Year: 1874

8 q,
she had called his attention to itesev--
eral times. He still thought nothing
Of it, or that it was nothing more than
the grass burning and would be out by
morning. Under: this belief he. with
his family, retired. In the morning it
was noticed that the fire was even
burning with more vim, and had evi-
IDENTIFY come nearer to them. He was
still inclined to believe that it would
pass around and leave him unmolested,
or that it would rain and thus put dan
ger out Of the question.


A heavy wind springing up at noon.
however, and Blowing directly from the
fire towards the house, warned him that
the danger was growing imminent. His
children were now crying through fear,
and his wife was importuning him to
make the best of time. Arrangements
were soon made for the journey, and in
q two.horse wagon they started, more
than ten miles in advance of the fire.
with every probability Of being able to
get out of it's reach. Good time was
made by the team, and not till late in
the evening, when the wind increased in
fury, was there any apprehension Of
danger. About dusk the wind in
creased to hurricane. and the flames
began to approach them with terrible
speed and awful grandeur. Faster and
faster they came. Mr.. Herndon says
that it was evident that they
would overtake them in q very few mo-
ments. What was to be done under
the circumstances was question that
had to be decided quickly. The horses
had now become unmanageble, and
were as likely to overturn the wagon
and start for the flames as any other
way. A marshy piece of ground was
some two miles distant, and near this
was small branch. of water from
which he remembered he had frequent
ly watered his aorses. This was the
only chance for life, and hastily leaving
his waS on and team to their fate, he
started for the marsh with his youngest
| child, 3 lad Of 8 years III his arms. 1t
was struggle for life. Death was coming
and they made one grand effort to get
out of its reach, but alas it was una
vailing. We will not undertake to de-
pict the anguish Of that father as he
was compelled to see the cherished
ones Of his own heart, those whom he
loved even better than his own life
blood, sink down one after the other
and become prey to that most terri
bic of all deaths-by fire. The little
daughter was the first that wes over
taken, and the mother was prone to
stay and give up her life with her dar-
ling, but she kept on, while the flames
were yet more than hundred yards
away, and little Mary was left upon her
knees praying that her Heavenly
Father light take her to His bosom and
save her mother and father and little
brother from perishing. Death soon
came for her, and not long did it wait
for the little brother and mother. In
few moments the mothers clothes
were on fire, and she was unable to pro-
ceed. The father, with desperate de-
termination to save his little son, push
ed Oh, but already his clothes were OH
fire, and the little hoy, the pride Of his
heart, was struggling to free himself
from the tortures, and soon he was at
rest in death. His body but hindered
the progress Of the father, and, to save
himself, he determined to abandon it.


Thus. freed of all membranes. he
made greater speed and succeeded in
reaching the stream.


After the fire had passed by he re-
traced his steps, and gathered in one
place all that was earthly Of his treas
urcd ones. 1t was a sight when that
poor father gathered the blackcned
and charred remains of his late house,
hold in the stiffness Of the night upon
the lone and desolaro prairie which we
hope the world will never be called
upon to witness again. Next day the
homes Of some distant farmers were
| reached, and they returned with HerR-
don, and assisted him in the burial.


The homes Of many Of the farmers in
that country and locality were de-
stroyed, and these gentlemen inform us
that delegation Of citizens from Lin
coin and other cities in Nebraska will
soon visit St. Joseph for the purpose Of
soliciting aid for the sufferers. 1t will
be distributed among all those who are
needy in the State, and there arc thons-
ands Of them, many Of whem are made
destitute entirely by the grasshoppcrs.
Let our citizens respond nobly, and.
like the brcdd upon the waters, it will
return again after many days.