Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-02-23
HOUSTON SWEPT BY FLAMES.
Loss of 100000 In the Great Texas
City.

Houston, Tex, February 21.-In
the wake Of the most destructive fire
in the history OF Houston, smouldering
wreckage tonight covers an area
ABOUT one and a half miles in length
and varying IN wiatn from 200 yards
20 halI mile, in the norIneaslern
section OF the city. More than a dozen
ut the Guys most important inaus-
trial enterprises are In ruins; zoo
or more dwellings, and store buildings
are IN asnes, and approxma.eiy l.
1000 persons are nomeiess. Inc most
conservative estimate Is that the
monetary loss will reach at least
$f,UUO,Uv0. The insurance carried
will not exceed 40 per cent. No cas-
ualties attended the fire.
Buffalo bayou, a narrow, coffee col
ored stream, was the scene OF the bat
tie royal against the names. Here,
after the nre had swept on, with
scarcely a semblance or control, tor
1our hours the nremen made a desper-
ate stano, and although the fire leaped
the bayou at places, the contiagrauon
was checked.
The nre started early this morn
Ing In two-story frame Structure
near Hardy and Opelousas streels.
and spread to a feed store. Then II
jumped simultaneously to three more
iranie boaroing houses and the roar
OF the flames on 35-mile northwest
wlnu began TO be omlnous. The star
and Crescent hotel, brick structure,
next caught.
From that moment the fire seemed
beyond control. Driving ahead with
frlghtful rapidity, 1t swayed from slde
to side and tongues Of sparks some
times seemed to reach out three blocks
anead, all the time eating steadily To-
ward the more thickly populated Sec
ton OF the city across Buffalo bayou.
At times the bolts OF flame wouId be-
come detached, lighting on houses
perhaps Two. blocks distant and firing
them. A score of times women had
Just time to seize their babies and
dash madly to the streets.
With hundreds It was a race for
life, and these made no effort to save
property.
AS the flames advanced a perfect
army OF nignt-clothes clad men, wo-
men and children formed and dashed
on and on, being driven from one
place of refuge to another by the
progress of the flames. Cool heads,
nnaIly realizing the danger, assumed
rcharge OF the situation, and in a short
time compelled refugees to go to the
rear OF The destructive flames.
The small houses to the northwest
Of the outbreak were soon filled with
the helpless and impoverished. Even
before daylight work Of placing them
In other sections OF the city was be-
gun. With the advent Of the day or
ganized relief was begun. Practically
every home in Hous,on was opened to
the refugees.
Never before had such conditions
been confronted here, and in many OF
the burned homes there were cases of
illness, but the sick and afflicted alike
were forced to get up and run for
their lives.
AS evidencing the fierceness Of the
fire and luridness of the scene, in
stances are known in which families
calmly sleeping at points five miles
distant were aroused from slumber by
the glare and sprang up In the belief
that their own homes were afiame.
The fire was raging over at least
five blocks before 1t was an hour old.
At one time the skyline appeared to
be a solid sheet Of flame mile In
length. Gradually the fire ate its way
through the residential section Of the
direct line for the congresses located
near the bayou, sweeping all before 1t.
Several hundred thousand feet of
cedar had been stored near the Hud-
son pencil factory, and when this
caught 1t caused a fire from which the
heat was SO intense that spectators
perched on a railroad bridge were
forced to retire to a bluff above the
bayou!S
AS the fire neared Buffalo bayou,
desperate preparations were made to
get 1t under control.
Hill street bridge was turned, SO as
to prevent the fire crossing that struc-
ture. A few minutes later workmen
turned the International and Great
Northern railroad bridge. At one
point, however, the sparks did sweep
across the bayou and gain foothold.
This was near the plant Of the Hous-
ton Packing company. Sparks set fire
TO hay in the barns, but the private
fire fighting apparatus managed to
keep the flames confined to the barns
for several hours, until the danger
had passed.
Two tramps 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. to escape left and into its chilly
waters the men plunged. They SWAN
to safety before the gaze Of thousands
on nearby bluff.
Among the heaviest losers by the
fire was the Cleveland compress COM
pany, near Buffalo bayou. This plant
was erected less than two years ago.
The loss Is estimated at nearly ST.
100000. Beneath the sheds and In
the railroad yards adjoining were up
ward Of $4,000 bales Of cotton. Every
stick Of wood in the plant was con-
sumed exposing to the spectators an
acre or more Of smouldering cotton
that may burn for several days.
Less than ten minutes after all hope
Of saving the Cleveland compress was
given up, the McFadden compress and
warehouse was attacked. This plant
was located about a quarter Of a mile
further down the bayou.
At the Standard compress company
1t was stated this morning that the
losses to that company alone would
aggregate nearly a million. The losses
at the Cleveland compress were near
ly double that.
speedy Work Dy private Hre nSnt-
ing battalion Of the Houston Packing
company prevented the plants shar-
ing 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
beneath.
This forenoon 1t was difficult even
to estimate the number Of families
made homeless. The burned area in
the fifth ward covers ground that yes
terday was thickly populated. Fully
$50 homes, some pretentious and 9TH
ers merely shacks, were wiped out.
Several thousand men were tempo
rarily thrown out Of employment.
Railway companies were heavy
losers, much rolling stock being de-
stroyed. Even tracks were burned so
badly as to go out of commission, and
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" has been given by the telegraph
companies.
Late this afternoon 1t was definitely
ascertained that there had not only
been no loss of life, but few, II any,
serious injuries, despite a large num-