The Brunswick news., 1912-02-22
Heat Was Intense.

.
cedar had been stored near the Hud-
son pencil factory and when this
caught, 1t caused fire from which
the heat was so intense that specta-
tors perched on a railroad bridge were
forced to retire to a bluff above the
bayou. ~, sa-.e'
AS the fire neared Buffalo bayou
desperate preparations were made 10
get it under control. ~.
Hill street bridge was turned so as
to prevent the fire crossing that big
structure. A few minutes later work
men turned the International & Great
Northern railroad bridge; At one
point, however, the sparks did sweep
across the bayou and gained foot
hold. This was near the plant of the
Houston Packing company. Sparks
set fire to hay in the barns, but the
private fire fighting apparatus man
aged to keep the flames confined to
the barns for several hours until the
danger had passed.
Tramps' Narrow Escape.
Twot ramps asleep near the Hud-
son pencil factory did not awaken un-
til that plant was roaring mass of
flames. They attempted to retreat in
the direction of the railroad tracks,
but were driven back by the heat and
smoke. The bayou was the only ave-
nue. of escape left, and into it's chilly
waters the men plunged. They swan
to safety before the gaze of thousands
on a nearby bluff.
Among the heaviest losers by the
fire was the Cleveland Compress CON-
pany, near Buffalo bayou. This plant
was erected less than two years. The
loss is estimated at near 100000.
Beneath the sheds and in the railroad
yards adjoining were upwards of 32,-
900 bales of cotton. Every stick of
wood in the rlant was consumed, ex-
posing to the spectators an acre or
more of smouldering cotton that may
burn for several days. Less thar fer
MINUTES after all hope of saving the
Cleveland compress was given up, Tie
company was attacked. This plant
was located about quarter OF mile
further down the bayou. At the
Sane ard Compress company it was
stated this morning that the losses
to that company alone would aggre-
gate nearly a million. The losses at
the Cleveland compress were nearly
douole that
Big Plant Was Saved.
Speedy work by a private fire fight
ing battalion Of the Houston Packing
company prevented that plant sharing
the fate of the congresses. Sparks
that were whirled across the bayou
fell on the roof of the barns, burned
their way through and into the hay
ben cath.
This forenoon it was difficult even
to estimate the number of families
made homeless. The burned area in
the Fifth war1 covers ground that
yesterday was thickly populated. Fully
250 homes, some pretentious and 9TH
ers merely shacks, were wiped out.
Several thousand men were tempo--
arily thrown our Of employment.
Railway companies were heavJ los.
ers, II uch rolling stock beius oe-
stroyed. Even ;rarky were burn 20 go
badly as to go OIL; c. commission aid
train service to the East was badly
disarranged.
Wire service out of the city also was
badly crippled to the East and to
some points notice of indefinite de-
lay" las been given by the telegraph
companies.
No Lives Lost in Blaze.
Late this forenoon it was definitely
ascertained that there had not only
been no loss of life, but few, if any
serious injuries, despite large num-
Der of minor bruises and much suf-
fering from exposure.
The residents of the burned area
were persons of moderate, sometimes
of Strengthened, means, including
many clerks, laborers and mill and
factory workers.
All Tile CITY CudIlldUl0 Vi SdulLd-
tions joined in efforts to aid the suf-
ferers early in the day.
Considerable stock in the enter
prises destroyed is owned in the East.
Boundary of Fire.
The boundary Of the fire was con-
tanned within Hill, Opelousas and
Hardy streets, on three sides, and
Buffalo bayou on the fourth.
Shortly before noon all possibility
of he fire reviving had yassed the
fire department reporting the flames
completely extinguished on all sides
of the blackened district.
The huge pile of cotton bales still
burned, but lying some distance in
the edge of the fire swept zone, they
were not dangerous to surrounding
property.
Starting about a. m, the fire had
burned uncontrolled for nearly six
hours.
The Star and Crescent hotel was