The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-04
Three Thousand Square Miles of
Rich Prairie Burned Over, with
Very Heavy Loss.
MANY PERSONS INJURED
Refugees Lie Half Clad on the
Burned Prairie in a Bitter Wind
from the North.
INDIAN LANDS BURNED
Private and Government Property
and Indian Herds Destroyed
Soldiers Fight Flames.

LAWTON, O. T, March 3-Prairie fires
that swept over large portions OF Kiowa
and Commanche counties yesterday after
noon destroyed hundreds Of buildings and
much live stock. Two deaths are verified:
DR. HARMON, six miles from Lawton.
body found.
UNKNOWN BOY. body found on prairie
near Lawton. burned beyond Identification.
JOHN HARMON and a daughter of Mrs.
Henderson. living near Lawton. were fatally
burned.
The country was very dry. no rain hav-
ing fallen for months. Grass and stubble
fires, set by farmers. as is customary at
this season of the year, were driven beyond
control by a violent gale which rose sud-
denly. Fully 5000 square miles of country
were burned over. All estimates OF the
loss exceed 100000
The names OF six other persons badly
burned have been learned and reports per-
sistently continue from various districts
TO the effect that a large number OF per-
sons were injured in fighting the flames.
/. c. Strickland, the sexton of the Lawton
cemetery and his wife and two children
were seriously burned. The mother and one
little daughter may die. j. Danny, farm
er, was seriously injured. r. Z. Trosper,
living three miles out of Lawton, lost all
his property. a herd OF cattle and was
burned seriously, but with his entire family.
in night clothing, escaped TO plowed ground
and remained in the cold night air until
dawn. A II. Crawford. near Lawton.
was seriously burned. Mrs. Henderson, a
widow, three miles from Lawton, and two
daughters were seriously burned; one can
not live.
A report has been received at Fort sill
that an entire Apache Indian village was
swept clean The report has not been veri-
fed The soldiers at Fort Sill were ordered
out to fight the flames and rendered great
AROUND HOBART.
At Hobart, the county seat OF Kiowa
county, the fire approached from the east.
destroying the stables and fifteen race
horses, fifteen residences, two business
houses and various small buildings. Spread
ing to the southwest the fire swept 1890
acres of government military and timber
reserve and Indian school reserve. destroy
ing several Indian houses and forty head
of government cattle. Spreading westward
the flames covered miles OF the homestead
district, destroying houses, barns and
stock. 1t was in this district that five per-
sons are reported to have perished in at
tempting to protect their property.
Late at night the fire began moving
southwark toward this city. At midnight
5000 people of the city were up TO battle
with the approaching monster of destruc-
ton The advance line of the fire was fully
two miles in length and came in a semi
circular form. A thousand men turned
their efforts to checking the grass borders
of the reservation at the city limits. Wa
ter from every source. carried in every
conceivable way, was distributed along this
line and carried all around the city limits.
This served the purpose OF checking the
advance lines of the fire, but was OF little
avail in hindering the continual rolling OF
the fire brands into the streets Of the city.
In more than hundred places flames arose
from dwellings, barns and outhouses, but
wherever a blaze grew men were put to
quench it with water. As result Of the
cool judgment of the fighters. the city's
loss was only $4,000.
At Anadarko many farm buildings were
burned. No lives are reported lost, but
there were numerous narrow escapes.
Women and children scantily clad fed to
plowed ground, while the men remained in
an endeavor to save property.
Stories are coming in tonight OF how
families lay out on the prairie throughout
the freezing night after the storm had
passed with only the thin clothes on their
backs as remainders OF the once prosperous
homes Hundreds of people are destitute
and are suffering intensely in the cold and
with excruciating pains occasioned by their
burns.
Clothes, medicine and physicians are be-
ing sent out from all the cities and towns
of the district to relieve the suffering.
aF,1 cf4r frar
this city are searching for missing men.
women and children.