Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1912-02-22
NOT A SINGLE LIFE IS LOST
TWO HUNDRED HOMES ARE LOST
But OFFERS OF ASSIST
ANCE ARE SPURNED.
BIC PLANTS BARELY saved
A Thousand Rendered Homeless; No
Accidents Occur; Little Insurance;
Industries Destroyed.

HOUSTON, Tex. Feb. 21,-Leaving
In It's track piles of smoking ruin,
covering an area extending about ono
and one-half miles IN length, ana
varying in width from 200 yards to
half a mile, angry flames today licked
into nothingness property easily
worth the gigantic sum of $7,OOO,OOO,
with insurance possibly at 40 per
cent of that amount. In the flame
stricken pathway lie the ruins OF
nearly dozen of Houston's greatest
Industrial enterprises, while dying
embers alone mark the spot where
but day since stood nearly two hun
dred happy homes. Not life was
lost, nor was n case of serious m
jury reported
Breaking forth without warning IN
an untenanted rooming house, known
locally as the Mad House," shortly
after | o'clock this morning and at
a time when a fierce gale was sweep
ing from the northwest. the flames
made remarkable headway from the
very start. Almost in the twinkllng
of an eye. and before an alarm could
even be turned in. the fire had leapei
from its place of origin. pounced up
on adjoining structures, and from
them careened madly and destruct'
lively toward the southeast, generally
making clean and desolate Its route;
but occasionally, in seeming sport
and without explainable cause, spar
ing structure, sometimes a mere
shanty, and again a place of preten'
sion.
Fighters Are Still Working.
by 5 O'Clock this morning the area
of destruction had been defined, but
the work of the fire fighters was not
then ended, nor Is 1t ended yet, for
all over the charred and blackened
district lay piles Of brick, mortar, CO.
ment, distorted tin, smoking mer'
chandise, smoulderlng cotton and
other debris, the consuming of which
is a slow process.
In the early morning hours, the
gale continued fiercely. and at times
hurled clouds of burning shingles ana
fire great distance. threatening
even further destruction. Two OF the
plants so threatened were those OF
the Texas Company and the Houston
Packing Company. The latter was
damaged to a considerable extent, bnt
is capable of easy restoration. In
the former were stored barrels of oil
and In the face of desperate risk, fire
lighters freely risked their lives, and
by so Nolng ayerted what might have
been another complete loss TO the
city of another splendid plant. There
were times when tn eroof of the
structure seemed ablaze, but the fire
men stood to their posts and by he
roic work were the eventual conquer
ors.
An idea of the Loss.
Simply as giving an idea of tie
enormity of the loss, 1t is only nee
essary to cite that. of three empress
es, the Cleveland, the McFadden aud
the Standard which conservative in
surance men place at S2,5O0,000. In
addition to this, $1,000 bales of cotton
were consumed, which, at $50 per
bale, amounts to S2,750,000, AMI
swels the enormous total to more
than S5.0OO,0OO. Then to that must
be added the loss Of rice milling
plant and various other industries,
to say nothing of the value of homes
personal effects and railway and pub
lie service corporation property con
sumed.
Laying aside the financial end of
the disaster aad reverting to the
other, within the short space of few
hours fully 1000 persons were rem
dered homeless and suddenly plunged
from positions of independence to n
condition bordering on beggary.
This situation brought one with
which the warm-hearted people Of
the city were not slow to DEAL
Immediately calls were out for the
gathering of all charitable organiza'
tons and the city officials responded
equally as promptly with relief meas
ures, with the result that nightfall
at least finds the victims with i'm
mediate needs cared for. even if the
future Is full of darkness Tor many
who lost their all, down to their very
wearing apparel
Estimate Easily Reach s7,O0O.O00
Work of compiling in detail list
of the losses has not been completed.
nor will IL be for another day At
least but there are none who even
yet attempt to place the total destruc'
sum of s7.oOO,OOO.
The destroyed area Is in what is
known as the Fifth ward. for the