Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1914-06-26
HISTORIC SALEM IN RUINS; FLAMES ARE
 STILL RAGING

Dy et II SSI SooiE II OlAi lliS northwest the fire spread Carried mile by flying embers, the fire broke out in other sections of the city until at last three large-sized conflagrations were raging. Firebugs and LOoters at Work. And tonight no one can tell where | the fire will stop. Panic reigns in the city. The militia, aided by nearly 1000 policemen from this and other cities, stand guard about the ruins, keeping off looters.
 Added to the horror of the situation, before midnight came the information l that firebugs were at work. Two fires ! started shortly after 10 o'clock. One was in the Salem Savings bank, op- posite the office of the Salem News. l Another was in Arnold's stable off Mason street.
 Bremen say both fires were of in- cendiary origin. Terror is increased by the fear that person have been ] driven mad by the fire and have be- come incendiaries. No one knew where the flames would break out next. At 10 o'clock the great Naum- 1 keag Cotton mills, one of the greatest cotton manufacturing plants in New | England, was in ruins. The city is cut off from communication with the out side world. Through the great con- Migration there was but one wire ill direct communication with the out side world and this was the Interna- l tional News Service wire ill the Salem News office.
 Governor Walsh arrived here to- night accompanied by number of his military staff. He has taken charge of the militia situation. Or ders have been given for food sup plies and bedding for the homeless. Thousands are wandering about the l streets homeless and hungry. Suffering Greater Than at Chelsea
 Horror.
 The fire is the worst in the history of New England since the Chelsea fire. The suffering is greater than at l the Chelsea horror. The heat is terri fic. Throughout the city the mercury stood at over the 100-mark. Bremen fell in their tracks, exhausted by the heat.
 . Before midnight the fire was within one hundred yards of the postoffice, the Salem News office, the banks, theaters and retail districts.
 Flames Spreading at Midnight.
 There was no evidence that the fire could be checked. The dynamit- CTS toppled over buildings as they were made of straw but their efforts were of little avail. The flames leaped angrily across tine abysses made by the dynamiters and con- l tirued their work of destruction.
 Great buildings burned as if they were made of finder. There hao been no rain for weeks. Everything was as dry as finder.
 Number of Dead Not Known.
 "How many dead?" is the query ol l every ones lips.
 No estimate is made by the police or the firemen. In the excitement hundreds are uaaccounted for. Int l terrific heat makes it impossible tt penetrate into the fire zone. Int firemen were without water to we down the ruins.
 l No search can be made for bodies under these conditions. Throughout the afternoon there was perslsten ramor that twenty girls had bee. trapped in one of the leather factor ies. and lost their lives.
 Tonight the rumor goes uncontra dicted and yet unconfirmed. No one can tell. In the panic, the people can only hope for the best.
 Rich and poor are mingling or common ground among the hordes of refugees. The homes of the rich, exclusive society persons, as well as those of the poor of the tenemen district, are laid low in ruins.
 People Crazed by Heat and Thirst
 Without water, the people art crazed by thirst. Even the supply of drinking water is fast giving out The city is in darkness except for tho glare of the flames. Darkeaed dis tricts are vividly illuminated by thu terrific explosions of dynamite. Whel the thunderous detonations die ava. there is darkness, and the looters re srme their work It was reported a police headquarters that militar. man had sEot lcoter at work il