The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1905-04-07
ROSEBUD FIRE SWEPT
MANY HOMES DESTROYED AND
LIVES ENDANGERED.
MANY VERY HRlLLlNe ESCAPES
PETER YERLY RUsHEs INTO POND
TO SAVE HIS OWN LIFE.
THE BIG PRAIRIE is eLAckENED

Spring Prairie Fires on the Rosebud
Reservation, Started in Different
Ways, Have Created Excitement and
Damage on the Rosebud.
Bonesteel, S. d., March 31.-A big
topic for conversation during the past
few days has been the spring prairie
fires which have been sweeping the
country north and east of Burke, says
the Pilot. Smoke by day and the
lighted sky by night were easily Wis
ible from Bonesteel on each occasion.
received, some of them erroneous, but
after sitting the facts thoroughly we
find the most authoritative report
something as follows:
On last Thursday Rev. ]. Arthur
Smith and w. II. Baker went out on
the latter's claim five miles northeast
of Burke for the purpose of building
barn. A square was plowed about
the premises and fire set out about six
o'clock in the evening for the burning
OF safe fire-guard. The flames were
supposed to be safely extinguished
when they returned to Bonesteel Fri
day afternoon.
However, an old haystack bottom
had been included in the fire-guard
district and when Saturdays strong
dry wind came up, smoldering fire was
blown into renewed life by the breeze.
Particles of burning matter were
hurled across the guard and lodged in
bunch of shingles lying on the
ground. The wind increased and a
flaming shingle was taken by the wind
out onto the unburned district Of the
prairie. The northwest wind blew
the fire southeasterly, taking in six
stacks of Mr.. Bakers hay and all his
lumber lying on the ground. Between
5000 and $500 damage was done on
his claim alone. The fire was thor
oughly extinguished by neighbors Sun
day mornig.
Sunday afternoon about l o'clock a
second fire originated across the
| w ntISIOlt llOlll MI. pldIt,
the manner of its origin not being
known. The wind had now changed
from north to south and, as some
have reported it, the Baker fire could
have been turned that way. However,
it seems incredible that it could have
leaped the Milestone at this time of
the year; besides, neighbors claim
~ a., a l., Il
ly put out hours before. Neverthe
less the fire spread northward over
the Sully country Sunday afternoon
and Sunday night, playing havoc with
the settlers. Peter Yerly, together
with his horses, was caught by the
mad flames and came near losing his
life He rushed into a pond of water
where the flames were eXtinguiShed
from his body with the exception of
the hair on his head. Another Incl
dent was with a family where there
are eight children. One of the elder
daughters was sick in bed, and the
fire burned the house to the ground,
the helpless patient being carried from
the home while it was in flames. The
family lost everything they had. We
have been unable to secure names as
yet but have it authoritatively that
many homes were destroyed, tons Of
hay burned, and much stock lost or
injured.
Regarding the report that w. II.
Baker had maliciously set fire to his
hay because his neighbors persisted in
allowing their stock to run to it, Rev,
]. Arthur Smith, who was with him
at the time, said: "There is simply
no truth in the report. Mr. Bakers
own loss is over 5000 and anyone
knows man will not set fire to his
own property We have witnesses
who will prove the Baker fire was out
; Sunday morning. This fire and the
Sully fire have no connection what
ever.