The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1903-10-23
PRAIRIE FIRE DESTROYS RANGE
CAUSED BIZ DEWEY EHPL0YEs WHILE
BURNING FIRE GUARDS.
Grass on a stretch Of Country Five Miles
LonE and Several Miles wide Destroy
ed-E b. Arlzerman's Ranch Burned
Over-FIre Due 70 Carelessness-


The first prairie tire Of the season. and
one that burned over thousands Of acres
Of buffalo grass, started on the Nc
Cluskey ranch in the northeast part Of
the county Monday about noon, sweep
ing s0utheast with the wind and burn
ing over z. B. Ac,ksrusn's large range
and only stopped when It bad come
within 30 feet Of Thsddeus MeDsriels'
grausry, shout I've miles from where il
started
Employees Of the Dewey Cattle con-
pauy were burning freguards around
stacks Of hay and burning the grass be-
tween, on the ranch the company pur-
chased from Barney McCluskey, when
the IRE lesped the insufficient burrows
and was soon beyond control. The wind
was blowing from the northwest and the
fire easily made rapid progress in 3 south
easterly direction. Ii started on section
Is 9 50. swept over the most Of Acker-
mans range in range 81 and 5, crossing
the township line between 8 and ., and
burned OF some Of the grass on Thsd-
deus McDaniels' place on township .,
range 3. The neighbOrs Of Mr.. Nc
Daniels had hard time 10 stop the pro
gress Of the FIRE, and they succeeded
only when it had advanced upon them
within 80 feet Of the gransry. The stacks
Of wheat on the farm had not been
threshed, and the granary vas about
empty.
The Dewey outfit consisted Of three
teams and i've men. The stacks we're
located on ground where the grass was
/ heavy, and as the pillow turned the fur
row the long stems Of dry grass stuck
out from below, which carried the blaze
across the burrows. The damage done
TO the range Is considerable
The range Of Mr.. Alderman, covering
several sections OF land, and which had
supported a large herd Of cattle through
out the year, Is now nothing but black
and charred stretch Of territory. Some
I Of McDaniels' land was burned over, and
other tracts Of land belonging 10 Don
resident parties suffered the same fate.
Whether or not there Is foundation
/ for their assertions, some Of the people
: from the northeast psrtsof the county
say. that it looks as though there was
/ great carelessnsss on the part OF the
/ Dewey men, OF that they let the IRE get
away on purpose. 1t Is q well known
fact that Ackeruan and some others in
that part OF the country have been .
thorn il the flesh Of the Unsuitable
/ Dewey company, because they would
not capitulate their holdings At the price
named by Dewey. Ackermsn Is himself
quoted as saying that Deweys had de-
clared that be would be the next man
that they would Gust IN s0ue way from
that corner Of Sherman Men who have
!, been taught by experience TO dlstrust
\ the subtle operations Of the Dewey CON-
pany 10 this county believe that since
/: the wind was just right to carry the tre
: over almost all " the Acksrmsn hold
ings and to practically burn the wan
out. while little damage was done 70 the
: McCIuskey place, that there might be
: something in the report after all
The Dewey Cattle company may have
70 face a damage suit. OcessiODed bl
this Ere. as II hardly seems that the hns
could have gotten away had proper pre-
: cautions been taken.
A prairie Ere was set vest Of town
: supposedly by locomotive, Wednesda!
! evening about 6 O'Clock Fire was start
y ed ID several places and it was not en
n tirely eztinguished until about 10 o'clocl
that night. 1t is not known here tn
amount Of damage done
\ Try our first grade FlOur-"UGior