Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-03-26
FURIOUS FLAMES.
Western Kansas Counties Suffering
from Disastrous Prairie Fires.
Houses Barns, Their Contents, Grain and
Livestock Destroyed The Fires
Started Accidentally
sneciaI TO the Gazette.

Special to the Gazette.
KANSAS CITY, Mo-, March 25.-The
reports from the Western counties of
Kansas become more and more alarming
| each dav, Prairie fires are raging in
four counties, and the indications are
that they will continue until rain comes
to quench them. Up to O'Clock this
evening the damage had reached the
enormous total of over $3.50, 200 in
| houses, grain, machinery and stock that
has been lost by the flames. Rocks
county appears to have suffered the
worst, and in that county the fires are
out, simply for the reason that there is
| nothing more to burn.
A fire was started in the extreme
southeastern corner of the county Sum-
day morning by a farmer burning corn
stall ks. and from this il rapidly spread to
the northwestern corner, clearing every
thing in its path entirely across the
county, except the towns and few farm
houses which were saved by the strenu-
Gus efforts of the people, who turned out
in body to fight the fires. For thirty
six hours the fire ragged without ceasing,
and when it stopped and the county came
out from it's terrible baptism nothing re-
NAMED but the bare and blackened
earth and the scOrched houses which re-
manned. All the live stock IN the county
had either been burned or run out of the
way of the flames.
The wind, which was light on Satur-
day evening, increased until a perfect
gale was blowing, and the dry dirt and
sand rose, mingling with the clouds of
smoke, and literally obscured the whole
atmosphere.
1t was supposed that the fire would be
stopped by the Salmon river, but the
fam es leaped the ten rods of water as if
it had been dry ground and passed swiftly
toward the city of Stockton, which until
that time had been supposed to be safe
from all danger. Counter fires were at
once started, and every effort was made
to prevent the town from being de-
stroyed. The effort was successful,
and the flames went roaring by to the
westward.
In this county it is estimated that
1900 tons of hay, 1000 bushels of grain
and other farm produce to the amount Of
$50 900 has been destroyed.
The farmer who started stalk fire will
be arrested and prosecuted.
The heaviest losers in this (Rooks)
county are William Watson and George
Tho mpson, who both lost their houses,
barnes, farm machinery and a large
amount OF live stock.
In Lincoln county the fire was started
by spark from chimney and spread
rapidly westward before q high wind,
burning over twenty sections of land and
destroying large amount of hay and
grain. No houses nor livestock was
burned in the fire. It jumped across the
Saline river and was stopped by a high
embankment of the Missouri Pacific rail-
road west of Lincoln. Another fire was
strated west Of Lincoln and swept rapidly
TO the western line of the county.
The situation has become so serious
that mounted patrol has been organized
by the farmers, who ride over the county
night and day and give timely warning
to all farmers who are in danger.
In Sedgwick county fire was started
on the farm of W. c. Webster, in the
southwestern portion of the county, ana
spread over forty sections of land, burn
ing eight farm houses and out buildings,
besides destroying many thousands of
bushels of corn, wheat and oats, and q
large amount of hay.
In this county 1t Is yet impossible TO
estimate the damage, as the fire is still
burning with undated fury, and Is
sweeping towards the Colorado line west
of mere. The only hope for the country
in Western Kansas now is a heavy ram, |
and it must come very soon to be of SER
vice.
Small fires are reported from nearly |
every Kansas county west of the center |
Of the state, and it is said that in many |
places the fires are started by inoendi- |