The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1899-04-28
A BAD PRAIRIE FIRE
Frank Howard and Allie Smith Were the
Victims Of Tuesdays Bad Fire
We're Burned TO Death.
Thousands Of Acres Of Land Were Burn
ed Over and a Considerable Loss
Of Property Resulted.
STOCK INTERESTS LARGER
Several Thousand Head Of Cattle Have
Been Brought Into This County
Since Early in February.
r ~ a - n, N n ~
A DISASTROUS PRAIRIE FIRE.

Two Men and Two Horses Were Caught
In Flames and Burned to Death.
Frank Howard and Allie Smith, a
son Of A. II. Smith, were burned to |
death in q prairie fire which ragged
over q portion of Tobin, Lisbon and
Beulah townships Tuesday. Their
bodies were found on the Ewart tree
claim after lying there fifteen hours.
The prairie fire bad its origin in
Tobin township, in the vicinity of the
Wilkinson farm. 1t was started by a |
Russian thistles but selected bad day
for it. The wind was in the southeast
and before the farmer could stop it's
progress the fire got away from him,
burning across Enemy creek, which 10
practically dry, and travelling with
great velocity. The fire started al
little after II o'clock and the farmers
in Its pathway had hard time back
firing to save their property. Geo.
jerks said the first damage done was
the burning of 20 tons of hay on his
place. W. G. Russ was in line of the
fire but he managed to get his big
drove OF sheep in the coral and sll he
lost was some hay.
Continuing in its northwesterly
course the fire reached the Ewart farm,
five miles distant, where 81. B. Rogers
lives, about o'clock, and this was the
scene of the terrible catastrophe. Mr..
Rogers saw the fire coming and had
made some preparations for it before
it reached his place. Mr.. Rogers
worked all the afternoon fighting the
fire and many times he thought he
would have to give up owing to tho
density of the smoke and the intense
heat of the flames, but he finally sue
ceeded in turning the course of the fire.
He was aided in this somewhat by .
lake bed adjacent to the farm, which be-
ing covered with wet grass drove the
fire to each side of it. Mr.. Rogers
said that the fire burned all around his
house surrounding him and that there
was less than block that was not burn
ed. His greatest loss WAS so tons of
hay which was consumed by fire.
Fearing that Mr., Rogers would not
be able to cope with the fire alone
Frank Howard and Allie Smith, son
OF A. b. Smith, mounted their horses
and rode over to Mr.. Rogers to give
him what assistance they could. The
trees on the southwest part OF the farm
and talked few moments to the hired
mar in the field, but did not go the
Rogers house. The fire had made
rapid headway, probably unnoticed by
them, and was nearly up to the tree
claim when they discovered it's prox.
unity. The two men hurried over tc
probably rescue their horses and the
hired man drove on to wheat field and
saved himself. The hired man said be
did tsee Howard and Smith after they
went among the trees for the horses
When they left to 60 over to Rogers
Mr.. Smith told his son to return hom.
as soon as possible. They failed tt
come back by dark night and becoming
alarmed for their safety Mr.. Smitl
!! started out to hunt for them. He trav
elled all night over the prairie withou
finding any trace OF the men but abou
S O'Clock Wednesday he discovered
the two bodies lying on the ground
where the flames enveloped them fl
teen hours before. They were lying O
their faces and the bodies we're burne
to crisp, their faces being unrecoe
nizsble. Mr.. Rogers hitched up hi
team and drove to where the men la
J and removed the bodies to their homes
1t was a pitiful scene he describe
3 when the unfortunate men were take
home. Mr.. Howard was man abor
40 years old and leaves wife and fou
= children. He lived on the W. W
= Smith farm and was known as
preacher in that vicinity. Allie Smit
was about 21 years old and until fe
weeks ago attended Dakota Universit,
The two horses were burned, or
: dropping in his tracks and the othe
was found . short distance away on th