The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-06-04
City and Coon Run Are
Obliterated.
Enough Men Can't be Got to
Stop the Flames.

BRADFORD, Pa, June 4-Elk county
has experienced a number of destruc-
tive forest fires, but those of Sunday and
yesterday surpass them all. The fire at
Russell City was one that drove terror
to the hearts of 500 people who inhabit
the place. At 10 o'clock brisk west wind
sprung up and famed the burning un-
derbrush and hemlock timber into one
solid mass of fire covering a stretch of
three miles in width.
The people who were about exhausted
frgm fighting the flames for the past
three days were forced to fee for their
lives The flames spread SO rapidly that
the people had to leave everything and
run to the clearing two miles distant to
Highland Corners. Women with chill
dren in their arms shrieking and be-
moaning their fate ran and stumbled as
they escaped from the fire.
Women Fell Exhausted.
Many women fell exhausted and were
trampled on, but reached Highland in
safety. Nothing is left of the once hus-
ting little place.
The fire is still burning tiercely among
the oil wells The Northern Oil com
pany have twenty oil wells and a num-
Der of tanks burning at this place now,
ana thoro Is no abatement to the fury of
the flames. 1t is impossible to esti-
to Clark's mills, are one mass of flames on
both sides of the road and how the peo-
pie who live along the road could have
escaped, is beyond comprehension.
There Is no communication of any de-
scription with this place and no news OBJ
taiuable from there but there is no doubt
of everything having been burned in the
path of the fire as there was no pro-
lection of any kind. Every available
man is out fighting fire and there are not
half enough There is fire in every
direction and all efforts to check its
progress seem futile.
Coon Run Wiped Out.
Coon Run, three miles from Russell
City, which was wiped out yesterday
afternoon, was entirely obliterated from
the face of the earth, and nothing re-
mains to show there was ever such
place as Cook Run. The place consisted
OF n buildings, pump station, school
house and sawmill.
A b. Fowler, superintendent of the
Northern Oil company, says that while
he and his men were at work ''back fir
ing" a stiff breeze from the west came
up like magic and in less time than it
takes to tell It the fire was upon them.
They ran to the town and aroused the
people to fee for their lives
Men, women and children made
wild race for the railway track,
distance of five miles, while
the flames played havoc with
all their belongings. The Northern com
pany lost forty of its wells at this place
and large number of rigs that had been
built for the new wells.
35 Oil Wells Are On Fire.
The fire reported at Knapp's creek is
still raging and has done a large amount
of damage The fire has spread to Bells
camp and 80 oil wells are now on fire.
Reports from Duke Center state
that the entire valley is on fire and the
loss to oil and lumber men will be enorm-
Gus. Kansas Branch, Rixford, Davis
City. Summit City, Dallas City, Oil Val
ley, Limestone, State Line, Derrick City
and Red Rock, are all in the district and
unless rain falls soon, there is no telling
what the result will be-.
The sky is black with smoke and the
mountains are invisible on all sides, and
the heat is intense. No idle men can be
/ found and calls for men come from every
direction. Men are still lighting the fire
at Degolia and apparently have it under
control Saw mills and dwellings at
Sugar Run were burned, and nothing re-
mains of the place.
The fire at Brookston is still burning
fercely and there is no prospect of
checking the flames. It is impossible to
get men and consequently the fires make