The morning call., 1894-10-27
Sweeping Over Western
Nebraska.
STOCKMEN LOSE HEAVILY.
Thousands of Tons of Hay
Destroyed
AND THEIR RANGE ALL GONE
1t Is Feared Also That Many Head
of Cattle. Have Been
Killed.

GORDON. Nebr., Oct. 26.-Prairie fires
are sweeping over the sandhilIs in this
vicinity and are doing immense damage.
The flames are travelling with almost light
ming raptdity and consuming everything
in their track. Last night the fire was
driven by wind through sthe central por-
ton of Sheridan ana Cherry counties. lu
its track were the big Osborne and Spade
ranches and number of smaller ones.
This morning not vestige IF these
ranches exist except the burned and
Scorched ground.
At noon the fire was reported TO have
reached Pullman and the whole country
in that neighborhO0d was a raging furnace.
1t is not known whether any lives were
lost, but thousands of head of cattle have
perished. The people in the track of the
fire are fleeing for their lives. leaving their
property to the mercy of the flames.
The fire broke out last Monday in the
sand hills about ffty miles south of this
place, and has burned over strip of cOun-
try 100 miles in length by 40 miles wide.
The fire is burning in an eastsrly direction.
The flames burned all the range slick and
clean on the Spade Ranch. belonging to
Richards 81 Cairnes, and about 5000 tons of
hay, leaving about 1000 tons. This ranch
has 1000 head of cattle and 10 head of
horses. and the fire will necessitate the
moving of the herd and outfit up to the
White River in South Dakota. The next
ranch TO burn was Stanbire Bros, who
lost all of their hay about 900 tons) and
all of the range, this ranch having 1900
head of cattle. The next ranch was Len
OSbOrne's, burning all his range and all
his hay about 400 tons) aud his barns and
outbuildings. this ranch feeding about 200
head of cattle. Osborne will have TO
move his cattle at once, as he has no hay
or range and no protection at all The
next ono was Miners ranch, burning all
his hay about 3C0 tons), and feeding about
200 head OF cattle. The fire was swept on
by a heavy west wind, notwithstanding
that there were thirty men working like
beavers 20 put it out. The next ranch to
go was WooGrufi's, burning his hay (about
AGO tOns) and all his range. The range
supported 800 head of cattle. Woodruff
also lost his barns. sheds and corrals. Mr..
Baugh was next In line, and he lost all his
hay 600 ions) all his range and about 400
head of cattle.
The next was Nason's. the fire burning
him out. with about 1000 tons of hay. He
was also postmaster, and had a store
carrying a stock of goods worth about
$4,000. with very little or no insurance.
He bad 200 head OF cattle. The next was
Davis. who lost all his hay, 1900 tons,
but none of his buildings. and he has
about Go head of cattle.
This was as far as the fire had gone at
noon. There are quite number of small
ranches burned over on the Burlington
and Missouri Railroad. John Enlow.
Samuel Chestnut, Morey & Hewitt, j. II.
Oyerton and Dan Hill are the only men
who were not burned out. The loss from
this fire at present will run up into the
millions, besides the expense of moving all
the stock, for hay is scarcer this fall than
it has been for years.