The Washington times., 1915-12-10
100000 IN HOPEWELL
ARE MADE HOMELESS
Reports Of Execution Of Looters
Are Unconfirmed - Militia
Restores Order Amid Ruins.
Continues from First Paseo


t,ast order has been restored and that
calm prevails Many angrishing
scenes are ~.sacased. however. among
tically everything in the flames.
Body Of Greek Found.
Today the body of an unidentified
Greek was found in the ruins OF res
tsurant near the one in which the fire
originated shortly after O'Clock yes
terday. The Greek was caught under
the falling timbers Of the burned res
taurant while trying to save the cash
register.
Although reports persist that several
looters were shot while prowling
through the salvage of mercantile es
tablishments. no official confirmation
the effect that an italian. crazed by the
loss OF his home and savings, was shot
to death After wounding several per-
sons with revolver shots Another
ltalian is said to have been fred upon
as he dashed into one of the banks of
the city to rescue his savings deposited
there. Officials here say they have not
heen able to authenticate the report that
residents lynched a negro for looting a
short time before the militia arrived.
This afternoon the chamber Of COM
merce of Hopewell will hold a meeting
at which rebuilding plans will be dis
cussed.
To Rebuild City.
Lawrence Perry, who called the meet
ing. will preside. He said the meeting
will result in the speedy rebuilding Of
lIopewell as a permanent town whose
every building will be brick so as to
safeguard us from a repetition Of yes
terday's holocaust" Perry said some
difficulty might be experienced in legal
ly compelling the construction Of brick
houses and stores, as the town has not
yet been Incorporated and cannot pass
ordinances. He felt sure. he said. that
Yesterdays experience was such as to
cause a unanimity of sentiment in IA
vor of brick structures
The du Pont powder plant resumed
operation today, having closed yester-
Hopewell and fight the flames, but
only a handful Of workmen reported
because Of the confusion and excite
ment.
Fears for the safety of the mammoth
powder plant proved unfounded. the
wind. which drove the flames through
HopeWeIl, tanning the ieapins oIa@ts
plosive works Sparks from the huge
pillars of flame which rose over Hope
we'll fell near several mule sheds in
du Font City. 200 yards distant across
AIDES were Immediately formed and the
roofs of the structures were kept sat
urated with water, which prevented
them from catching fire: Except for
force, the du Pont plant was unaffected
by the fire.
Started From Frying Pan.
Great alarm was felt here yesterday
when it was learned that a spy having
blueprints and maps Of the du Pom,
works in his possession had been ar
rested in du Pont City a short time
hefore the fire broke out. 1t was be.
sv,d for a time that the powder plan,
H54 been blown UP and the flames had
srr"ad to Hopewell. Investigation
ever. disclosed the fact that the
'Ues originated in Greek restau.
at, where grease In a frying pan oup.
NED over into the fire and started the
1rH. blaze.
r, Greek employees rushed from We
-. urant, screaming eXcitedly for
oe'r Neighbors began firing pistols
ne air to attract the attention OF
a'r persons and In the hope OF bring.
no Jopewell's only fire-tighting ar~i,
za,-a the more quickly to the scene
Hopewel the night before the rre
failed to recognize this intended nre
alarm. and several persons are said tc
direction Of those. hoping to attrac,
the attention of the fre-rghters.
Hopewell as wiped off the horizon a.
RAPIDLY as 1t sprang into being les:
thnn year ago from a one-store vii
lase to town Of 5000 inhabitants
The flames event up Railroad avenue
Portyress street. and Broadway as fas
20 they could travel on the bosom OF 9
thirtvti five mile an hour gale The on.
and two story wooden structures IN the
path Of the flames went up like tindel
and every instant between 1:i5 O'Clock
and o'clock was marked nv the fall
Ing Of a store or odcing house
The two banks IN the town we-" de
vonred In short order. but the officials
had sufficient warning to give then
time to resrue the ccnte ents Of th.
vaults end hooks. They were brough
here and deposited in local banks fo'
safe keerirC.
400 Buildings Destroyed.
The 40 structures which composer
the town Of IIopewell We're all consume,
inside Of four hours. but the ruins con
tinued to burn Until far into the night
thousands of homeless men and wome,
kcennc mournfll vigil OF what was lef