The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1891-11-05
PRAIRIE FIRES RAGING.
Heavy Losses by Farmers In tho Kankn.
kee valley-Damage in North Dakota
and Kansas.

kee taHey-D3mago In North Dakota
and Kansas.
KANSAS CITY, Mo-, Oct 3l.-Rcports
received here from Kansas show that
vast prairie fires are raging all over
the western part of the state and also
in many counties in the eastern part.
From Franklin county comes the report
that thousands of tons of hay have
been burned, while corn in shock
and bins have also been destroyed.
The fire in Gray county is supposed to
have started from spark from loco
motive, and as the grass is like tinder
it spread rapidly and soon swept
over the county, licking up everything
in its path. In Butler county
the flames overlook a herd
of cattle, and sixteen head were
burned, while seven others were so
badly injured that they will die. Not
only was the grass burned but every
house in the line of the fire was de-
stroyed, and from the meager details
obtainable it is thought that seven
houses were burned in Butler county
alone. In Franklin county two houses
have been burned with all their con-
tents, and the fire is still rag
ing fercely. In Ford county the peo-
ple had no time to prepare for the fire
and were compelled to fee, leaving
everything behind them and. losing all
the grain, buildings, stock and imple.
ments in the place. Thousands upon
thousands of grazing lands have been
burned over, and as there were many
herds of cattle upon them, mum mbering
into the thousands, the loss among cat
tie is supposed to be very great.
There is no authentic report of loss
of human lives by the fire, but it is said
that two men who were fighting the
fire near Beaumont were overcome by
the flames as they were running
toward the town. They have
not been seen since. They started
along the track, but the people
of the town were so busy look
ing after the safety of the place
that they did not pay much attention
to the men. Near Argonia Mrs. c.
Twining was burned up in her house.
This fire surrounded the town of Ar
gonia and it took hard work to save the
buildings on the outskirts. A tele-
gram from Guthrie, o. T., received
late Friday night says prairie fires
have swept over the entire Pottawato-
mie reservation and the adjoining
counties, doing thousands of dollars
damage. Hundreds of farmers have lost
all their hay, grain and pasture, while a
score or more have their homes de-
stroyed. Many new settlers were
caught on the road and their
wagons loaded with their household
goods burned. No lives were lost but
a large amount of live stock perished,
and the fire is still raging in the
wooded district. where hundreds Of
people have been fighting the flames
all day.
MANDAN, N. D., Oct. S1.-A prairie
fire that started Thurs lay night north.
west of Mandan and burned toward
the Missouri river did considerable
damage. A range 40 miles long by 20
miles wide was burned
ELLENDALE, N. D., Oct 81 "A prai-
rie fire started Friday evening a few
miles north of this city. Much dam
oSS 90 uohO W dll, ,SUoCh
other property. There is rumor that
Fullerton, village insthe northern
part of this county, was destroyed, but
the rumor is vague.
MoMENcE, Ill, Oct 3l.-Prairie fires
are sweeping the country east of this
city between the Chicago & Indiana
coal road and the kankakee river.
The heaviest losers thus far are
the Chatfield brothers, one-half
mile east of Momence, who lost
all their farm buildings Friday
afternoon, including 1000 BUSH
els Of grain and large amount of hay
and implements. Their loss is between
$1,000 and $4,000. Farther east and
south the fire swept over a dozen
farms, burning several hundred tons
of hay, but destroying no buildings of
considerable value. Unless the stiff
south wind abates the loss will
he much larger, as the fires are still
burning.