New-York tribune., 1912-02-22
'$7,0OO,OOO FIRE SWEEPS
HOUSTON; 1000 IN WANT
Blaze, Breaking Forth in Fierce
Midnight Gale. Destroys Fac
tories, Stores and Homes.
FLAMES CHECKED At BAYOU
Firemen Work in Vain for Hours,
and Desperate Last Stand
Saves City from De-
stTuction.

Houston. Tex, Feb. Tin the wake or
the most destructive fire in the history of
Houston. srouldering wreckage tonight
covers an area about one and a half miles
in length and varying in width from two
hundred Yards 70 half a mile in the north
eastern section Of the city More than
dozen Of the citv's most important indus
trial enterprises are in ruins two hundred
or more dwelling houses and store build
ings are in ashes and approximately one
thousand persons are homeless. An accu-
rate statement Of the monetary loss is not
vet possible, but the most conservative Is
that II will reach q least 100000. The
insurance carried will not exceed ~ per
cent. Except for few who suffered mi
nor burns and bruises. no casualties at
tended the fire.
Break forth without warning In an
untenanted rooming house known locally as
the mad house" shortly after l o'clock
this morning. and at time when fierce
gale was sweeping from the northwest, the
flames made rapid headway. Leaping from
their place of origin, the flames pounced
upon adjoining structures and from them
swept toward the southeast, generally MAX
ing desoate it's route. but occasionally, in
seeming sport sparing structure. some
times d mere shanty and again q place of
pretension
Debris BIaokens the City.
Four hours later the area Of destruction
had been defined but the work of the fire
fighters was not then ended, nor is 1t ended
vet, for all over the charred and blackened
district are piles of debris. the consuming
Of which is a slow process.
Hundreds Of persons. giving no heed 70
their night attire, rushed from their homes
as they heard the roar of the fire. Women
carrying babies, women at whose skirts
small children clung, gathered in homes of
nearby neighbors for refuge only to be
driven out a few minutes later by the
further progress of the fire. Firemen or
ganlzed leaders among the men of the
burned area, and these. marshalling the
refugees. led them to the rear Of the flames
and out Of danger.
Buffalo Bayou divides the city, running
east and west, and IT was not until the
confederation had reached its banks that
the slightest Roadway could be made
toward checking II. At the bayou the fire.
men made a last stand. Except for an
occasional dip across the stream, the line
of destruction ended here. Had the fire
crossed the bayou the city probably would
have been destroyed.
Clouds OF Burning Shingles.
In the early morning hours the gale con-
tinued fercely, and at times hurled clouds
of burning shingles and fire great dis
tances, threatening among others the plants
Of the Texas Company and the Houston
Packing Company. The latter was dam
aged considerably. Several times the roof
of the oil plant caught fire, but the blaze
each time was quickly extinguished.
The industrial plants destroyed include
three cotton compresses, together with
55 900 bales Of cotton: n syrup factory, a
pencil factory, two rice mills, cotton
picking plant and three lumber yards. The
congresses and cotton alone were valued
i'm excess of $5OOOO00. Another building de-
stroyed was ST Patrick's Cathedral, church
and academy.
Quick action was taken for the relief Of
those rendered homeless, tonight finding
the victims at least with their immediate
needs cared for Outside aid will not be
necessary To-day kilograms came from
the mayors Of Louisville, Boston and sew
eraI other cities and the Merchants AS
sociation of New York. proffering aid. but
TO these Mayor Rice replied expressing
gratitude, but asserting that Houston can
meet every need.
Among the plants either totally de-
stroyed or seriously damaged are: McFad-
den Southern Compress and Warehouse
Company, Dew Brothers syrup mill, Hous-
ton and Liggett Lumber Company. Mag
noiia rounress Hudson's pencil factory,
Houston Packing Company (shghtly dam
agedJ. Ed. H. Harrells lumber yards, the
Standard Compress the Cooperative Manu-
featuring Company. Acme Mill. Cleveland
Compress and Cotton Warehouse. Mcnhen-
nv Cotton Pickery, Texas Timers Supply
Company, Industrial Rice Milling Company.
Southwestern Rice Company and the Hoo
sier Vinegar Company. Stock in several Of
these companies is owned by Eastern in
vestoTs.