People's Pilot, Volume 2, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 April 1893 — HF AVY LOSSES RESULT. [ARTICLE]

HF AVY LOSSES RESULT.

Fierce Eire* Raging on Western Prairie* and In Timber Lands. Ho c Springs, S. D., April B.—Sparks from a locomotive on the B. & 6. Friday morning set fire to grass near Minnekaka station, 12 miles west of here, and the wind, which had been blowing a hurricane all day, swiftly carried the fire to the timber. The fire has burned over an expanse of country 12 miles in width and is now burning off the timber immediately south of here. The damage will prove the greatest ever done by a fire in this part of the Black Hills, as many settlers have evidently been burned out, besides destroying timber covering an area now 12 miles long and fully as wide. Omaha, Neb., April 8. —Reports from many portions of the state indicate prairie fires of considerable magnitude in many counties. A violent gale prevailed on Friday, spreading the flames over a vast area. Banner, Keith, Dawson, Blaine and adjoining counties are completely devastated by the flames. In Banner county the village of Ashmore is supposed to have been completely destroyed. Word was brought to Harrisburg Friday night by the driver of the stage that that town was directly in the path of the fire at 4 o’clock, and that the entire population of the village was engaged in a battle to save their homes. The stage driver reported having seen several dwelling houses in flames and the settlers fleeing for their lives. Meager details received from Ogallala, Harrisburg, Dunning, Inverton, Kearney, Grand Island, Lexington and Hastings give accounts of great losses to property. A Burlington bridge at Dunning and another at Hastings on the Elkhorn were destroyed, delaying trains someI what. At Kearney the fire burned near enough to town to destroy a brewery located just at the edge. At Dunning an old lady named Bartlett was burned so badly she may die. The gale subsided by nightfall, but the fires have raged with scarcely less fury. The region burned over is the chief grazing section of the state.

Topeka, Kan., April B.—Much property has been destroyed by prairie fires in Graham and Phillips counties. Only meager particulars can be learned. It is known, however, that a great deal of hay, several head of horses and about fifty head of sheep perished, and that Mrs. Bowen and three children were caught in the flames and so badly burned that they have since died. A strong south wind has been blow ing over western Kansas for several days and the dry grass is very heavy and thick. Everything before one of these great fires succumbs to its terrible ravages. Passengers who come in on the Rock Island say that the entire heavens are lighted at night by these fires