Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1892-09-02
THE PRAIRIE FIRE QUESTION.

I'LL IIkAAIA1H N wv AAOHs
The residents of South Dakota, and
especially those who reside in the vicin-
ity OF Sioux Falls, are considerably ex-
cited over the lynching of a fellow, who
was caught in the act Of setting fire to
the prairie. It seems that he had been
once notified by the cowboys to be care
full, but disregarded the admonition.
OF course, lynching is seldom, if ever
%justifable. In extreme cases there
might be found some justifying circum-
stances in a lynching, but these are rare.
1t is probable, however, that few per-
sons i%ntelligently appreciate the pitch to
which the anger of cowboys or stockmen
is wrought, at the discovery of the will
full setting of a prairie fire. Next to
horse stealing, in the stockman's calendar
of the relative degrees of evil in certain
crimes, comes the setting of prairie fires.
And this view of the case, in the light of
the damage done thereby, is a reason
able one.
Each fall, after the grass which grows
so thickly and luxuriantly on the prai-
ries of western North Dakota, has be-
come dry, and is thoroughly matured,
the country is swept by numerous and
destructive prairie fires. Some of these
originate from sparks, flying from pass
ing trains. Bnt these are usually dis
covered in such time that they a be
checked, and the damage done by them
is not so extensive as that done by those
which are started farther from a settled
country, and which obtain a Roadway
before discovery, which nearly defies
subsection. A case in point may be
cited:
Two years ago a party, travelling over
land through Bowman county, stopped
over night, and, as is usual, built the
customary camp fire by which to cook
food for the party. Upon breaking,
camp, the fire was carelessly covered
over, some loose dirt being tossed upon
the blazing Goals, and the party pro-
ceeded upon their journey. Shortly
after their departure, q breeze of a con-
siderable freshness sprang up, and the
covering of dirt was blown from the
camp fire before the Goals had died out.
A blazing brand was caught up by the
wind, and carried out into the tall, dry
grass; another followed it, and another,
and before long, the adjacent country was
in flames.
So far from any habitation was the
place where this fire started, that for ten
hours it ragged and devastated the coun-
try, before it's extent and the damage
which threatened the country was dis
covered. OF course, it was seer at night
by persons hundreds of miles away, as it
shone, a bright, glazing red against the
sombre midnight sky, but it passed from
the minds of those who witnessed it,
only to be brought forcibly to their at
tention by approaching nearer. Ranches,
hay stacks, in fact any destructible mat
ter which lay in it's path was swept
away, as completely as though it had
never existed. Human lives we're lost
thousands of dollars worth Of property,
belonging mostly to petty ranchmsn
who had toiled and saved necessarily in
it's accumulation, was destroyed and the
fire continued, leaving destruction and
desolation behind.
At last, men and wagons we're sent to
the scene, from all parts of the country.
The fire was met and fought. Men
fought for days, without rest, without
proper sustenance, and without hope of
reward, except the satisfaction obtained
from the realization of having performed
their duty when the fire should be con-
quered. Horses and cattle we're killed
Unfortunately, and out of their car
cases drags made, and the fire combat
ted in this amer. After raging fercely
for five days and doing an amount of
damage, SO great as to be i~ncalculable,
the fire vas subdued.
Thousands upon thousands of acres
of range, that is, pasturage for the roam
ing herds of cattle and horses, were de-
stroyed by this one fire; thousands of
dollars worth of property fell prey to the
devouring flames; thousands of tons of
hay went up in smoke, and the ashes
lay, silent yet accusing witnesses of the
inexcusable, yes, criminal carelessness
and negligence of a thoughtless camping
party.
For him who has never suffered from
prairie fires; who has never seen the
ranchman stand and gaze despondently
at the blackened ruins of his cabin, the
charred remains of his horses, his cattle,
in fact gaze upon the destruction OF his
entire earthly possessions-for him it is
difficult to understand why one should
be lynched for setting fire to the prairie.
The TRIBUNE does not wish to be un-
derstood as an advocate of .lynohing, but
9 legal hanging would be just punish