The Goodland republic., 1907-03-29
PRAIRIE FIRE BURNS Two Hen
Ed ROSS AND J. ;. PHILLIPS THE
SUFFERERS
Heavy Wind Makes Control Of the
Ere Impossible and Mach
Range Laid Waste.

A prairie IRE that did thousands OF
dollars worth OF damage to grass
land, burned two men quite severely
and several horses. ragged IN the north
part Of this county last Thursday.
What added 50 much TO the distress
and unequal fight, vas a heavy wind
from the southwest which drove the
IRE forward as fast as a horse could
travel
The IRE originated on section I,
IN township 8, range -. e burned
its path several miles wide in q north
easterly direction and could not be
controlled or extinguished until It had
reached the third range line, about
twenty miles from the place where Il
started Unfortunately, the fre
cOursed along the second Beaver
creek. where the dry grass was matted
and heavy, and even reached down in
to the first Beaver at Voltafre and
burned away the largest bridge in the
county, which spanned the Beaver
northeast Of old Voltaire.
The work Of devastation could be
plainly seen from GoOdland, as the
IRE lifted at times its heavy clouds OF
triumph high into the air In the
evening the wind lowered and blew
gently from the north, and as il reach
ed the higher ground the FIRE line was
visible for many miles. 1t is report
ed that it worked farther east than
Ryckman's ranch, at the east edge Of
range 80, but II is not likely that It
got far away from that point, as the
township authorities had previously
burned of effectual fire guards
Ed Ross, who lives on section 56-
IA, in Grant township, suffered the
most severely from the fire. It stretch
ed out q mile on either side OF him,
and in his attempt to check Il from
running over his land, he was severely
burned on the hands and face, and
the team he was plOwing freguards
with, was so badly burned about the
hOOfs and legs that II they don't die,
they viii probably be ruined for use.
J. J. Phillips, father-in-law Of Mr.
Ross was driving q team OF horses
from his farm northwest and in at
tempting to cross the fire line, the
flames 1eaped up and burned him on
the face and hands so severely that he
was forced to turn about and drive
home without giving the aid he de-
sired One Of the horses has since
died, and Mr.. Phillips is suffering a
good deal from his burns.
The FIRE is reported TO have started
on the farm owned and Occupisd by
Weeds and rubbish had been raked
together and put in readiness to be
burned. but as the day was so windy,
Mrs. White had no idea OF attempting
it on so windy a day as last Thursday.
Her oldest boy and herself had oc-
casiOn to drive TO KanoradO, six or
seven miles distant, and in leaving she
cautioned the thirteen-year-Old son,
Clarence, not to attempt to burn the
field, but disObedience and lack OF
judgment got the upper hand and he
set out the fire that caused so much
destruction.
The day before this fire there was
a bad prairie fire in Wallace county.
which run into the southwest part Of
Sherman county and burned over
some Of the range IN the Golden and
Dyatt n 1CLcs. Where it started and
how much damage has not been
learned by the writer.
Wanted-Two clerks, at once. G.
81. BIillisack Mercantile Co.