Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-10
rHE DISASTROUS PRArs1s FIRES.


na1rDroa0tn Esoapes.
6T. PAUL. Mimi, April 8.-The list 3
losses by the prairie fires in Dakota In
creases, and descriptions OF hairbreadtl
escapes are very thrilling. In Yanktol
county alone the damage IL placed a
$3.50, 600.
Near Rapid city, Prof. G. e. Bailey
ranch was destroyed. When q party o
~neighbors drove through the biindini
smoke to the rear Of the house, an appall
ing sight met their gaze. Standing in a lit
tie hollow below the ruins OF the house wal
Eloise Madison, blistered and scorched and
burned. without hardly q shred Of clothing
upon her. She wal terribly injured. Mrs
g. e. Bailey, in whose employ the yonnf
girl was, and VIM. Ashton, the hired man
each had q narrow escape. and az it was
suffered painful but not dangerous injuries,
Mrs. Bailey says that when the fire caush,
the dwelling house, 1t blazed up like finder
and allowed them no alternative but to
U FOR raEIR LIVES.
This they did Mr.. Ashton taking each ofthe
women by the arm and starting with them
through the smoke and flames. They had
gone but a short distance when Miss Madi.
son fell. The smoke was SO thick when
they stopped to look for her, that shecould
not be seen, and thinking she had gone in
another direction, they resumed their ef-
forts to escape. After q severe struggle they
Of the fire, and made their way to a neigh
boring ranch.
At George Hunts place the family had
just seated themselves at dinner-table
when Mrs. Hunt saw sparks flying 10
through the cracks 10 the kitchen. SEEKING
o blanket apiece the people in the house
threw them over their heads and started
from the building. By good fortune all sue
ceeded In reaching a place OF safety. For
twenty fset their path was through a shest OF
FLAMES FIFTY FEET HIGH.
Many OF the other farmers in the Rapid
Valley barely escaped the wild flames which
sped across the ground like a fash Of light
ming. The wind was blowing at the rate of
sixty miles an hour. Had the velocity of
The wine been less, more damage would uu-
ioubtedly have resulted. Thousands of
dollars worth Of property was destroyed.
Within a radius OF ten miles, thirty-two |
antilles lost their homes, only escaping
partly clothed. Machinery, grain, hay and
: great amount of stock were burned.
Fhe unfortunate farmers are entirely desti.
ute and without food or shelter.
In Douglas county the fire was the worst
YER known. Many farmers lost every.
hing, and are
HOMELESS AND DESTITUTE.
house OF William Kline was burned.
drs. Kline persisted in the flames.
Near lakewood Lake lives Frank Good
He was away from home when the
re came. Mrs. Goodfellow and their chill.
rem heroically fought the flames for sew
hours, and then were forced to get
own on their XII ees " lille the flames passed
yer them. Mrs. Goodfellow is so badly
urned thGt she will probably die. Il
In Brule county casualties are being
daily. Fully one hundred fami-
es have lost everything, the loss reaching
$50, 900.
Two women were burned to death near {
bamberlain's. 1t is reported at the latter !
lace that the fire was started by Indians
the reservation. The Grow Greek agency '
nd q narrow escape.
MOST EXTRAORDINARY FIRES. !
YANKToN, Dak., April 6.-The stories OF I
rmers who suffered by the flames, Tues.
~, show that it was no ordinary prairie !
e. 1t licked up everything combustible, !
I'D grass and stubble and wood brokeinto q
lines seemingly without coming in contact
It'll the fire. The combustion was almost
in the dry and heated condi-
On OF the atmosphere, set in motion by
Q terrible gale.
OAK, April 5.-The prairie 7
. was more destructive and calamitous
an at first supposed. A revised list Of
. deaths is as follows: Miss Annie Swee-
y, Mrs. Thomas Tibbs, and a boy OF 7
ur years, Mrs. Jessup, Mrs.; Ruby and q
o boys, names not given. Several 9TH !.
; are severely burned. Fifteen families .
Q left homeless and penniless, and over o
~ have suffered serious losses. Several Il
rsons are missing, and it is feared they g
Q burned. H.