Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-02-21

Houston. Tex. Feb. 21-1mpelled by a
gale that 5, ept In with one of the cold
est n0rthers. OF THE winter.s flames
swept thru, the eastern section Of
Houston early today, wiped out TWEEN
ty-five blocks. OF the city. and caused a
loss set ct from 81. 100000 to 100000.
Scores Of cottages were destroyed as
well az number OF big manufacturing
plants, and thousands of persons were
made homeless.
Lumber and Cotton Section Hit.
The greater part of the loss Is coa-
fired to the lumber and cotton indus
tries. ,Forty-five thousand bales OF
cotton stored in warehouses and COM
presses was burned. This item alone
represents loss Of 100000.
The iires started in cottage near
the Southern Pacific railroad tracks
soon after midnight. It's origin has not
been definitely established. A heavy
wind picked up the names and hurled
them to neighboring cottages and
boarding houses. In a fash they ig-
nited, shooting great columns Of sparks.
4.
, rieti them blocks away, and within
half An hour after the fire broke out
Great area OF small residences were
n James. ~
The flre spread rapidly to. manufac-
etariK tploaks that bdtdefed a. cottages
aud U6arding houses where hundreds
81 torkinemen lived. The IRE spread
- HaI,idly that fIfemen for the time
abandoned attempts to check the
flames. instead dcvoting their energies
to warning householders. Possible
less Of life was thus averted.
AZ the big manufacturing plants and
cotton congresses city firemen and
volunteers had organized to fight the
onr,,shing names. Walls and roofs OF
the plants were water soaked. This
water was licked up In the flash Of an
eve by the advance guard Of sparks
and when the great column OF flames
reached the factories they succumbed
rs easily as the rows Of cottages.
Flames Halted at Bayou.
An hour after the flames began their
advance the hremen organized for q
final stand at, Buffalo bayou. small
stream that divides the eastern part OF
the city from the main section. and
every piece Of fire lighting apparatus
was stationed along the banks Of this
stream. II the fire leaped the bayou
It meant the destruction OF the entire
city.
AZ the advancing towers Of flame be-
ran to hiss toward the bayou banks
hundreds 81 streams Of water were
hurled into them. checking little by
little their progress. At some OF the
narrower portions Of the stream the
DANES leaped across. but the more sub
stantial buildings they reached oid
not AFFORD the tinder-like fuel hereto
korc encss.nt efsd and the spread OF the
Ire was thus prevented.
Thousands Homeless.
Thousands Of persons were driven
IN their homes. In the cold Of the
irrortner they suffered slightly from
ernosure Relief work was at once set
,,ntsrr way. however. and food and
.sInthine were prvided.for the refugees
Many persons were hurt during the
nre hut 10. far. as can be determined
there were no casualties.
I,ha burned area Is at least mile
s.na : half long and at points quar-
80 ~ Z mile wide. It embraces the
se.nes az long rows Of cottages and solid
s.treets AZ manufacturing plants. II
-. .weot clean by the flames. Nothing
was saxed.
RSlisf Measures Provided.
q: ore of the. fIrst Of the more preten-
.,o,,a buildings attacked was tine oricis
star and Cra4cent hotel. Inmates had
sheen warned Of the oncoming names
snd Ill sscsped. without injury Tne
e.msr. roar gave warning and nun
S...S. q nersons, giving no heed to the
- 4, s;ii,ne v,ind. dashed from homes clad
.,,, their night clothes. Women
49, 's...lrr habias, women at whose
1890 small children chung. gathered IN
1870 ~, K near-by neighbors for refuge,
go. ~, - ~ driven out a few minutes
49, nv the further progress OF the
are.
,,cr "a the name swept district and
they. marshaling the refugees ieu
them to the.rear OF the names ana OUT
q danger. Homes were quickly pro
vided Tor the stricken people IN otner
1 senidence sections of the city. Clothing
~ food were prepared by reiief
sa1nn,nYnittees and there was comparative
81 little suffering.
Il Industries Destroyed.
~ knnong the mills, factories and plants
ieii6or totally destroyed or seriously
Iiamsxed ~ the IRE are:
ESi5yfcFhdden 1outhern Compress ana
sTeHoose1 Company.
oN 1tctAers syrup min.