The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-08-19
MANY KANSAS FARM FIRES
An Epidemic of Mysterious BIazes
Reported From Central and West
ern Part of State.

Following an epidemic of mysteri>
Gus fires which have destroyed thou
sands of dollars worth of property in
Central and Western Kansas recent
ly, sheriffs and railway detectives are
keeping a close lookout for fire bugs,
believed responsible for the blazes.
Deputy state fire marshals have been
working on the cases for several
weeks but have made no appreciable
progress.
The first incendiary fires were re-
ported at Wakeeney, no miles west
Of Salinay several weeks ago when
several wheat stacks were burned by
the use Of phosphorus bombs. De-
spite the fact that farmers are watch
ing their stacks all the time, fires
have been almost a daily occurrence
in this district Members of the L.
W. w. are declared to be responsible,
but officers are not so certain that
they have set fire to dozens of barns
which have been burned.
The most disastrous fire yet report
ed was the burning of an elevator at
Ellis, entailing a loss Of more than
$4,000 The building had been care
fully inspected and officers believe
that it was set on fire. Farmers near
Great Bend lost three barns, which
with contents were worth more than
$25, 5000. The Mel thinner barn con-
tanned $500 bushels of wheat, 1900
bushels of corn, a big loft full Of al
falfa hay, an automobile and several
sets of harness.
4 x
A Guardsman Drowns.-Corp. Her
bert H. Adams OF Company L Of En-
poria, Kan, was drowned recently at
Eagle Pass, Tex, while swimming in
the Rio Grande just below his camp.
Adams is from Longton.
x X \
Lawrence Factory Burns.-Fire COM
pletely destroyed the factory and con-
tents OF the Kaw Valley Canning Com
pany at Lawrence recently. 1t is esti-
mated that twenty thousand cases Of
canned goods we're stored in the base
ment. The loss is estimated at S75, 900.
Pioneer Saloon Goes.-The last In
dication in central Kansas that q sa-
loon ever existed in the state was de-
stroyed at Russell recently when a
frame building occupied by a saloon
forty years ago was wrecked.
\ x
$4,000 Fire at OIathe-Ffre de-
stroyed Ed Balls moving plant. sheds
and machinery at Olathe the other
night, entailing loss Of $40, 900, part
1y covered by insurance
r r r
Dog Saved FamiIy-A shepherd dog
saved the lives OF c. P Sharp, a farm
er, eight miles west OF here, and his
family, when their home burned the
Sharp and their four children were
asleep. The dog began barking at
window. His action aroused Mr..
Sharp.
oats Yield 70 misunderstanding
three bushels per acre is considered
an exceptional yield for cats, yet this
is what a small field Of John Lefy, a
Republic county farmer, near Belle
vile, made this season. This is the
record cat yield here for the year.
injured csardsunan 5etter-Eugene
Hartpence, a member OF Company c,
Kansas National Guard, who was COM
pleteiy paralyzed at Fort Riley, as.
result OF being tossed in a blanket,
has returned to his home in BurIing-
ton much improved
x x
5000 for Mission WerI<.-The win
OF the late John Peterson has Just
been filed for probate ar Concordia
and provides that So. 600 be given to
the Methodist Episcopal church Of
New York City, to be spent in mis-
sionary work in India The estate is
valued at about $4,000.
Wheat Brings $s-5-New wheat
broke another record ct Columbus.
when several loads OF No. ? grade sold
for 1913 per bushef. A light among
the local buyers IS tke reason E0z fls
tigh 5rzes.