The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-01-16
FIRST GREAT SHOCK
DID MOST TERRIFIC
DESTRUCTIVE WORK
(continued from First Page.)

guish and appeals for help from those
crushed and dying in the blazing ruins.
The military hospital was among the
buildings that went down with a crash
Mere than thirty soldiers we're buried
In the ruins and were roasted TO death
In the FIRE that soon was spreading
through the city.
The greatest destruction occurred in
the business section OF the city, the CEN
tral part. where business houses and
dwellings alike fell into piles.
AS the greater part Of the buildings
OF the city We're wooden. The FIRE spread
with incredible rapidity. The FIRE de-
partment was demoralized and FOR
time useless.
In short time bands OF robbers were
at work, and with the flames roaring
around them, began pillaging wrecked
buildings and homes from which the Oc-
cuPants had fed.
The negro population added 10 the
Wildness or the scene, as they seemed
crazed with fear and rushed 10 and fro,
screaming frantically and hlndeflng
Those who first recovered the.s wits and
sought 10 aid the injured.
Many had died in the crush of the tum-
bling walls, and many others were killed
By being caught in the Iangle Of live
electric wires
When the terror ana Generalization
were at their height Sir Alfred Jones,
who Is at the head OF visiting ezpedl-
ton OF notable Engllshmen. consulted
with the governor and urged instant
measures OF control. All The troops
available were rushed 20 the cltys prin-
cipal points, and succeeded. after severe
treatment OF the moDs, in bringing about
son eJhing like order.
Then began battles between the troops
and the robbers who were looting build
iEgs. The thieves, fired with the lust
for plumber. refused To withdraw when
the soldiers drew near. and many Eere
slOt down. In "a number OF instances
they were found robbing the dead and
injured. To these the soldiers showed
no mercy.
When the panic had been partly
qGelled the work OF bringing out the
dead and freeing the wounded from the
ruins was taken up. and many were
saved who would otherwise have per
ished-
Even with this semblance CO order Il
has been found impossible 10 estimate
the number of killed and wounded. So
conflicting are reports that while the
conservative estimates place the dead at
100, other estimates put the list as high
"a 100 There VIII be no possibility
or getting any accurate computation Of
the loss OF life until the city is cleared
OF its wreckage and the burning ruins.
Hundreds OF injured. many Of them
dying. were dug out Of the ruins by The
rescuers. Scores also had been stricken
down In the streets. the disaster occur
ring near ( o'clock in the afternoon
" zen the streets were thrUnged
his caused an Immediate necessity
for hospitals. and every open space at
a safe distance from burning buildings
was soon converted into an open air
hospital Later tents were ObIL ned
and uuln1ured buildings were used for
hospital purposes. These impr0Vised az
fairs were soon crowded with victims.
while many OF the injured were cared
FOR In the camps Of refuge that were
established.
IL is reported with authority that only
one Engllshman among the visitors I'm
the city was killed. Sir James Fergu-
son. who was crushed 10 death under a
falling wall. and 10 Is stated with equal
authority that no American or Canadian
was killed
One disheartening drawback 20 the
work was the destruction OF the big
military hospital In the main ward
were thirty invalid British soldiers, and
not one u these escaped. They were
burned 10 death IN their beds
Fire on HaTbOT Front.