Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-08-10
PRAIRIE FIRES.
Western Counties in Kansas Being De-
vastated of Vegetation.
Vast Stretches Of Country Present Most
Dismal sight-Herds Of Cattle Roasted.
Many Close Calls
Special to the Gazette.

Special to the Gazette.
DODGE CITY, KAN. Aug. 9.-That which the
Kansas farmers have feared has come to pass.
Prairie fires are devastating the western counties
OF the state and are spreading in spite Of the
most strenuous efforts of the people to check
them. In Ford and Edwards counties the fires
appear to break out from spontaneous combus-
ton, and they burn so iercely that they sweep
over large tracts of country, leaving nothing but
the bare ground in the track. In the northern
portion of Ford county tract twenty miles
square was burned over Inside of two hours after
the flame started. The cornfelds are like so
much finder, and when the fire strikes one edge
oil the field 1t passes through it with the quick
ness of a fash OF lightning.
Nearly all OF the farmers are preparing for the
advent OF fire by burning patches around their
homes, and this has proven to be wise precau-
ton in the case of Francis E. Clark, who lives
In the nor beast corner of the county. When
the farmers began to patrol the country for the
purpose Of preventing fires Clark strongly ad-
yocated the protection OF each house by burn
ing strip around the buildings. He thus pro-
tected his own property. On Friday a fire was
started about ten miles northeast of Dodge City
and rapidly made It's way before the southwest
wind. Ciark's house stood in the center of
large field OF corn, which was dried yellow by
the SUMS action. space of about a hundred
feet had been cleared around the houses and the
ground was perfectly bare.
When the fire reached the corn it was but an
instant until 1t had passed clear across the field
and the house stood in the center of roaring
mass OF flames. 1t took the constant efforts of the
entire family to prevent the houses from catch
ing. and for two hours the fight was continued.
Dozens of times the roof or sides of either the
house outbuildIdgs were on fire, and when
the danger was over the house had the appear
ance of having received coat of black paint.
Two fine colts and COW that were IN a lot broke
away and fled before the fire, and their charred
bodies were found in the field after the flames
had passed.
Reports from these fires come from all parts of
the counties mentioned, and in many instances
there have been hair breadth escapes from loss
OF life. So far there has be.n no loss of human
life or of buildings, but in numerous instances
livestock has been destroyed. in addition to the
destruction of crops of all kinds. The standing
corn and grass has been swept as clean
floor, and the blackened earth presents a most
dismal sight. Vast stretches of country where
only few weeks ago all was clothed IN living
green are now covered with ashes.
In Edwards county the farm Of j. M.
Wright a herd of twenty head of cattle was
caught by fire and every one was killed. The
cattle were in a pasture near the house, and
when the fire started toward them they dashed
ahead of the flames and broke down the fence of
a corn field. 1t was but minute till the corn
was on fire and the long tongues of fame leaped
with such rapiditv that the speed of an express
train would not have saved the doomed animals.
Mad with fright and pain their believing was
terrible to hear. but the approach of death was
SO swift that their agony was soon over.
While every day brings added danger to the
farmers, they think that with proper care they
Will be able to save all except the vegetation,
and console themselves with the thought that
the fall rains will bring out wonderful crop of
late grass and such vegetables as they may
plant