The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-04-09
FIRE ASTRIDE A GALE.
ENORMOUS DAMAGE ON TIE PRAI-
RIEs OF NEBRASKA,

The Dwellings and Barns OF Scores of
Farmers Swept Away-ViuaEers Out
Fighting to Prevent the Destruction
ofTheir Homes-One Woman Fatally
Burned.
OMAHA, NEB., April s.-The gale which
swept over Nebraska yesterday bora before
1t great billows Of flame which swept from
Thousands of fertile acres the best Of vegeta-
ton. The limits of tho fire, which has
ragged during the last ten days, have be-
come almost state wide. Destruction that
was thought very small has become enor-
nous. 1t is too soon TO get any idea Of how
much the exact damage is, for the places
most affected are remote from the telegraph
lines. 1t is known though that much grain
and hay in store, together with many
barns suG other outbuildings, 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 almost beyond doubt that
some settlers who are located away from
easy assistance must have persisted.
VILLAGERS FIGHTING THE FLAMES.
in Banner county the village OF Ashmore
ls supposed to have been completely
destroyed. Word was Drought to Harris
burg last night by the driver Of a stage that
that town was directly in the path of the
fire at o'clock, and that the entire popula
tion of the village was engaged in battle
to save their homes. The stage driver re-
ported having seen several dwelling houses
IN fames and the settlers fleeing for their
lives. He crossed the line of fire and re-
cetved a severe scorohing, although no is
not seriously burned.
Megger details from Ogalla, Harrisburg,
Duning, Iuverton, Kearney, Grand Island.
Lexington and Hastings give accounts Of
great losses to property.
The Burlington railroad bridge at Duning
and another at Hansdell, on the Elkhorn,
were destroyed, delaying trains somewhat.
At kearney the fire burned near enough
to town to destroy the brewery located
just az the edge.
At Duning an old lady named Bartlett
was burned 80 badly that she may die.
The gale subsidized by nightfall, but the
wire troubles have scarcely abated.
In the devastated sections the inhabitants
have spent long hours in combating the
fire. The region burned over is the chief
grazing section of the state, and of course
means great loss to stockmen in this res
spect, as they will be compelled to find new
pastures Their feed in store being de-
stroyed and their stock stampeded by the fire
1t Will take them some time to figure what
their loss really is.
HEAVY DAMAGE AT SUTHERLAND.
NORTH PLATTE, NEB., April S.-A dis
astrous prairie fire broke out south of Suth-
erland, in the county yesterday. The loss
will probably reach $1,000 1t is claimed
that the fire was started by passenger
engine. Never has such disastrous prairie
fire devastated the Platte valley. Every
thing for distance OF twenty five miles is in
ruins, and IN width reaches from three to four
miles. verythinR-corrals barns, fences
and haystacks-is 10 ashes. The fire started
south of Sutherland shortly before noon
and swept everything before it. travelling
at the rate of from thirty to fifty miles an
hour. Shortly after II o'clock it struck the
city OF North Platte, where only by almost
superhuman efforts the town was saved.
The fire companies responded to
the alarm as soon as it was known
the fire was raging west OF the
city and when they reached the outskirts
the fire was upon them and fought them
back within the water limits. Almost
everything beyond the water limits was
licked up in few minutes by the flames
The farmers and ranchers in this nelgh-
borhood will lose everything.
TRAVELLED FORTY MILES AN HOUR.
AINswORTH, NEB. April S.-The most
fearful fire that has been witnessed in this
country for many years passed over nearly
all of the country from three or four miles
north Of this city to Niobrara river, dis
tance Of fifteen miles, yesterday, destroy
ing 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. It swept
over the prairie at the rate of forty miles
an hour.
GALE AT DEADWooD.
MINNEAPOLIS, April S.-A special to the
Tribune, from Desdwood, s. D., says: "a
terrible wind storm has prevailed here for
the past fortY-eight hours. Telegraph and
telephone wires ore prostreted. Many
buildings have been blown down and others
unroofed. Piedmont is partially destroyed.
All trains are tied up. The velocity Of the
wind is seyenty-fve miles an hour. The
dam Oanpot ba pafiff,afad