Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1904-03-09
PRAIRIE FIRE
PROVES FATAL
Several Lives Lost in Oklahoma Ter
ritory by Flames, Which Sweep
Across the State.
MUCH PROPERTY is DESTROYED
Farm Houses, Stock and Products
Go Up in smoke-Lawton City
Barely Escapes.

oklahoma City. March &,-Drtyen
by a terrific gale from the north,
which at times reached a velocity OF
90 miles an hour. n prairie fire swept
over 10000 acres in Commanche
comfy last night. inhicling damage
now estimated at s2ooooo. The city
OF l.awton was saved only by eS
IRENE effort. while many farm houses
were consumed.
Klowa county was also visited by
a prairie fire during the storm, while
damage is reported from all over the
southwest. The losses from wind and
fire reported TO date follows:
Hobart. $4,000; Vlnson. $1,000;
Lawtou. IS. 700; small country towns
aggregate $5OoOo. farm property.
S1O0. 600.
Persistent reports o. loss OF life
come from rural districts, but owing
Ia difficulties of communication The!
have not yet been confirmed.
The fire started nca the Wichita
mountains in the military reserve,
and during The afternoon had gained
such Roadway that when it crossed
into the settled country 1t could not
he checked. Al ~ o'clock the wind
suddenly shifted and n fearful gale
| swept down from the north, with the
velocity of a hurricane. In n few
minutes the country for miles was al
atmosphere of sitting smOke and
binding sand, as the flames. mad with
the fury of the wind, swept down
| upon the settled country and towns
10 the south.
Homes were hurriedly abandoned
by settlers and stock turned loose
while all sought safety in hight
Some unable TO escape were burned
to death. but how MANY will no be
known until the burned district is
| explored by relief parties which have
been sent Il from Lawion, Hobart
Fort sill and Anadarko.
Mr.. Harmon. whose body WAS
found in a barn. was caught while
trying to a V his horse. Lawton
was in the path OF the fire and as
soon as the danger was known 1000
men placed themselves under diroc
ton of the fire department for the
protection Of the city. Because 81
their heroic efforts the town was say
ed.
For many miles not a house is len
standing. while reports from l.awtor
state that the magnitude of the cal
amity increases as details arrive
More than 1000 people are homeless
and penniless and many are in neet
OF medical attention.
Sought Refuge in River.
Hill City. Kas.. March 3.-The pra.
RTE fire that swept across this cit!
did damage TO the amount OF $4,000
or more. A large number of peopl.
sought refuge on the banks of th'
Solomon river during the fire anC
some of them narrowly escaped be
ing burned 10 death. Several recelv
ed severe injuries. A number o
dwellings. the county jail. a lumbc
yard, horses and cattle and 1000,
bushels OF corn were destroyed.
Some of the Burned.
Guthrie. o. T., March "a dispatCl
from Lawton gives a partial list o
those who lost their lives in the pral
rie fire and those who were injured
as follows:
ID. Harmon. living six miles north
east of Lawton. burned 10 a crisp
Jack Hammond. can not live: \. \
Crawford. near Lawton, badly burr
ed, may prove serious: Mrs. IIendei
son, widow living three miles iror
I.awton. and two daughters. serious
ly burned, one can moi live; a. 5
Strickland. slightly burned: X. /
TrOspcr. slight injuries.
The report says thai more fatal
ties are expected as the reports froI
some districts are meager II tells c
many narrow escapes of whole fam
lies in their night clothes, tleein
from their burning homes and Leaf
ing their stock and property to go Il
in smoke.