300 Acres of Lockie Farm Swept By Fire

Buildings are Destroyed by Stubborn Blaze Which Last Days - Small Army of Men Finally Subdue Flames

An Army of farmers and farm hands last Wednesday afternoon gained the upper hand and finally conquered a forest and grass fire which had been raging for a week on the William Lockie farm, town of Rossie, about a mile from Pleasant Lake, and which in the sweep consumed a large cow barn and farm house on the premises. Upwards of 300 acres of land on the farm were burned over.

The farm buildings were unoccupied except that the barn, one of the largest in that section, housed valuable farming machinery, tools and about ten tons of hay. The farm had not been operated since the death of Mr. Lockie about four years ago, since which time Mrs. Lockie had made her home with her brother-in-law, James Lockie, in Rossie village.

The fire smoldered for several days before sufficient wind came to spread it. Once it had started, it spread with great rapidity and neighbors found after battling the flames for one or two days that they were unable to cope with it.

The fire reached patch after patch of woodland where light timber stood and it swept the trees before it. It continued on its way and finally reached the hilly portion of the farm when it became noticeable to others in the section. A summons was sent to Fire Warden Walter Johnson. He inspected the situation and finally corralled a force of 15 or 20 men to fight it. For a time on Monday it appeared that they had gotten the upper hand on it, but Monday night a steady wind fanned it to the extent that it again reached great proportions and spread with great speed.

On Tuesday the fire swerved its direction towards the farm buildings and at 12:30 in the afternoon both buildings were afire. An effort was made to remove the tools and machinery in the barn but the fire raged so fiercely that men could not bear the heat and finally gave up their task. They then turned to protecting other buildings in the vicinity and succeeded. The Farm house and barn on the Mary Lockie farm were threatened, but the desperate work of the small army of firemen prevented their destruction.

Neighbors in the vicinity of the Lockie farm are inclined to be far apart in their estimates of the area burned over. Some place the acreage swept by fire at 100, while others say a tract of at least 865 acres was burned over.

The fire fighters fought bitterly throughout the night Tuesday and all day Wednesday until about 4 p.m. when the last spark of the fire was extinguished. They fought with brush, shovels, rakes, picks and every conceivable weapon in an effort to subdue the blaze. Ditches and long trenches were thrown up in heir battle but when the fire reached them it leaped them without difficulty and continued on its way.

On Tuesday forenoon persons who watched it declare that between 9 a.m. and 12 noon it swept over more than four miles in one direction. It was at that time that the buildings on the Lockie property were consumed.

The Lockie farm at one time was regarded as one of of the best in the vicinity. In late years, however, it has fallen into disuse and available lands had not been pastured, and this condition aided the fire in its spread. The farm contains 506 acres and it is estimated by some that nearly four-fifths was swept by the fire.

The farm is situated near the Scotch Settlement Road of the town of Rossie, two and a half miles east of the village of Rossie.

No estimate of the value of the property or the monetary loss to the owner could be obtained.