The Dickinson press., 1906-11-03
RANCH AND FARM.
PRAIRIE FIRE
RACED on Cedar Sunday.

Perhaps the most disastrous prairie
fire in II years ragged in the Cedar creek
country Sunday afternoon and evening
1t was something that the new settlers
were unfamiliar with and few of them
were prepared for anything of the kind.
1t was ii surprise as we'll to old settlers.
In fact, SO furious did the fire rage at
times that any property in the path of
the head fire was Tapped up IN the
twinkling of an eye. People had to flee
for their lives.
The fire started somewhere below the
East Rainy and northeast of Chalk
buttes, but who is responsible for it is
not known. 1t swept down in a SOUTH
e%asterly direction, burning close to the
Harkins ranch IN the north side and
jumping the Cedar just below.
Scores OF claim houses we're burned
and many new settlers, as we'll as some
older ones, arc left entirely destitute.
At the 0. II. Wichmann place Luth-
Gran services were being conducted by
Rev. O.. I. Just of this city, who, with
his congregation, went out and fought
the hre. The property was saved.
Less fortunate was VIM. Tews, located
5 miles south of the Wamsley ranch,
who lost his range and everything but
his house and was badly burned himself.
Mr.. Jews had been watching the fire and
suddenly the wind changed and he knew
that his property was in great danger.
In IN attempt to back fire, he was
caught. Almost blinded and suffocated
with smoke, he realized that there was no
escape and threw himself down in a
buffalo wallow. The flames rolled over
him, setting fire to his hair and clothing,
and in brushing out this fire his right
hand was badly burned on the back and
on the wrist. The left hand and his head
were also burned, but il nothing new
develops, he will come out all right and
regain the entire use of his hands.
Mr.. Jews was but a short distance
from his sod house where his wife took
shelter. The barn and 8 calves were
burned; also horses lone belonging to
Fred Donner), E stacks of grain, Is loads
of hay, wagon, harness, etc. Some II
head of cattle are scattered on the prai-
rie and the result is unknown.
Mr.. and Mrs. Tews came from Mime
ssta a year ago. They arc now stopping
at the Fred Bonner home in Dickinson,
and Mr.. Tews says lie is thankful that
it was no worse with him. His grown-up
daughters took shelter on the Cedar
further down and were uninjured.
John hester and Wm.- Kreuz, sons-in-
law of MIR. Tews, and near neighbors,
lost cverything-team, sows, hogs, chick
ems, etc. They we're not seriously
burned nor any member of their family.
The Wamsley sheep ranch, $ miles
north of the Tews place, was also in the
path of the fire The sheds, : cows, 125
tom of hay and the south range were de-
stroyed. 1t is said that the ladies OF the
Wamsley homestead held the big band
of sheep near a pond and thus saved
them from perishing in the fire.
w. B. Galligan lost everything but his
house. He had %splendidly equipped
cattle sheds, horse barn, corrals and sew.
eral hundred tons of hay. One report
says that he lost one or two head of cat.
tie. His range was burned.
The D L ranches we're burned, to.
gether with 900 tons of hay.
Joe Mitchell, a sheepman on Chants
Peta, lost everything.
Geo. Harkins had several head of cat
tie burned.
A number of families are left in desti
tute circumstances and something shoulc
be done for their relief. It, would be
nice thing for the city authorities to TAX
hold Of the matter.