The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-10-08

Localities Have Been Destitute Longer
--Drouth and Forest Fires p ut the People
at Their Wits End-Some Are Hauling
Property mage and Los OF Life by
Forest Fires In the Dominion Of Canada
News of Coniagrations
Little Rock, Ark, Oct. 7--Drouth and
forest fires are playing considerable
havoc in Arkansas and the situation
grows worse every day. Thousands OIL
dollars worth Of valuable timber and
other property has been destroyed by
fire, and stock in nearly all sections OF
the state is suffering from scarcity Of
water while in some places there is not
enough obtainaole to supply the people
with drinking water. No general rain
has fallen for over sixty days, and in
some localities the drouth is Of even
longer duration The forests, being as
dry as finder, the ground covered with
dry leaves and decaying vegetation.
have furnished splendid material for
fires and from all sections reports Of
disastrous forest confiagrations are be-
ing received Miles of fences have been
destroyed, sawnills burned, cabins
Quilted and in some instances the flames
have been communicated 10 larger
fields of open cotton, which were de-
stroyed. In hundreds OF localities wells
and springs have entirely dried up and
residents are hauling water in barrels
from the nearest streams which in
some sections are twenty miles distant.
Nearly all late vegetables have been
parched in the fields. The people in
many localities are holding meetings
and praying for rain.
MANITOBA FOREST FIRES.
Winnipeg, Oct. The forest fires
that have been raging in Manitoba close
to the boundary line for the past ten
Gays have broken out more furiously
than ever. Ten or twelve persons are
reported 10 have been burned 10 death
and the fire is rapidly spreading over
the boundary line into Dakota.
Firemen have been fighting the flames
night and day trying to keep them from
getting into the more thickly populated
districts. Hundreds Of thousands OF
stroyed and considerable grain as we'll
as some farm buildings.
Up TO this time the fire has been con-
fined to the Canadian side OF the hound
airy, but the Swarth line between the
United States and Manitoba has been
ob,iterated and great fears are enter
tanned that the fire will get beyond the
control Of the settlers.
The flames are driving hundreds Of
wolves and coyotes out in the open
country and large 1ocks Of geece and
ducks have been seen flying over the
burning forests
Near White Mouth, H Laundry, a
trapper, was burned to death. \ Ger
man woman living near where the fire
was the most furious yesterday is re-
ported TO have burned to death and her
cnildren are missing.
\ dispatch from White Mouth says the
fire is spreading rapidly. East Of White
Mouth the situation is very critical.
The section foreman at Darwin and his
wife and men were picked up by
freight train and brought into White
Mouth. Roadmaster Horner on a hand
car attempted TO run from Darwin with
his men, but nearly succcumbed TO suf-
location. He was compelled TO take
refuge in a passing freight. All the tel
egraph poles for several miles east OF
town are down and trains are led up.
At Broken Head. Manitoba, the coun-
try is one fire and enormous damage is
being. Mr.. and Mrs. Young living
south Of there. only saved their lives by
ct in ha NV
Their home was destroyed.
At Beauzjour, Manitoba. seven per-
sons have been burned TO death. Mr.. O.
W. Thomas. her young son and daugh-
ter had a race with the flames for sew
eral miles They had a team of horses
which they kept on the run. Sparks
from the burning timber were blown in
10 the dry grass of a prairie which they
were compelled TO cross and soon they
We're surrounded by the flames. The
frantic horses started 70 run straight !
ahead into the burning timber. Before /
they had gone far the carriage over !
turned and they were thrown down an |
embankment into a small creek This !
probably saved their lives. They were /
badly burned.
A.
Ottawa, Ont, Oct. There have 1
been no further fatalities reported from |
the scene Of the forest fires along the |
line Of the Canada Atlantic railroad 1
The deaths number five: Mrs. Frank /
Layille and her two children. Ellen /
aged s years, and Francis aged year: 1
Miss Stiles, Mrs. Layille's sister and /
Airs. LaCroiX. Their charred remains /
were all found in the vicinity south OF /
Indian. Subscriptions for the relief of /
the sufferers are being received and the I
destitute are being cared for. Five
townships We're burned over. including /
an area Of seventeen 5y twenty-five /
miles around.
FIRES IN SOUTH DAKOTA
Deadwood. :. D.. Oct. "A disastrous
timber fire is raging at Ragged Top. |
ana ths town Of Preston is in imminent /
danger. Tonight the fire was within
forty rods Of the pcs,office at Preston.
DESTRUCTION IN INDIANA.
Fort Wayne Ind. Oct Forest
fires are raging in the eastern part ~
this county ana farmers have organized
10 fight the flames Last evening the
little towns 81 Edgerton and Baldwin
were threatened With fire and were saw
ed only after hard work. Many barns
and much grain have been DESTROYED
RAILWAY BUILDINGS GO Up.
Macon. Ga. Oct. The Central rail
road buildings here We're destroyed by
fire this morning. The alarm Vas turn
ei in shortly after l O'clock. TIE Whole
department turned cut bu; the flames
had made such Roadway that i was I'M
possible 70 save much The loss Will
N o,,-,. n +,,'I,- S75 can r., o,--,-,,,,. I