The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-04-09
FIRE DRIVEN BY WINDS
SWEEPS OYER NEBRASRA, A,LEAVING
DESTRUCTION IN ITS WAKE.
Untold Devastation Throughout the En-
tro State-Whole Villages
Swept Away.

OMAHA. NEB.. April S.-The gale which
swept over Nebraska yesterday bore be-
fore it great billows OF flame, which
swept from thousands Of fertile acres
every vestige Of vegetation. The limits
of the fire, which has ragged during the
last ten days. have become almost State
wide, and the destruction that was
thought might be small has become enor-
nous. 1t is too soon TO get any idea of
the exact amount Of damage, for the
places that are most affected are remote
from telegraph lines. II is known, though.
that much grain and hay in s,cre, to-
gether with many barns and other out
buildings, miles Of fences, dozens Of
dwellings and many bridges have been
licked Up. Whether any lives have been
lost Is not reported, though IL seems al
most beyond doubt that some settlers
who are located away from easy assist
ance must have perished. In Banner
county the village OF Ashmore Is sup
posed TO have been completely destroyed.
Word was brought TO Harrisburg last
night by the driver OF the stage that
that town was directly in the path Of the
fire at 4 o'clock, and that the entire pOpu-
lation Of the village was engaged in a
battle TO save their homes. The stage
driver reported having seen several dwell
ing houses In flames, and the settlers
fleeing for their lives. He crossed the
line Of the fire and received severe
scorching. although he is not seriously
burned.
Meagre details from Ogalia. Harris
burg. Duning. Inverton. Kearney, Grand
Island Lexington and Hastings give ac-
Of n 4
Burlington railroad bridge at Duning
and another at Hastings, on the Elkhorn
were destroyed delaying trains some
what. At Kearrey the fire burned near
enough 10 the town 10 destroy a brewery
just at the edge. At Duning. an old lady
named Bartlett was burned so badly she
may die. The gale subsided by night fall,
but the fires have scarcely abated and
in the threatened sections the inhabitants
spent long hours IN combating the fire
The region burned over is the chief
grazing sections Of the State. and the
destruction Of the grass means great loss
10 stock men in this respect, as they will
be compelled to seek new pasture.
Platte Valley Devasted.
NORTH PLATTE, NEB. April S.-A
disastrous prairie fire broke out south
OF Sutherland, in this county, yesterday.
The loss will probably reach 100000. II
is claimed the fire was started by pass
ing engine Never has such a disastrous
prairie fire devastated the Platte Valley.
Everything for a distance Of twenty-five
miles is in ruins. and the width reaches
from three 10 four miles. Everything
corrals barns, fences. haystacks-is in
ashes The fire started south Of Suther-
land shortly before noon and swept every
thing before II. travelling al rate Of
from thirty 10 fifty miles an hour. Shortly
after y o'clock It struck the city Of
North Platte where only by almost super
human efforts the town was saved. The
fire companies responded TO the alarm
as soon as II was known the fire was
raging west OF the city. and when they
reached the outskirts Of the city fire
was upon them and fought them back
within the water limits. Almost every
thing beyond the water limits was licked
up in a few minutes by the flames.
Farmers and ranchers In this neighbor-
hood will lose everything.
AINSWORTH. NEB.. April S.-The
most fearful fire that has been wit
messed in this country for many years
passed over nearly all Of the country
from three or four miles north OF this
city 10 the Niobrara river. distance Of
fifteen miles yesterday. destroying much
property and imperiling life. The wind
blew q gale Parties coming through the
burned district say the fury Of the fire
could not be described. II swept over the
prairie at a rate Of forty miles an hour.