The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-10-16
10000
CAT Tie
BURNED
FLAMES TAKE
HALF OF K. c.
STOCK YARDS
$4,000 Head in Yards Wheh
Flames Broke Out.
Liberated Animals stampede
Thru X. c. Streets.
LOSS MAY REACH z MILLION
3,1OO Hogs Also Perish; Some
Baked in Concrete Pens.
Famed by Stiff Breeze, Flames
Spread Quickly.
UNDER CONTROL At 7 A. M.
II
3,1OO Hogs Also Perish; Some
Baked in Concrete Pens.
Famed by Stiff Breeze, Flames
Spread Quickly.
UNDER CONTROL At 7 A. N,
Apparatus of Both Cities Fight
Flames Five Hours.
Owners Have Difficulty Identi-
fying Animals in Roundup.

Kansas City. Mo, Oct. 16.-Work
on checking up the losses in this morn
ing's disastrous fire at the Kansas
Citv stock yards was progressing
slowly at noon today. The stock yards
company refused to make a formal
statement, declaring that an estimate
of the losses was all that is possible
until the checking up has been COM
pleted. In a preliminary statement
officials placed cattle losses around
10 900; hogs. 400 and the total mon
etaiv loss at nearly $4,000, 900
The origin of the fire was still
mystery. tho every effort was pelng
made to determine the exact cause OF
The fire was first discovered about
1880 o'clock this morning IN the
northeast corner Of the stock yards.
Famed bv an east wind. it spread
rapidly and by four o'clock had
burned over twenty-five acres, being
stopped only when it reache the banks
of lie Kansas river. A wooden stock
bridge across the river was partly
More than $4,000 cattle and about
10000 hogs were in the yards when
the fire started. Maddened by the
flames and smoke the animals stam-
peded, tearing down wooden fences
and trampling each other. Some of
them were pushed into the river.
Stockmen hurriedly opened all the
gates and steers were allowed to run
loose all over the west bottoms. They
were being rounded up thruOut theis
entire district today.
Smoke Clouds Smothcred.
Many cattle were smothered when
dense clouds of smoke rolled over the
pens where they were held. Hogs
were literally cooked in the new con-
crete hog pens Firemen put many of
the pain-crazed animals out. of their
misery with fire axes and guns.
Nearly all, the live stock losses and
damage to the yards is covered by in
surance. officials said today. A charge
of 10 cents a head is made on each
car of steers entering the yards for
insurance which is kept up by the
Stock Yards company.
Spectators will be the heavy losers.
it is believed. The fire started in the
Spectators section, where cattle
bought from shippers by spectators
were penned.
The area over which the fire burned
was approximately twenty-fiv acres.
In addition to the various pens, the
double-deck hog. house, the approach
to the stockyards bridge across the
Kaw river six scales and two hay
houes were destroyed.
Begin Rebuilding at Once.
Packers said that their facilities
would operate today under conditions
.necessitating a decreased output be-
cause of the fire. Officials of the cor
poration controlling the stockyards
announced that the work of rebuild
ing the destroyed portions of the yards
would begin Immediately.
An hour after the stockyard fire be-
gan men in soldier uniform carryine
rifles and wearing belts filed with car
tridges began to gather quickly at the
stock exchange building. They came
in motor cars and on foot until by
O'Clock there were 400 of them there
They represented two battalions of the
second regiment of Missouri home
guard The two hattalions remained
at the stock exchange until long after
daylight, subject to orders from the
mayor or sheriff They were not call
ed upon. but they were ready
Policemen Discover Flames.
The fire. discovered by two patrol.
men in Kansas City, Kan, where the
yards are located. spread with grea
rapidity, and soon the entire sky wa,
glowing.
Today's fire was the third disastrous
blaze in T. history of the local yards
Fire department offio'~' of botE
Kansas Citys today were endeavorins
to ascertain the cause of the fire The
other two fires at the yards were
caused by carelessly thrown cigare
stubs. according to officials.
Hard to Identify Cattle.
Cattle owners this morning wer,
having difficulty in identifying theil
nimals from among the great hero
-'ch was liberated wher fire earl.
Continued on Page TwOI