The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-04-24

the early settlers Of the plains Of lii
teoiS Iowa and the west. prairie fires
were familiar spectacle, yet their oft
occurrence never robbed them of the
{nterest-awallening sense of danger
with which they were invested. The
average prairie fire was not the all
devOuring calamity which yellow
backed novels and western romances
represented it. In fact, under ordinary
circumstances it was q reasonably harm
less and quite pleasing affair. This is
particularly true of the far west. where
fbe short buffalo grass covered the
prairies In Illinois and Iowa, where
the wild grasses attained height of
several feet in considerable areas a
high wind would, when 1he grass was
sufficiently dry, drive the contiagration
on with an almost irresistible sweep.
The new settlers in a prairie country
who had not seen prairie fire would
discount the stories told them concern
Sng the speed with which the fires trav-
eled and the distance the flames would
leap. but one lesson, often dearly
learned, would convince them of the
dangerous possibilities that lurlled in
the seemingly harmless dried grass.
The prairie fires usually began in Dc
fobcr, soon after the first frosts had
fallen. Often the first intimation Il
settler would receive of an approaching
fire would be given by falling ashes of
She burnt grass that Il strong upper
current Of air had carried Il long dis
tance.. IN the hazy sky of Indian sum
mer the smoke Of the fire, which might
DE miles away. could not yet be dis
cerned. The falling ashes might not
Zoe noticed unless one CHANGED to look
upon the smooth surface of still water,
where their presence was easily dis
cerned. With the coming of the first
shades OF evening blush at point on
the distant horizon would indicate the
location of the fire If the night were
cloudy the brightness of the flames
would be reflected above. Ii required
experience to tell by the appearance of
such Examinations how far away fire
was. hut an ''old-tilner" of the prairies
could thus accurately locate the fire,
and tell by the force Of the wind how
long it would be in reaching given
point.
\ ''newcomer' was apt to think Il
6rc much nearer than it really was,
though sometimes he made the opposite
mistake. If no wind was blowing and
d heavy dew fell the speed of the fire
was greatly slackened, if. indeed, the
flames did not entirely die out. This,
however, was not likely to occur if the
sun and frosts had completely cured
and dried the grass.
Sometimes during still weather fire
would appear to burn in almost the
same locality for several days. The
same appearance would result when
Che fire burned against the wind or was
Stacking up, as the settlers termed it.
Under such circumstances a roadway,
a small stream, or even a coW-path
across the prairies might stop the
progress of the fire. That kind of a
tire formed u pretty picture at night.
Tho long stretches of flame reaching
across the level plain or extending
oyer the undulationS Of hill and vale
suggested to the observer line of sol,
9iers marching with unbrokcn from.
npon an enemy The incessant fash
Rnd fading of the flames added to theil
1ife-lille appearance, and it required not
Che most creative OF inaginations tc
transform them into living creatures