Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-11-24
FIRE IN THE OzARKS
A Scope Of Country Thirteen Miles
Long in Flames.
an ENTIRE FAMILY BLOWN Up.
Quarryman Tries 10 Light . Fire with
keg Of Blasting Pow ter-Busineas
Portion of Perry, Ia, Hurn1si-
Wreck on The Btg Four

Macomb, Mo-, Nov 2l.-The arpes
and most destructive confagration
that has ever swept the Ozark noun
tains since 1884 is now circumscribine
this town for miles and miles, north
OF and parallel with the Memphis
road. The autumn heavy foliage has
rapidly fallen since frost and Is SUP.
posed to have been fred BY sparks
from freight engines Yesterday after.
noon. A scope of country IL miles
long is in flames, miles OF fences, or.
chards, plantations, farm, and dry pas
ture fields stocked with cattle and
other animals, and many old settlers
homes lie directly in the line OF the
ravaging monster while neighbor.
hoods are advancing to the scene, but
find themselves total y unable to check
the fames, and their only remedy is to
hurrledly turn out stock ahead of the
flames and desert premises The alti.
tude being 1850 feet above the sea and
a terrible sonthwestwardlv wind pre-.
vailing. great destruction is imminent.
The town OF Macomo will probably be
destroyed.
AN ENTIRE FAMILY BLOWN UP.
Portsmouth, o., Nov. sl.-By an &C.
cidental explosion OF blasting powder
yesterday, George Ferguson, a quarry.
man, is dying, two Of his children are
dead, and his wife and another child
disfgured for life. Ferguson was
hunting for wood to build o fire and
found powder can apparently full Of
coal. When he attempted to start q
fire with this, a loud explosion fol.
lowed, which knocked one side of the
house out. At the time Ferguson, his
wife and baby in arms and four little
daughters were grouped about the
stove. All were knocked down by the
force OF the explosion. Iva, aged six,
and Cynthia, aged II, died almost i'm.
mediately from injuries, and Ferguson
was terribly injured, so that he cannot
live. The mother and other children
are terribly burned and bruised and
may not live. 1t TRANSFERRED that the
can was partially filled with blasting
powder.
BUSINESS PORTION OF PERRY BURNED.
Perry, Ia, Nov 2l.--At midnight
The business portion Of this city was
beyond control A strong northwest |
wind swept the fire down both sides Of |
Second street. Several large brick
blocks have gone and the FIRE depart
was helpless to stay the progress. The
Des Moines FIRE department was com.
ing on the Rock Island and hose from
surrounding towns will be brought in.
The fire started In Mitchell's large liv.
Try barn and was soon communicated
10 the Grand Leader department store
across the street. 1t then swept down
The main street and over the residence
district In the center Of town. The
Methodist church and the Citizens
)ank are among the doomed uuild.
ngs The loss at present Is about
800, 900.
WRECK ON THE BIG FOUR
Alton, ILL.,, Nov 9l.-Eight persons
we're injured in u wreck on the Big
Four railroad shortly after seven
o'clock last night. The train was q
pecinl sent out Sunday evening to
Cast Alton to meet the excursion train
rom st. Louis to Nation, and con-
listed of but an engine and one car.
1t the entrance to Woods river bridge
frightened COW jumped under the
passenger car, derailing it. The car
truck the side Of the bridge and was
emolished, Only one passenger was
injured fatally.
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