Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1897-10-23
ABOUT THE FIRE.

known as the John Gochenour claim,
or Roberts place, about one mile
south of Harry Strickler'S residence.
The known circumstances bearing
upon the origin of the fire are as fol-
lows: Mr.. Stricken had a crop of
wheat on the place and Al. Swisher's
threShlng outfit threShed there on
Wednesday. At noon of that day
Mr.. SwiSher raked the ashes from his
engine out upon an old stack bottom
and wet them down thoroughly, as
was supposed He threshed two other
sets" there that afternoon and pull
ed out Thursday morning. The fire
was discovered about noon of Thurs
day by Moses Peacock. who was herd
ing for Mr.. Stricken. He was about
one mile from the fire, which had adj
vanced half mile toward Strickler's
buildings. From all appearances then
and since the fire started from the old
stack bottom, We understand that
Mr.. Swisher thinks it could not have
started from his ashes, but no other
has been offered.
Many of the Immediate neighbors
were in town with wheat. The num-
Der includes PerShing, Peacock, Geo.
Hobbick, Nixon, Bryant and Strick-
Ter. w. II. Hiber's crew were thresh-
ing on III. Hobbick's farm, but on ac-
count of the high wind they had shut
down and most of them had gone to
town. Help was scarce. Harm
Schneider was notified and he and
George Kulp tried to back fire around
Strickler'S feed yard but the wind was
too strong and the feed burned a little
earlier than it would otherwise. The
wind was blowing d 3O-mile rate and
the head fire at times Travelled faster
than horse could run. 1t passed be-
tween the residence of Supt. Peacock
and the Center school house, where
Stella Cox is teaching, and headed
directly for the premises of ID. b.
Rogers on the Harlan farm. (The
wind carried the fire a little east of
nOrth.) Families in the neighbour
hood left their dinners uneaten, some
hardly taking time to save valuableS.
School was dismissed and all the
women and children sent to places of
safety.
LOSSES.
Harry Stricken lost is tons of feed
and range. He saved some straw and
a few loads of feed not stacked. His
wheat was all threshed and safe in a
dugOut.
Benson brothers lost their stabling
and feed, including some corn. They
also lost one set double harness, one
set single harness, and a saddle. They
were also in town.
The homes of A. u. Hinshaw, t. J.
Nixon and w. f. Barber and all their
buildings were saved only by the
hardest work and great exposure.
They each saved their grain and feed
in stack wards, but lost all their cattle
range and most of their straw stacks.
Almost the same may be said of Won
ner, Chalk, Bryant and II. Hobbick.
The vacant buildings on E. +.
Bryant's homestead were burned.
Ed Hobbick lost his pasturage and
sorghum in the field.
Dob Iii
Saleen, lost four large stacks of prime
hay and their paSturage.
A. S. Peacock lost two stacks of
wheat, one of rye and one of barley.
This was the only grain burned in the
stack and Il few hours of calm weather
market. He also lost several loads of
hay and all his usual cattle range.
The fire burned within sixty feet of
his door before it was extinguiShed.
D. B. Rogers is probably the
heaviest loser. He lost 3 hogs, 40
young hens, and one of his mules was
injured but will probably recover.
His granary burned and with it he
lost 15O bushels of wheat, 90 of oats,
40 of sorghum seed and 20 of Jerusa-
lem corn All his pasturage was also
burned. In the granary were go
bushels of wheat belonging to G. f.
Folkers, some wheat belonging to ii.
Stephens. Mr.. Harlan's loss on lum-
Der and buildings is at least $50. Mr..
Rogers was with out help until too
late to save his properly. He and his
wife carried water all night trying to
save a sod stable. but the roof and
timbers burned Friday morning about
daylight
Who is opposed to fire guards now?
The Iowa threshing were not too far
away to help.
The extreme length of the burnt district
is 10 miles and the width miles
Several loads of Wa-Keeneyites took a
hand in fire fighting
1t is fortunate lives were lost and it
seems wonderful that all escaped so well.
Hiber and his crew did valiant work with
his tank wagon when they reached the scene
of action
Hiber's threshing, outfit stood in plowed
field and was thereby saved. but the prairie
burned within 20 rods of it.
Frank Barber was away from home when
the fire came. but he let his .-SorrelS'' go and
got there in time to do good work
Peacock. Strickler and Ed Hobbick have
boar, Sie ine he Rrc frV<1