The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-22

3cccccCCCCCCCc cCcCcCseSs<<ss'S ua,s+or Febr,,ary 2i-In the wake or the most destructive fire in the history of Houston, smouldering wrecAaso r,rbt covers an area about one and a haif miles in length and varying in wioth rom 200 yards to half mile in the hor'n- eastern section of the city
 More than a dozen of the city must important industrial enterprises are III ruins; 200 or more dwelling houses ana store buildings are In ashes and approx ,mately 1000 persons are homeless.
 Loss Is Seven Millions
 An accurate statement of the monetary loss is not yet possible, but the most oo,seryat,ve estimates are that the amount will reach at least $7,0oo,0oo The insurance carried will not exceed fo per cent. Except for a few minor burns ana praises no casualties attended the hre. Breaking forth. without warning in an rooning house known iocaiy as the Mad House." shortly a1ter Y O clock this morning and at time when fierce gale was sweeping from the northwest, the flames made remarkapie headway. Leaping from its place Of ori- gin the flames bounced upon adjoining structures and burned from McCareen street toward the southeast, generally n,al.ing A clean and desolate route, but occasionally in seeming sport sparing structure. sometimes mere shanty and again a place of pretension.
 Fire Still Burning Four hours later the area of destruction l, farl n | fire fighters was not then ended, nor is it ended yet, for all over the charred and blackened district lay piles of brick, mor- tar cement. distorted tin. smoking mer- chandise, smouldering cotton and other debris.
 In the early morning hours the gale continued fiercely and at times hurled clouds of burning shingles and fire great distances. causing further destruction. Two of the plants threatened were the Texas oil company and the Houston Packing company. The latter was dam aged to a considerable extent, but is cap able of easy restoration. Several umes the roof of the oil plant was ignited by flying fire brands. but the incipient blazes were quickly extinguished.
 The industrial plants destroyed include three cotton congresses, together with 5000 bales of cotton, a syrup factory, pencil factory, two rice mills, cotton pickery and three lumber yards. The congresses and cotton alone were valued 1 nexcess of s5,000,0o0.
 Church Destroyed
 Another building destroyed was St. Pat> ricks Catholic church and Academic building, and in computing the total loss besides the value of the dwelling houses and store buildings. damage to property of railway and public service corporations whose track the flames crossed must be taken into account.
 prompt action for the relief of those rendered homeless was taken and pro vision for, their immediate necessities had been made by nightfall.
 The destroyed area is in what is known as the Fifth ward. The Houston ship channel divided the city, running east and vest and 1t was not until the conf1agration had reached its banks that the slightest headway could be made to- ward checking it. Except for an occa- eional dip across the stream, the ilhe oi destruction ended here.
 Swept Factory District
 Tho flames swept a portion of the factory district and burned through 20 blocks of the residence district.
 The fire was confined to three sides and Buffalo bayou on the other.
 There was no loss of life and but few serious injuries despite a large list of numbers who were slightly in Iured.
 Factories Burned
 Among the mills, factories and plants either totally destroyed or seriously damaged by fire are:
 McFadden Southern Compress and Warehouse company Dew Brothers syrunlmills, Houston & Liggett Lumber Co.. I,ogers Paint company. Magnolia comptess Hudson's pencil factory, Houston Packing company, slightly klanaged; E. D. HarEell lumber yards, Btantlard compress, the Co-Operative an,jfacturing company, Acme mill.
 st | Patrick's Catholic church and 2 atl bile school operated in conjunc- ion Iwith the, edifice were damaged.
 Hotel Burns
 The Star and Crescent hotel was the rst brick building attacked. It was |oIhpletely wrecked. While it is i'm : o Isible to estimate the number of Q lrding houses and residences de-
 pyed, hundreds of persons were
 1ven from their homes by the flames.
 fhe fire, aided by the high wind. Anmunicated rapidly Sparks were fept by the wind distance of three
 peks |.
 Extraordinary service for relief has
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