The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-04-04
Hundreds Of Homes
Destroyed.
DYNAMITE IS USED
10 STOP FLAMES RxyAGE
Assistance RnsheJ 70 the Stricken
People.
y
Nsss nsssasssss snA ruslis DsiIainss
Are Swept Away ma . Press
bytsrian laiaister \ saiss- :
i.g-rAsusasAs Are
Hs.slss.,

angNnns Arc -.
Iasnslsss.
Fort worth. Tex, April s.--stsrting
In barn, presumably from careiessy
" thrown cigarette. fre this afternoon
destroyed property in the southern
portion Of Fort worth. conservatiysly
estimated in value to the extent Of ga
100000, caused the death Of one per-
son. ;. J.. Newton. Of xrum. Texas
and rendered several thousand persons
homeless.
The IRE originated ct Jenninss Ave-
nue. and Peter Smith Streets. In the
center of a fsshionable residence ais
trict. and, famed by stifr wind, was
beyond control within nfteen minutes
after it was discovered.
Spreading to the south. It burned its
way through thirty-two blocks and
continued until It. had swept through
the yards Of the Texas and Pacific
Railroad. destroying the railroad build
snss ana . large amount Of rolling
stock. where the IRE practically burned
itself out when nothing further re-
manned In the pathway Of the flames.
Three church buildings, the Broad
way Baptist and Presbytsrien. and the
Swedish chapel, were among the build
Sings destroyed, ss was the Presbyte-
i eian sanitarinm. The patients Of the
sattss institution were an removed in
safety,
Isaizrsa1 Heayy lesser.
arhs 1sxas 80 R4ei1a Rsiiroad auf-
esrsd me largest Individual iosa
Fourteen locomotives we're rsaueed
= twisted snassss 81 steel ana lfon and
several hundred box OARS besides ths
sound house and other buildings Of the
road were destroyed.
Texas and Pacific oficiais estimate
the losses Of the road at stso.ooo while
the damage to the church property Is
estimated ut 5000. 900.
In answer to appeals for aid, special
trsins bearing hre-fghting apparatus.
Were despatched from Dallas and
Weatherford. Tex, but all efforts 70
check the progress of the flames were
without result until the yards Of the
Texas and Pacific Railroad were cross
ed and the reservation" vacant sot
of ground on the east. was reached.
On the south, the Texas and Pacific
depot, a stone and steel structure,
proved bulwark which saved the
Wholesale district.
The fire-swept district tonight 10
being patroiied by armed guards to
prevent footing, while the tired own
ers of the burned buildings are gath
eripg what they can OF their house,
hold effects and seeking shelter for
the night wherever 1t can be secured.
The live stock building and auditorium
at the fair grounds are furnishing the
temporary abode for many, while 9th.
'ers are sleeping in vacant houses and
still others have accepted the hospi-
tally Of Dallas and other nearby
cities.
High wsnd BIewing.
During the progress OF the fre.
thousands who were attracted 70 the
scene were transformed Into a small
army of volunteer fremen In an en-.
deavor to rescue the household goods
of those whose homes were threatened
Their EFFORTS, however, Were to little
avail because OF the rapid sprsad of
the flames, the wind which was blow.
ing q gale, carrying the flames for
blocks at time ahead of the actual
confiagration. and at one time there
- 80. -
Here and there little knots Of peo-
pie gathered, sitting by helpless as
guard to such effects as should be
saved, while others drifted about,
some laughing and others hystericaI,
unable to render. any aid In staying
the fires progress.
The night was largely conferred at the
depot of the Texas and Pacific Rail-
road Time after time the roof of the
building became ignlted. but each time
a railroad employe was on hand to
enuff IL out.
While the fire was burning beyond
the Texas and Pacific depot, owners Of
buildings In the business district were
preparing to take up the fight on their
own account. hundreds of buckets of
water being distributed over the build
ings and on roofs. Several times the
flooring or roof of building would
start to burn. but as quickly would 1t
he ,extinguished.
A vase here and a bird cage there.
among the debris tonight, told the
story of the rapidity of the flames rush
and even horses and buggies were
caught and had to be abandoned in the
street while its occupant ducked
to safety.
Finally, when the IRE had laid waste
the vast area. those who had been
rendered homeless, drifted back to
where their homes had been>and then
the scene. which only a little while
ago had been full of tragic animation.
became one of desolation and ruin.
Practically nothing was saved from
the homes which fell victims to the
IRE. b
Rev. H %. Cowan. Assistant pastor
of the Broadway Presbyterian Church.
IS missing.
The burned district tonight is being
patrolled by troops to prevent looting
and 1t Is estimated that 500 families
are homeless. Many, Of these have gone
to Dallas. where shelter has been Of
fered.
From Annie Street. on the south, be-
tween Jennings and Calhoun Streets,
everything was swept clean TO the Tex
az and Pacific reservation. a strip of
unoccupied territory about 700 feet
vide which saved the business section