The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-03-04
VAST PRAIRIE FIRES.
A Greas Stretch of Territory Burned
I Over in Several Counties.

Salina, Kan, March Numerous
reports are coming in from Saline ana
adjoining counties telling of heavy
losses by prairie fires in the last TWO
days. In almost every direction from
this place Zig fires occurred. In every
instance SO far reported the fires were
due to persons burning stubble and
pasture land and when the unexpected
high wind came late Wednesday after
noon the fires sp1 cad very rapidly and
were beyond control in a remarkably
short time.
AS many as seven or eight fires oc-
CURED in Saline county all about the
same hour. The heaviest loser is Jacob
Weisberger, who had property destroy
ed to the amount of $4,000 with no in
surance About 200 acres were burned
near his place and his orchard is
ruined.
Charles Dott and his son were plow-
ing in a field when overtaken by the
flames. In an effort to save their horses
both men and horses were burned, the
animals so badly that it will be neces-
sary to kill them.
The farm of Nicholas Vogelsburs,
southeast of the city, was visited by
another fire which started several miles
north. The barn and all outbuildings
on his place were burned, including sew
eral head of stock. Mr.. Vogelsburg
loss is about $500 with $500 insurance.
At the farm of Phillip House new
barn and all outbuildings were destroy
ed. On Inc CODuTn farm 1ACe1A ny ca ~
the outbuildings and grain were burned.
James Martin, east of-Assyria, lost sew
eral head of hogs, two calves, straw
sheds and wood pile. At Gypsum city
a fire started in town and only by des-
perate efforts on the part OF the lnhap-
itants was it extinguiShed.
Many men, women and children
fought a fire at the farm of the county
commissioner. Mr. Jones. for several
hours and succeeded in saving the
! n0n WAS
caught in the fire and narrowly escaped
death. The farmers in the vicinity OF
school district No. 35 got out and fought
fire which threatened the destruction
of the building. All of the outbulldlngs
burned but the school was saved.
Near Culver, small town in Ottawa
county, J. w. Pipp lost his corn cribs
and 200 bushels of corn. NJ. R. Stevens,
all the outbuildings on his farm; George
Light, a haypress and his hay crop, and
George Retrocks, his entire hay crop
and feed In the south part of Lincoln
county two very disastrous fires got
started and before they had burned out
had burned considerable farm property
and a number of head of stock
J. F. Slower cashier of the Farmers
bank at Lincoln, lost his residence,
barn, granary and sheds on his place
near Shady Bend, also a number of head
! of hogs and calves and four head OF
fine horses. The barn on the farm or
Emil Fleming was destroyed and the
stable at the Shady Bend mill burned
4 to the ground
Near Colbert, in the southeastern part
of Lincoln county, another fire RACED
/ fiercely for several hours, destroying the
! house and all outbuildings on the farm OF
H b Jeffers, also a number OF head OF
stock All the buildings on the farm OF
Lawrence Stanley burned, and on this
same place ten head of fine cattle belong
ing to Peter Garriety lost their lives in
the flames A. H. Mcfarland lost several
sheds and a number of head of cattle on
his place -.
| In Mcpherson county, near Marquette,
an area of several miles was burned, de-
stroying many buildings and most or the
feed on the farms in its path.
| The fire which started near Colbert IN
Lincoln county, extended south into Els
worth and cut a swath a mile and half
wide and ten miles long, burning out only
when 1t reached the river near Annapolis
| A great amount of damage was done, one
large farmhouse in the path of the flames
was destroyed and number of small
buildings and a great amount of feed.
Reports received here state that hres
which ragged in Graham, Ellis and Rus
sell counties were also very destructive.
Most of the fires burned out during the
night.