The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1915-04-15
one Meets DEATH
IN PRAIRIE fire
OVER $50 SQUARE MILES OF THE
STATE BURNED OVER IN PRA-
IRE FIRES DURING FIERCE
GALE FRIDAY - STOCK, HAY
AND BUILDINGS DESTROYED.

In a number of prairie fires that
ragged in various sections of the state
Friday, more than $50 square miles Of
range were burned over, several towns
were threatened, one man lost his life,
two others were seriously burned and
thousands of dollars worth of hay,
buildings and stock were destroyed.
A fierce wind, blowing forty or fifty
miles an hour from the west, famed
the flames in all their fury, making the
fire fiend one of the worst to cope with
in the history Of the state. From Mi
not, several of the fires could be plain
ly seen, in fact, one of them ragged just
to the northeast Of the city. The fire
department and many of our citizens
responded to the call for help from the
outlying district and saved number
of the buildings from being destroyed:
At noon, fire was burning in a field
Just across the river from Riverside
Park, threatening a new dwelling
house, which was saved. Shortly after,
flames were seen leaping wildly into
the air, in the hills just northeast of
the city and the fire swept onward,
doing more or less damage.
Sawyer Threatened.
At noon, there came call for help
from Sawyer. A fire was burning in
the hills and on the prairie south and
west of that town and it looked as tho
SAWYER was doomed. Every man, wo-
man and child in the town, with the
exception of the "Hello" girl at the tel
ephone Office, were mustered into ser
Twice. Scores from Velva responded to
the call and arrived within few min
utes in autos, doing valiant work. The
Minot fire ladies, while needed al
home, stood ready to make run on a
moments notice and number OF
autos had been Communicated which
it was learned that the fire was under
control. Much hay, several buildings
including a school house two miles
south Of Sawyer, and other property
were destroyed.
Damage at Burlington.
Burlington was threatened as vel
and the work Of brave fire fighter!
saved the town from the ravages o.
the demon. The fire swept close to :
tank filled with oil, but it was Tough
off and headed towards the hills JUS
south of the town. It swept up tn
valley towards Minot for several miles
burning the barn of the Norther,
Briquetting Co. at the Davis mine, de
stroying 60 tons of hay.
! At MOrk Lake.
An exciting fire started severa
miles west of Mork Lake, located q
miles southwest of Minot, and burne,
over a wide stretch of country. A
midnight the tired fire fighters had tn
lsatisfaction Of winning the battle
driving the flames to a school section
east Of the lake, where they spen
their fury. Scores from miles aroun
gathered and worked like Trojans TO
many hours. The buildings on tn
lhomesteads Of Evan Borud and Her
Warner were destroyed and Jane
Bolduc's barn with some hay and har
ness were burned.
Big Fire Near Towner.
Towner, N. D.. April 10. "A prairi
fire, nearly twenty-five miles in width
burned over a vast area of land in thi
vicinity yesterday afternoon and i
still burning, but has lost much of it
force.
The fire started seven miles north
west of Towner, near the Mouse river
tat 10 o'clock Yesterday morning, in
lbig strawstack, which evidently ha'
lbeen fired by someone.
! More than 700 tons of hay were con
}sumed. The house and barn of farm
Ter named T. B. Slath, in the path o
the fire, were destroyed.
| Slath and his wife and children
were at home, when the barn was re
ported burning.
III A. -%b;c %;roo +ho,, J;c,o,,oroJ - 80.
made their escape. Three horses,
pedigreed bull, five calves and severa
pigs were burned to death in the barn
The granary also and all of Slath'
corn, oats and seed grain went up i,
smoke. Slath's loss probably will am
cunt to more than $4,000.
Henry Erickson lost 300 tons of hay
Sargent Brothers lost the same am
cunt and E. Finderson lost 100 tons O.
hay.
Several autos loaded with Towne
volunteers went to the scene and as
sisted the farmers in fighting tn,
| flames, but all they could do was tt
keep the fire away from farn
buildings.
| One Man Loses Life.
Bismarck, N. D., April 1O.-Rober
Hogan was burned to death and Hugh
Armstrong and Allen Thompson are
in local hospital suffering severe
burns, inflicted while fighting a prairie
fire near Steele late yesterday after
noon. Hogan was backed into slough
of tall grass and becoming exhausted
fell to the ground. Armstrong ane
Thompson were burned in trying tt
rescue him.
A number of houses and severa
barns were burned during the after.
noon.
If You Are Losing Weight