Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-21
twenty-five Blocks Of the
Texas City Are Wiped
Out Today.
THOUSANDS HOMELESS
Number of Principal ManufaC-
turing Plants, Together With
Workers Cottages, Burn.

Houston, Tex, Feb. 21.-Twenty-l
FIVE squares of the residence district
here were destroyed by a fire that
broke out shortly after midnight.
There we're no casualties as far as
known. Thousands Of people are
homeless. The weather is cool, but
there is little suffering. The fire
burned through a large district that
comprised cottages of workmen.
Several manufacturing plants we're
destroyed. The wind was blowing at
a rate of 80 miles an hour. The
burned area extended a mile across
the town and seven blocks wide.
MANY FACTORIES WRECKED.
At this morning it appeared the
fire was controlled. although 1t still
burned in the outskirts of the de-
stroyed area. A conservative esti-
900 TO $40, 100000. Most of this in
volved the destruction of factories.
Among the mills, factories and
plants either destroyed or seriously
damaged are:
M'FADDEN SOUTHERN CON-
PRESS & WAREHOUSE COMPANY.
DEW BROTHERS. SYRUP MILL.
HOUSTON & LIGGETT LUMBER
COMPANY. .--
- ROGERS PAINT COMPANY.
MAGNOLIA COMPRESS.
HUDsON'S PENCIL FACTORY.
ED. II. HARRELL LUMBER
YARDS.
STANDARD COMPRESS.
THE COOPERATIVE MANUFAC-
TURING COMPANY.
ACME MILL.
ST. PATRICK'S CATH OLIC
CHURCH AND SCHOOL.
MAGNOLIA COMPRESS.
FIREMEN INEFFECTIVE.
Starting among cottages near the
Southern Pacific railroad tracks, i'm
pelled by a fierce wind. the flames
leaped from house to house in the
populous district. while the firemen
worked without effect.
$1,000 BALES COTTON GONE.
The loss is now conservatively es,
tlmRted at five 10 six millions. The
greater part OF this is confined to the
lumber and cotton industries. Forty
five thousand bales of cotton valued
at S2.000.000, were burned The
fire spread so rapidly the flremen for
q time abandoned attempts to check
the flames, instead devoting their
energies to warning householders.
Possible loss OF life was thus avert
cd, but many persons we're hurt.
FOOD AND CLOTHING.
Relief work at once was set under
way. however, and food and clothing
provided for the refugees. Hundreds
or persons. giving no heed to their
night attire, rushed from their homes
as they heard the roar OF the fire,
Women. carrying babies: women al
whose skirts small children clung,
gathered at homes OF nearby neigh
boIs for refuge, only to be driven out
g few minutes later by further prog
ress Of the fire.
BATTLE TO SAVE CITY.
Homes were quickly provided for
these people in other residence sec
tions of the city. An hour after the
flames began to advance. the firemen
organized for a final stand at Buffalo
bayou. a small stream that divides the
eastern part OF the city from the
main section. Every piece OF fire
fighting apparatus was stationed
along the banks OF the stream, which
II passed by the fire. meant destruc-
ton OF the entire city.
HUNDREDS OF STREAMS PLAY.
AS the advancing columns of fire
came toward the bayou banks hun
dreds of streams of water were pour.
ed into them, checking their prog
ress. The burned area, at least g
mile and a half long, and at points
a quarter mile wide. embraces rows
OF cottages and solid streets Of man.
ufacturing plants
Homes and stores burned number
more than two hundred and fifty.
IOWA TOWN FIRE-swEPT.
Charles City, Iowa. Feb. 21.-The
business section OF Floyd burned to-
day. The loss is $4,000.
Socialists Elect Mayor.