Kansas Prairies Ablaze

Gardkn City. Kan., March 14.- tensive prairie fires have been cansina I rauch damage in this vicinity and many houses and settlers have lost all or a , large part oí their buildings, household i goods, hay, grain and farming1 ; plements. So far nine cases are reported of families having lost, everything but thé clothing on their bodies, and S. F. Anderson and wife, an elderly couple living 8 miles frora town, were so badly burned that botli will probably die. Several schoolhouses were also burned. The total losses will be large. Plainvili.e, Kan., March 14. - A prairie fire started Sunday in western Rooks county and was driven by a furions gale southeast across Eooks into Ellis county. Nearly everything was swpept away in the path of the fire, which was several miles wide. The town of Palco was burned except three buildings. The total loss is about 88,000. Sylvester Scannel and Oscar Lillya, farmers near Ambry, were caught in the lire. The formet's clothing was burned entirely off and he will die. The latter will recover. The buildings of Sam VVise, a farmer, were burned, with contents. The loss is heavy. The Bopra schoolhouse, aouthwestof Plainville. was also burned. The fire ran southeast across Saline river.