Omaha daily bee., 1908-04-17
PRAIRIE FIRES DESTRUCTIVE
Large Number of Farmers Lose Hesv-
lily and E1evasors Are
Destroyed.

HURON, s. D.. April 1e.-(special Tele-
gram .)-The list OF sufferers from Tues
days fires continues to grow. Reports show
II the most destructive in property losses
ever experienced In this portion of the
state. Thousands OF acres were burned
over. groves destroyed and scores of cat
tie. horses, sheep and hogs were consumed.
Many farmers lost their homes, barns, ma
chinery and grain, but the aggregate loss
cannot be estimated. Besides fires in this,
(Beadle) county. reports from losses in Jer-
ahld, sanborn, sully, Hand. spbuk and
Ringsbury counties are received. Great
numbers OF farmers sustain small losses,
but those whose losses run from Sl,O0l to
5000 are Henry Miner, M. J. Lyon, VIII
liam Morrill,. ]. J. Wilson, Brown brothers,
Peter JSnisch. Fred Johnson George
Young, Lew Lapiet, Harry Steele, Leo
Papln, w. L. Merriman. Rose Hin Presby-
terrain association. Central Dakota Tele-
phone company. 5000: Atlas Elevator and
Lumber company. t2OOOe; vandusen Ele-
vator company. $500; Chicago & North
western railway, $S,50f Great Northern
railway, 5000: Beadle county bridges, $1,000;
and half dozen school houses. Many per-
sons were more or less burned or other
wise injured, but NO deaths are reported.
In this city this afternoon, fire destroyed
Whalen's livery barn, damaged the Wind
sor hdtel several hundred dollars and
ruined the w. "a. Miner building occupied
by William ~. Holiister & Co., proprie-
tors OF the Mc&nlng Herald printing estab-
hshment. Nearly all the paper stock ana
furniture We saved and the type and fix
lures are o4moralized, but the presses are
uninjured. Printers of the city Joined office
forces andI the paper viii not miss an Issue.
PIERRE. s. D.. April 16.-(Special Tele-
granny fires in sully county yesterday
were remote from telephones and 1t Is not
easy 10 get reports. So far as can be
learned that in western Sully destroyed
the sheds on the Hayes ranch near old
Clifton and burned large amount OF hay
forJ different farmers. The fire in eastern
Sally destroyed the barns and sheds on
the farm of Albert Youngberg. No other
particular damage has been learned of up
to this evening
o'NEIBL, Neb April 16.-CSpecial Tele-
gram)-The most destructive prairie fire
that has visited this country for years
swept over a large strip OF territory north
east and east OF this city yesterday after
noon and last night. The fire was carried
along by flfty-mile gale and swept every
thing in its path, destroying several
houses, barns, granaries and thousands of
tons of hay and miles OF fence posts. A
man named Davenport living about seven
miles northeast of the city. was plowing
fire guards when the fire caught him.
The team ran away. throwing him down
and the flames passed over him. burning
his face, head and hands terribly. 1t is
thought he cannot live He was about IS
years old.
Many farmers lost horses and cattle
and very few in the territory swept by
the fire but what lost hogs. The amount
OF damage done cannot be ascertained for
few days. as all telephone lines in the
country through which the fire passed are
out OF commission, the poles being burned
for miles. Among those who lost every
thing they had except their live stock are:
Con Shea, James Cumecan and c. B. Rock
ford. These lost all their household goods
and clothing, saving but the clothes they
wore at the time. 1t is estimated that the
fire covered territory OF thirty square
nnflan