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

Houston, Tex, Feb. 21-lmpelled by a
gale that .pt In with one Of the cold
est northers. OF the winters flames
swept thru. the eastern section OF
Houston early today, wiped out twen-
ty-five blocks. or the city, ana CAUSED q
loss set ct from 81. .ooo. 900 to s1o.0o0.oo0.
Scores Of cottages were destroyed as
we'll az a number OF big manufacturing
plants, and thousands Of persons were
made homeless:
Lumber and Cotton Section Hit.
NThe greater part of the loss Is con-
frNNsto. the lumber and cotton indus
triesA ~Torty- five thousand bales Of
cotton stored in warehouses and COM
presses was burned. This item alone
represents a loss Of $2,000.000.
The iire, 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 flames and hurled
them to neighboring cottages and
boarding houses. In fash they ig-
nitek, shooting great columns Of sparks.
Sejsing these. the forty mile gale car
ried them blocks away, and within
half an hour after the ne broke out
a sIeat area OF small residences were
In flames. -
spreads Is Pastsry District
Th> sfire spread rapidly to, manufac-
EttarflS paasskS that 4b0fAefed O., cottages
and b6erI3ing houses where hundreds
81 workinemen lived. The fire spread
10 randy that firemen for the time
abandoned attempts to check the
flames. instead dcvoting their energies
to warning householders. Possible
less Of life was thus averted.
At the big is,n1anufacturing plants and
cotton congresses city fremen and
volunteers had organized to fight the
onrushing flames. 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 firenen organized Tor 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
1t meant the destruction Of the entire
city.
As the advancing towers Of fame be-
gan to hiss toward the bayou banks
hundreds Of streams Of water were
hurled into them, checking little py
little their progress. At some OF the
narrower portions Of the stream the
flames leaped across, but the more SUD
stantial buildings they reached did
not afford the tinder- like fuel hereto
knre encountefed and the spread OF the
Ire was thus prevented.
Thousands Homeless.
rhousands Of persons were driven
N their homes. In the cold Of the
northef they suffered slightly from
,sxposuYe. Relief work was at once Sc.
urder way, however. and food ana
,eIothinR vera prvided.for the refugees
Many pey ;ons were hurt during the
Are but ia. far as can be determined
there were no casualties.
T,ha burned area is at least mile
ana half long and at points quar-
Ter az I mile wide. It embraces the
aslies Of long rows Of cottages and SOLD
.treetg 81 manufacturing plants. 1t
vas swept clean by the flames. Notnlns
was saved
RSlise Measures Provided.
I, One of the hrst Of the more preten-
,4,ous buildings attacked vas the BRICK
star and Crascent hotel. Inmates nad
.t..n warned OF the oncoming names
Ana all escaped, without injury. me
n.mAe roar gave warning and nun
s-.1.. - nersons giving no heed to the
.sssiiine ,sind. dashed from homes clad
SonIy In stbsir n;sh:s sses WcenII
carrying babies. snen .. wno.e
sEirts small childt x clung. gathered IN
h0rnes 81 near-by neighbors for refuge,
cri,., Ia he driven out few minutes
49, by the further progress OF the
lire.
E1reunen appointed leaders among the
,,,.r e the flame-swept district and
tbev. marshaling the refugees leo
theY,n to tho rear Of the flames and OUT
~ CANCER. Homes were quickly pro-
yideA Tor the stricken people in other
residence sections of the city. Clothing
.and food were prepared by reher
es,,nrnittees ana there was comparative
i. little suffering.
\ Industries Destroyed.
Among the mills. factories and planss
either totally destroyed or sertousiy
amazed by the fire are:
SfcFaAden 8outhern Compress ana
(Sv4rehousea Company.
11sw lsetssrs syrup MIN.