The Mena weekly star., 1913-09-11

Hot Springs, Sept. s (Special) = After a period of horror, regret and eondolence following the monster fire which swept more than S6,000,- 900 of this city's property to the clouds in a pail of smoke, Hot Springs has partially resumed the aspect of a city. Ruin, of course, remains on every hand, but the people have taken hold of affairs with the spirit that has long been dominant in Arkansas and greater and finer city will doubtless rise from the ashes of what has proved this states most disastrous contla- grafton.
 Already plans are under way for the rebuilding of the burned area. Insurance adjusters are busy, and st is likely that ere the week passes millions of dollars in fire insurance will have been paid the victims of lhe great catastrophe. State miIitiamen are aiding the local police and county peace of- ficers in preventing vandalism, and thus far but few arrests of looters have been made. In fact, so great seems the sorrow over the great fire that even the evily inclined are ap- parenuy backward in attempting toI rob those made destitute by the flames. Soldiers ordered here by Governor Hays will remain until She police are convinced that they can cope with the situation. This will not be until all articles of value are recovered from the Pulns.
 Estimates which originally placed the loss at S6,000,000 have not been lessened by further inves- sigation. To the contrary, 1t is probable that this figure will not cover the loss.
 The city is filled with destitute and homeless people, and every ef- fort is being made to care for them. One of the objectionable tea- lures coincident with the fire IS the apparent morbid desire of hundreds of sightseers from other cities to flock here. Hot Springs IS finding great difficulty in caring for the eitys actual fire victims, and this influx of the morbidly inclined is installing additional worry and care. Both the Rock Island and Iron Mountain railroads have refused to eun excursion trains into the city, but still the people come by hun dreds to see the effects of the fire.
 The fire of last Friday, which started in a negro cabin and which was not checked until it had eaten tts way through strip of territory more than a mile long and half a mile wide, was most picturesque. The gale which swept from the mountain tops up through the beautiful valley in which this ia nous City of Vapors' is located, tossed the flames across intervening streets and hurled sparks and fire brands as high as the clouds.
 Battling against this conhagra- sion hindered by the elements and Handicapped by reason of the dry condition of all inflammables due 30 lhe recent drouth, thousands ot citizens saw their all, often accu- mutations of years of worry and work, go up in smoke.
 Scenes of grief connected with the fire can never be depicted Strong -sOuled and strOng-hearted men wept; women and children cried in horror as their homes household effects and toys, play things and objects to which they had become attached through long association, became food for the hungry flames which licked every thing in their path. Scores of the finest homes and buildings in the city burned. Churches, schools, the fine Garland county court house She Iron Mountain depot and shops public buildings, the High School building and dozens of places of business and amusement were laid low. Now, where once stood some