The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-10-05
SMOKE HID.
Never So Smoky, Fiery, Dry,
Hot and Dusty
As It Is Now in Chicago and on
the Lake.
TWENTY-SEVEN YEARS
Since Such a Spell of Weather
Struck the Northwest.
Steamers on the lakes Delayed
by the Smoke.

Chicago, Oct. 5.-Extremely hot
weather for the month of October is
now prevailing in this section. During
the past "A hours the thermometer in
this city went up to Sc degrees, and,
according to the signal service records,
this is the highest point that has been
registered for the month of October in
q years. Dense smoke aggravated the
conditions. On account of drought of ,
months everything is dry as tinder and
forest and prairie fires are numerous.
Lake Michigan has been made almost
unnavigabIe on account of the smoke
and fog.
Captains on incoming vessels have
reported a most alarming state of af-
fairs. Many had not slept for As hours
on account of the watchfulness that
was necessary. Boats picking their
way through the straits of Mackinaw
were practically brought to a stand
still many times. Landmarks were ut
terly ObIiterated and lights rendered
indistinct at a. distance of a length of
a steamer. The smoke is attributed
to excessive forest fires. Hunting par
ties careless in their camping are
thought to have started the broad con-
hagratiOns.
Marine underwriters are apprehen-
sive of numerous standings on ac-
count of the smoke. and bulletins from
the lower end lakes are watched for
with great anxiety.
ChicagO'S southern wards and su-
burbs are surrounded by prairie fires
and dense smoke OVerhangS a large
part of the territory lying south of
Seventy-fifth street. Hundreds of acres
of prairie have been burned over, and
thousands of sidewalks and fencing
have been consumed. E7iremen in this
division of the city are completely ex-
hggT tod fisrnf iv-ic IAxr
and night. Most of the fires are start
ed by sparks from locomotives and not
infrequently by mischievons boys, who
set the grass on fire for the excite
rient.
A dispatch from Bremen, Ind. says
the most disastrous prairie fire known
in the history of Marshall county is
now raging. Hundreds of acres of land
in the northern portion of the county.
comprising what is locally known as
the THE Big Marsh" is one vast,
smoldering waste. At times, when
famed by a breeze the peat bursts
into a blaze, and, darting across clover
fields, corn fields or meadows lays
waste everything in its path, only stop
ping when headed off by plOwed fields
or highways.
The drought of the last go days has
made the pastures brown, compelling
stock to seek the Iowlands for grazing,
where the fire is smouldering under
meath. Many instances are reported
where cattle, in passing over the
treacherOus ground, have broken
through O the burning peat perished
Farmers are kept busy day and night
fighting the flames and preventing de-
structiOn of their homes but the lack
of water makes the battle almost hope
less.
Just west of WaIkerton more than l.
600 acres has been swept of every yes
tige of vegetation, many thousands of
tons of hay and miles of fences having
been consumed. The large barn of
Joseph Kirkley was in the path of the
flames and together with it's contents,
composed of hay. grain and farm ma
chinery, was burned. With fire on eve
ry side, great anxiety is being felt for
the safety of towns without fire pro-
lection. Nothing short of a drenching
rain can possibly check the progress of
the flames.