Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-06
People, Though Stunned by
Disaster, Are Moving for
Rehabilitation.
STATE MILITIA Is SENT
TO GUARD THE RUINS
Blaze Renders $500 Inhabitants
Homeless and City's Activities
Are Paralyzed.

HOT SPRINGS. Ark. September g.
Stunned by the damage wrought by
last nights fire which swept more
than fifty city blocks here. with an es-
timated loss of 100000, the people
Of Hot Springs today took first steps
toward rehabilitation. Mayor McClen-
don accepted Gov. Hayes offer Of two
companies of state militia and ordered
mass meeting Of citizens for later
in the day, when it will be decided
whether the city will call upon the
outside cities for help.
1t is estimated about $500 persons
were made homeless by the fire. The
majority of these are being tempo
rarily camped in the vicinity of the
Oakiawn race track and state fair
grounds.
Grand avenue, leading from the
burned area to the fair grounds. to-
Hundreds of families with what little
they saved from the ruins were gath
cred along the roadway, gradually
working their way to the camp
grounds.
Water Supply Abundant.
The militia will aid these people and
guard the devastated districts. There
is no danger Of a water famine. accord
Ing to the authorities. Even IL the sup
ply were cut or there are numerous
cold springs throughout the city. furnish
ing sufficient water for all purposes. It
was announced today. that the city will
be without electric lights for sixty days.
The Sentinel-Record. the morning news
paper here, barely escaped destruction by
the fire last night, and did not issue its
regular editions.
The New Era and the Daily News, the
afternoon papers. are without power and
unable to publish. Business generally
Is at standstill today.
Caring for the Homeless.
Under personal direction Of Gov. Hays,
the task OF providing for those made
homeless by the fire began at daylight to-
I day. Several hundred volunteer firemen
were working to blacken the ruins in fear
that the smOldering embers might be
famed into flames again should q wind
arise. Under orders of Mayor McClendon
all saloons are closed and SO far there has
been no disorder.
Two hundred and fifty citizens. sworn
In as a special police force at q mass
meeting held last night while the fire
was at its height. continue to patrol the
fre-swept area this morning.
The fire started in negrO'e cabin at
$3.50 clock yesterday afternoon and died
out at the foot OF West mountain. the
midnight. after reducing to smolderfng
mass of Wreckage an area more than a
mile in length and from seven to ten
blocks wide in the eastern section OF the
city.
In the path Of the flames were manu-
featuring houses. hotels, number of the
more pretentious residences and several
public buildings, which are in ashes.
So far as can be ascertained there were
no fatalities, and the few persons hurt
suffered only minor injuries.
Among the buildings destroyed were.
the city's light, water and power plants,
county courthouse, high school building,
Park Hotel Moody Hotel, Princess Ho-
tel. ST. Louis Iron Mountain and South
ern railroad station and shops. the Ar
kansas Sanitarum. Smaller buildings by
the hundreds were reduced to ashes.
But few of those whose homes were
burned saved any of their household ef-
fects and guests Of the hotels gave little
heed to their valuableS and luggage In
their efforts to escape the flames.
The flames originated within several
Navy Hospital and took a south and
east course.
Buildings Burn Like finder.
Frail wooden structures in the Sec
ton occupied by colOred people about
Church street and Malvern avenue.
where the fire started, made more than
ordinarily inf1ammable by an extended
drought, burned like finder. Driven by
a nigh wind the fire spread rapidly.
Within fifteen minutes 1t was apparent
that the fire-f1ghting force Of Hot
Springs was inadequate and an ap-
peal was made to Little Rock for aid
Apparatus and men were sent, but the
conflagration was then beyond control
Dynamite was resorted to when II
was apparent that water would be Of
no avail. but this also failed to check
the progress of the flames.
The burned district for some dis
lance skirts the principal business dis
trict and several times the shifting
winds headed the fire that way, but
each time the free use Of explosives
and an opportune. change in the wind
saved the section Before nightfaH
the task Of checking the flames was
abandoned and the combined fire fight
ing forces turned their efforts toward
keeping the fire away from the center
Of the city. This much was accom-
plished.
Homeless Ones Provided For.
All the homeless have been cared for
temporarily, duu pidHS nave Deen
started to systematize the work Of
succor Many offers OF assistance in
fire-fighting apparatus. financial aid.
food and clothing were received, but 1t
is believed that outside aid will not
be needed.
Business was suspended except such as
was necessary in providing for the imme-
date wants Of those who suffered the
loss of their homes.
General Manager Dillon OF the public
utilities commission states that q tempo
rary light and power service will be
established within thirty days and within
three months the public plants will be
working to their capacity again. The
natural gas supply Was not interfered
with.
CATHOLIC ATHLETES MEET.
r-I.~ n