The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-04-15
nestruetive Fires and storms.

o..
probably reach 100000. 1t is claimed the
fire was started By a passing engine. Never
has such disastrous prairie tire devastated
the Platte Valley. Everything for a distance
Of twenty-five miles is in ruins, and the
width reaches from three to four miles.
Farmers, who got up smiling and happy yes
terday morning, now look on all their earthly
possessions as a mass of ruins. Everything
corrals, barns. fences, haystacks. Is IN ashes
The fire started south of Sutherland shortly
before noon, and swept everything before 1t,
travelling at rate of from thirty to hity
miles an hour. Shortly after twelve clock
it struck the city of North Platte, where,
only by almost superhuman efforts, the town
was saued. The fire companies responded to
tie alarm as soon as it was known the fire
was raging west of the city, and when they
reached the outskirts of the city Al 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 neighborhood will lose everything
AINswoRTH, NEB., April S.-The most
fearful fire that has been witnessed IN this
country fer many years passed over nearly
all of the country from three or four miles
north of this city to the Niobrara river, a
distance of fifteen miles, yesterday. destroy
ing much property and importing life The
wind blew gale. Parties coming through
the burned district say the fury OF the hire
could not be described. 1t swept over the
prairie at a rate of forty miles an hour. The
losses will aggregate S30,OOO
DErouR, Mich. April ST the thaw con-
tiAues, and there is every prospect that 1t
will, the Sault Ste. Marie River soon can be
navigated by any of the larger craft. The
ice at present is thin and rotten, and several
horses have been drowned while eros ing the
river above here. The indications now are
pointing 10 an early breakup of the ice and
opening of navigation.
YAYKToY, S. D., April 8.-Reports of
damage from prairie fires continue to be re-
ceived Sparks from Chicago, Milwaukee,
and St. Paul locomotive set fire TO the grass
a few miles north of Yankton yesterday. The
ire swept through two of the finest farms IN
the country Other losses sustained by
prairie fires during the past few days aggre
gale many thousand dollars.
Hor SPRINGS, South DAKOTA, April s.
Sparks from a locomotive on the Burlington
and Missouri Railroad set fire to the grass
near Miunekahta station, twelve miles west
of here, and the wind, which had been blow
ing hurricane all day, swiftly carried the
fire to the timber. The lire has burned over
an expanse of country many miles in width,
and is now burning off the timber lmmedl-
atey south of here. The damage will prove
the greatest ever done by fire in this part
of the Black Hills, as many settlers have been
burned out, besides destroying timber cover
ing an area now twelve miles long and prob
ably half as wide.
Thirty-two square miles on Reservoir and
Loon Mountains, near Hollidaysburg, Pa,
have been burned over by forest fires. Six
farm houses in Morrison's Cove, 35 head o
cattle and vast quantities ofgrain were destroy
ed by the fire, and the farmers hao barely
time to escape with their lives
The barn of Charles Reed, near Gallatin,
Tenn, was struck by lightning on Wednesday
night and twenty-five brood Mares in foal by
the celebrated horse st. Blaize, were instant
" killed. The barn was valued at $4,000,
and was also destroyed. The total loss is
over $500, 900
Lou Stiles and Lee Newman were burned
to death in the Jail at S'anbury, Missouri, on
Sunday 1t is supposed they set fire to the
Jail in hope Of making their escape. The jail,
which was entirely destroyed, contained no
other prisoners.
By the burning of the Commercial Hotel
at Duncannon, Pa, on Wednesday, Michael
Henderson, young school teacher, lost hls
life. 1t is thought that Henderson, who is
an inveterate cigarette smoker, was smoking
when he retired and set fire to the bed in his
room.
The Lilly block, at Waterbury, Connecticut,
WIS Quilted by fire on Sunday, the total loss
being estimated at $150,0OO. The principal
sufferers are Reid & Hughes, dry good dealers
Extensive forest fires rage in Lewis county,
Kentucky. Fences have been destroye d
everywhere, and, so far as known, five far
mers have been burned out of their homes.
Fire is wiping out the turpentine orchards
in North Carolina. One man lost 1000 acres
Of trees, and all the stores, dwellings and
works are burned in two counties.
The Dubuque Enameiling Works. in pu-
buque, Iowa, the only plant of the kind IN
this country, were destroyed by fire tuesday
morning. Loss, $4,000
The Yellow Popular Lumber Company s
plant, at Coal Grove, Ohio, and "a dwellings
were burned on Saturday. The loss is esti-
mated at S750.000.
The stables of the Northern Indiana Horse
Breeders Association, at Warsaw, Indiana,
we're burned on Saturday, together with -
valuable horses loss 100000.
During fire in the forests near Wallace,
Nebraska, on SATURDAY highti mrs. ". OS"e
was caught by the flames and burned to
death.
Forest fires in Southern Ohio and West
Virginia, within the past few days, have des-
troyed much timber and other property.
The Young Mems Christian Association
building, at Newcastle, Pa, was destroyed
by fire early Monday morning.
Seven business places at St. Marys. Ohio,
we're burned on Tuesday night. the total loss
aggregating 100000.
Allegany City, Pa. on Tuesday was visited
by the worst fire that ever took place there;
loss over $3.50, 200.
W. D. Cleveland & Co. S wholesale grocery
at Houston, Tex, was burned on Friday
loss, $l65,000.
A. G. Spaldine & Co.'s sporting goods fac
tory at Chicago vas burned on Saturday
loss, $4,000.
Clifton, West Virginia, was swept by fire
on Saturday, the loss amounting to abou
$4,000.
storms and Loss of Life.
On Tuesday afternoon cyclone and {
tornado pissed through parts of Kansas