The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-03-04
PRAIRIE FIRES SWEEP
VAST AREA IN SOUTHWEST.


very armament appeared TO be at thu
mercy of the mad flames.
| On the ground, punches OF burning
grass. strips of flaming timber and art
| cIes of household goods brought acros,
| the blazing prairie rolled along. leaped all
imped.ments, skipped avenues and flung
themselves into the face OF battling
people.
nUspERaTE WORK SAVES
LaWTOS FROM DESTRUCTION.
A thousand men turned their efforts m
checking the grass borders Of the reser-
walton at the city limits. Water 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 ad-
vance lines of the fire. but was Of little
avail in hindering the continued rolling
of the firebrands into the streets of the
city.
In more than a hundred places the
flames arose from dwellings, barns and
outhouses. and, wherever blaze grew.
men were present to quench it with
water As result Of the heroism and
cool judgment OF the fighters, the city
still stands, with losses not exceeding So
OO0.
Stories are coming in tonight telling
how families lay out on the barren prairie
through the freezing night after the storm
had passed with only thin clothing TO
protect them from the cold. Hundreds
of people are destitute. and are suffering
intensely from the cold and their painful
burns.
Clothes, medicine and physicians are be-
ing sent out from all the cities and towns
of the district to relieve the suffering
The storm and fire together constitute
terrible calamity, greater than at first
supposed. "A broad territory OF fertile
farms was devastated, and many family
is left absolutely destitute.
The corps of cavalry from Fort Sill and
officers from this city are continuing vigi-
lantIy their search for missing men,
women and children.
HEAVY LOSSES IN NEBRASKA.
Lincoln, Neb., March 3.-Prairie nres.
raging throughout the night, were checked
in Western and Southwestern Nebraska
this morning. The wind subsidized and the
Platte River enabled the farmers to put
lives and many barns were burned near
thousand. -
Omaha, Neb, March "a special to II
Bee from Lincoln. Neb.. says:
A terrific prairie hre swept over the
northeastern part OF tho county tonight
and to-day, doing an immense amount Of
damage. Several buildings were burned.
live stock destroyed and much damage
done to other property. A large foroe or
men fought the fire all day.
The heavy wind which prevailed famed
the flames across the open praisie at a
rapid rate, and they got beyond control.
The fire was started by farmer burning
weeds.
Reports from Kearney, Neb.. also re-
port prairie fires, which destroyed a large
amount Of property.
Elwood. Neb., March "A damaging
prairie fire ragged most Of yesterday after
noon and last night near here. destroying
the home Of II. o. Haller, burning his
house, barn and outbuildings, two teams
of horses and harness. hay and grain. Il
burned the barn and outbuildings and If
teen hundred bushels Of wheat at the
home Of ]. s. Ewen and the house and
other buildings belonging to Mrs. Corder.
MANY FIRES IN KANSAS.
Topeka, Kas.. March &-Numerous re-
ports are coming In from Kansas counties
selling Of heavy losses from last nights
prairie fire. In almost every instance the
Tres were caused by people burning stub
Die and pasture land. The high wind came
and the fires were beyond
control In a short time