Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-04-08
BIG PRAIRIE FIRE
IN SOUTH DAKOTA.
Former Lancaster People Have
Their Property Destroyed.
Only the Most Heroic Efforts of the
Farmers and Townspeople Pre-
vented Great Disaster.

The WOOnSOcket, South Dakota
News of last week contains an
article written by Mrs. VIM. Hum
phrey, former resident of Lancas-
ter and now residing with her
husband and family on a ranch
near Woonsocket, in which is de-
scribed one of the largest prairie
fires that have visited that section
in years.
Mrs. Humphrey writes to the
Herald that during the fire her little
daughter, Grace, was in school,
quite distance from home, which
added much to her anxiety, while
her husband and John were three
miles away helping to fight down
the spread of the sweeping fire. The
article says"
Barrels, old coats, sacks, and
everything imaginable were used to
fight the flames. At times the fire
travelled at a very fast rate and It
was only by good judgment that
number were not caught In the
flames. The origin of the fire is
not exactly known, but it was the
opinion of many that it was started
from q burning straw pile. The
fire to the north of Woonsocket
while not passing over so many
miles as the south destroyed about
as much property and the loss will
be keenly felt by all those that
were in the path of the flames. This
fire is said to have started on the
half section north of what is known
as the old Moore farm three miles
east of Alpena. With heavy west
and north wind the fierce flames by
leaps and bounds crossed Warren,
Jackson and Silver Creek township
before it was finally subdued 1t
is reported as being the largest
prairie fire that has visited that
section for twelve years. Gill
Halvorson lost a large barn on his
farm, Chas. Root on the old Sharp
place lost nearly everything he
had, a granary the only remaining
building on the farm. Mrs. Christ
enson, a widow lady residing in
that neighborhOOd lost practically
everything she had together with
the insurance papers. By hard
work on the part of the fire fighters
the Fred Kruse place, the John
Larson barn and many other build
ings were saved. The fire travelled
along the creek on the north and
those residing to the south were
feeling safe when all at once 1T was
seen the flames had crossed the
creek and were making fast head
way. A bridge across the creek
afforded fine opportunity for the
fire to cross. It burned to within a
few feet of the Humphrey home.
School was in session in Jackson
school No. 1 and to Miss Sarah
Thompson, the teacher, is due a
large amount of good judgment in
caring for the scholars.
1T was seen that TO let the chill
dren go home might be the wrong
thing. so Miss Thompson locked the
doors and made each scholar stay
within the walls of the school
house. When the fire nearly reach
ed the building it seemed to divide
fork going on each side of the
school house. After it had passed
the children were allowed to go
home in safety. The peculiar cir
cumstance of this fire was the fact
that nearly all of the farmers in
this neighborhood were in Woon-
socket when the fire began. M. F.
Holt, Fred Kruse, NJ Whitney,
Henry Fee and John Larson all be-
ing in the city on business. When
they arrived home all worked as
one and accomplished much. A.
Trudeau, Geo. Gas, VIM. Schram,
Chas. Wood, Fred Kruse. Henry
Fee, J. G. Dolan and Dan Johnson,
all lost considerable hay and it is
safe to say that nearly everyone in
that neighborhood suffered a hay
loss at least. The fire passed be-
tween the Dan Hine and Andrew
Severson place and burned up to
within mile of Forestburg, the
creek to the northwest of that city
affordlng the only absolute protec-
ton.
ITEMS.
Mr.. john DechOw arrived at his
Dakota farm the day of the fire and
lust succeeded in saving his place
and that was ali.
A farm home ten miles north of
Woonsocket, only recently occupied
by Thos. Mcmahon and family,