The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-03-04

John Harmon and daughter OF Mrs.
Henderson, living near Lawton. were IA
tally burned.
The country was very dry, no rain
having fallen for two months. Grass and
stubble fires. set by farmers, as is Gus
tomsry at this season OF the year. were
driven beyond control by violent gale,
which rose suddenly.
LOSS ABOUT 100000
Estimates OF the loss exceed $4,000.
At Hobart the county seat OF Kiowa
county. the FIRE approached from the east.
destroying stables and rs race horses, 10
residences. two business houses and va
rious small buildings. Spreading to the
south west the FIRE swept 70 acres OF gov
ernment military and timber reserve and
Indian school reserve. destroying several
Indian houses and 40 head OF government
cattle.
Spreading westward, the flames covered
miles OF homestead district. destroying
houses barns and stock.
II was In this district that Ave per-
sons are reported TO have perished In
attempting to protect their property. The
persons were Doc and John Hammond.
brothers, man named Fisher and two
women.
Late at night the fire began moving
southwark toward tkis city.
At midnight 5000 people OF the city
were battling with the approaching
flames. The advance line OF the FIRE was
fully two miles I'm length and came in a
semi circular form. thousand men
turned their efforts TO checking tho grass
borders OF the reservation at the city
limits.
Water from every source. carried In
every conceivable way. was distributed
along the line and carried around the
city limits This served the purpose of
checking the advance line OF the fire.
but was OF little avail In hindering the
continual rolling of the frebrands into
the streets Of the city.
DESTITUTE AND SUFFERING.
in more than hundred places flames
arose from dwellings. barns and out
buildings, but wherever blaze grew
men were present TO quench Il with
water. Families lay out on the prairie
throughout the freezing night after the
storm had passed with only thin clothes
on their backs. Hundreds OF people are
destitute and are suffering intensely from
the cold.
A report has been received at Fort
Sill, that an entire Apache Indian vii
lage was swept clean. The report has
not been verified. The soldiers at Fort
Sill rendered great assistance in quell-
ing the flames
At Anandarko many farm buildings
were burned. No lives are reported lost
but there We're numerous narrow es-
capes. Women and children. scantily
clad, fed to plowed ground. whne the
men remained 10 fight the flames I'm an
endeavor TO save property
Tho losses from wind and fire reported
10 date follow
Hobart, $4,000: vinson. $4,000: Iawton.
10000: small country towns aggregate
100000; farm property. 10000
Persistent reports OF loss OF life come
from rural districts. but owing TO tho
difiicuities OF communication they have
not yet been confirmed.
KANSAS PRAIRIEs ABLAzE.
Salina, KaS March 4-Reports of
many serious prairie fires. aided bv the
nigh wind In this section and west Of
here, are coming I'm. At Hnl CITY. the
court house. jail and 80 residences are
reported destroyed. and one woman is
SAID 10 have been burned TO death
Instances Of farmers being caught with
their teams in the prairie fires and of
many persons seriously burned are nu
merous.