The Detroit times., 1912-02-21
DISASTROUS FIRE LAYS
FFTT-StVEH clTf Bt0tkkSs=
IN RUINS IN HOUSTON
Thousands of Persons Rendered
Homeless BY Flames
In Texas
ESTIMATED LOSS, $6,0O0,0OO
Huge Charges of Dynamite Set
Off by Firemen. To Check
Confagration

HOUSTON. Tex. Feb. 2l.-Fanned
by a 35-mile gale, a fire starting In
small two,story hotel in Hardy-st., III
South Houston, today raced through
The residence, wholesale and factory
districts of the town, sweeping every
tning before II. Churches, residences
school houses. factories and ware
houses were destroyed by the fiames,
while thousands Of persons were rem
dered homeless. AT noon today, the
loss was estimated at $6,00O,OOO. Inc
burned area covers 81 city blocks.
This afternoon every effort was De-
ing made TO care for the homeless.
AS the fire spread rapidly from the
district along the Southern Paclnc
tracks toward the residence section,
police rushed into homes and warned
the inmates 10 fee. Several times the
firemen believed they mad the blaze
under control, only 10 find that the
high wind had carried burning en-
bers from the district in which they
we're working and started the blaze
anew. AS last resort, huge charges
OF dynamite we're placed under the
buildings in the path OF the fiames,
and the fire was thus checked.
The path OF the fire was blocks
wide and the flames spread with such
rapidity that several times firemen
trying to check their progress were
ut off and forced TO abandon their
apparatus and fee. That there was
rot loss OF life was due to the police
who rushed ahead of the fire and
warned all inmates of the threatened
property to flee for their lives.
, Few were permitted to save any
hing from the danger zone. Instead
he women and children were hurried
~ the police and citizens hurriedly
-aFessed into service to places Of safe
ty in the parks and in the open spaces
II the town. The wind seemed TO in
crease in volume as the day wore on
and. carried the blazing embers blocks
ahead OF the main body OF the fire.
Citizens. with wet blankets and any
thing that could be used TO dislodge
the firebrands mounted TO the roofs
II the frame houses everywhere and
lid their best to protect their prop
erty.
A number OF factory buildings We're
nIled with infiammable material In
he path Of the fast moving blaze and
hese burned like so much tinder.
Thurches and school houses were also
onsumed.
The fire was first discovered at
u 80 a. m By the time the fire de-
artment reached the scene, the
mall hotel aid two adjoining houses
" ere practically destroyed, The wind
carried sparks TO all parts of the
city. and St. Patrick's Catholic
church and school were next discov-
cred. TO be In flames
! Then the fire appeared in dozen
rlaces, converting the entire south
end OF the city into a raging inferno.
The burned district is bounded by
Opelousas, Terret. Hardy and Hill
rs. The fire skipped entirely over
Sims St, although all houses on ad-
Joining streets were leveled
The greatest losses were entailed
z nsng the factory and mill owners
long the Southern Pacific tracks,
:. lille the loss to cotton dealers alone
tvceeds $4,000 900 Over 10000 bales
Of cotton and numerous congresses
'sere destroyed. Among the factories
burned are:
McFadden Southern Compress &
warehouse Co.. Dew Brothers Dew
EROS Syrup Mill. Hewston e. Liggett
!.nmber Co, Rogers Paint Co., Mag
rolia Compress Co, Hudson Pencil
20, Houston Packing Co., Ed. I'll.
IIarrell, lumber yards. Standard Co
rress, COOPERATIVE Mfg. Co, and the
Acma Mill