persons
who have driven across the country 10
Westport, the nearest railway station, say
the surrounding country Is nearly devas-
tated. Hundreds Of farm houses are in
ashes and the carcases of burned animals
line the road.
VERMILLioN, Oak, April Sword
reached here today Of very destructive
prairie fires north and west OF here. Gil
letrs saw mill and 800 cords of wood were
entirely destroyed, and also several other
buildings. A number of narrow escapes
are reported.
CAUGHT IN THE FLAMES.
RAPIo CITY, OAK, April ga prairie
| fire started one mile northeast at noon yes
terday and was driven by a sixty-fve mile
gale. Three houses were burned, one of
them being occupied by Mrs. Bailey, Q
girl companion aged IL years named Eloise
Madison, and hired man named Astal.
The three left the house and ran through
the flames. Mrs. Bailey and Astal escaped
with some severe burns. MISS Mksison
fell and her clothing caught hre and vas
burned completely from her bodys She
was taken 10 neighbors and lies at the
point Of death. The house and household
goods are a total loss.
BENTON, OAK. April 3.-The most dew
the prairies west and north of Lake Ben
ten yesterday and last night The wind
was hurricane for nearly twenty -four
hours and swept the fire along with resist
less force. passing the widest fire breaks 40
nothing and leaping plowed fields with .
bound. Ii licked up houses, barns stock
and In some places human lives.
RE HEIGHTS, April IA town west Of
here on the Northwestern road Is almost
destroyed. Dempster station, on the Wat
ertown branch, is reported destroyed.
Spaulding's ranch, near there. Is also re-
nor,ed ,o have heen consumed. Crossioo
,n,o Lincoln county over a tract Of land
comna,a,iveIv pnsettled and covered with
,ant orow,b NJ grass II ,went ON with re-
nawed velocItv. n reported that Henry
Kourth, Mr.. Bergy, NJ. Moon and others
near na,e lost nearly all their bulldInos
and ,haIr contents
uu,.p nah Anril a-The nralr,e fra
,.., n,ah, aes,roved about FORTY houses.
manv harms and large Numbers Of horses
.nd ea,,Ia ana len about forty families des-
,,n,a In ,ha southern mart of this county
.-N.,,.,,,. -. .adas % ,ha ,arrors a, ,ha
ue''iu'o ka,e "'us. " s"' aa'' ~
situation. The loss IL estipated NJ soo,VoV.
FIRKs IN EVERY DIRECTION.
| t.c,ssoy n.k Anr,l s-Tha nrairis
-
hres prove more genetai 'han NJ hrs' pe-
lieyed. Additional losses are reported
from ali directions. and messengers bring
- - .,.,,o,,, a,,.,. >, a.,,o a.a.n
the news OF stuoooIn nsn's " 'afo enoan-
gered property. Fires we're raging In
every direction and each seemed 10 pursue