Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-12-10
MARTIAL LAW IN FORCE;
TROOPS GUARD PROPERTY
Entire Population of 5000 Is Made
Homeless by the Wind
Driven Fire.
BOY, IL YEARS OLD, THE HERO
Twice He Rushes Into Blazing
Buildings, Each Time Saving
the Life of
Baby.

HOPEWELL, Va. December
Io.-The town OF Hopewell,
swept by fire yesterday afternoon
and last night, was almost as bare
today as the cornheld in which
its first buildings were put up a
year ago.
Four hundred houses. most of
them wood, constructed i'll fever
i5h Taste to care for the influx of
people brought here by activities
at the du Pont explosives plant,
were licked up by the flames. In
the main part of the town of
$4,000 persons hardly a building
remained, though the great ex-
plosives plant nearby and COM
pany villages at either end of the
town escaped undamaged. Three
fre insurance companies estimate
tiiS iOsS dt D<,OOO,COO.
Guarding Household Effects.
Thousands of refugees who through
out the afternoon had stood helpless as
their homes and places of business
burned were housed during the night
in Petersburg and Richmond. Many of
those who saved their household goods
stood guard over their effects with re-
riff ol1 iOh
from Richmond and special guards
from inside the Du Pont plant helped
the Hopeweil police force to keep order.
Although many were injured. only one
death~was reported. A negro. caught
looting. was strung to a tree at the
edge Of town.
The fire started in restaurant when
an oil stove toppled from a box in the
kitchen y hotel caught next. and soon
the flames, driven by stin wind. were
eating their way through banks, stores
| hotels and dwellings. The only church
in the town was one of the first build
| ings to go.
Powder Plant Keeps Busy.
The explosives plant. which day and
night. at top speed, is turning out war
munitions for the allies. ceased opera
tions only long enough to make sure
when the fire got close. all hands were
turned out to pour water on the build
ings: but shift of the wind turned
the flames in another direction and the
plant started up again.
There was little insurance. 1t was
said. on the buildings. which were
jammcd together-wood and brick-in
Il $ 1acc covering about sixty acres. The
estimate OF -million-dollar loss is
conservative one. il was said The
business men OF Hopewell met this aft
ernoon and discussed plans for rebuild
ing. I, was decided to put up better
ciass Of structures.
Boy of Eleven Is Hero.
The three-story restaurant which first
caught was blazing when Adam Drum.
an eIeven-year-old Richmond boy. ar
rived the scene. He had left his
home in du Pont City to visit the busi-
meas district and was attracted to the
scene BY the crowds that lined the
street leading to the burning building.
He rushed into the building and up to
the second floor
He heard the scream of baby and
rushed into front room on that floor.
He appeared at the front window a Sec
ond later with the infant in his arms.
He shouted to the men below to hold
blanket, and hardly had they grab
bed bed covering from among those
thrown from the building before the
y,
fell forward with the infant in his
arms. The mother of the infant dash
ed from the building second later, her
dress FIRE. The boy landed sauareIy
on the makeshift net and firm arms
helped him 10 his feet. The flames that
enveloped the mothers dress were ex-
tinguished.
He turned and rushed into a building
next door and brought out a second in
FAINT. this time from the first floor that
had been left TO burn by its parents
BNstanders were astounded at his dar-
iug conduct. Men with guns strapped
TO their sides carried the boy away
ron danger down the dusty street on
thciF shoulders.
Mob Lynches Looter.
negro was found carrying off cloth.
ing from pile in front OF a BURNING
store He was seized at once by a
party of citizens aud hurried into a
side street. After a moments consul.
tation rope was procured and placed
about the mans neck The party
numbe:!ng by this time about sixty
men, then hurried the man down ,hs
railway track for a distance Of a quar-.
ter Of a mile to grove. The part,
was matted. the rope was thrown owe,
the limb OF a tree and the negro wa.
swung into the other world His bod,
was still swaying in the autumn breeze
at dawn.
The two banks were burned Tn each
there was considerable trouble with
foreigners, who. as they sa W the build
ings IN which their money was dcpos.
ited about TO burn and to be DESTROYED
made frantic efforts to take IL out. n,
one bank the cashier had to drive tn.
frenzied men from the building AT the
point OF revolver. All the cash and
papers of the banks were taken to Pc.
tersburg and deposited In vaults
Homeless, Cold aad Unsafe.
Those who had personal belonging.
and household goods and were able te
CONTINUED on Eighteenth Page.)