Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-12-10
: q - j.. y t. 81
ROPEWELL IS
MASS OF RUINS
Magic Virginia City Wiped
Out in a Few
Hours
ONE MILLION DAMAGE
ONE MILLION DAMAGE
Governor Stuart Acts Promptly or
Request for soldiers--Thousands
Refugee to Petersburg.

Petersburg, Dec. 10. - Thirty thous.
and homeless people huddled am
shiyered about the ruins Of fire-swep
Hopewell, the mushroom powde-
town, today, while seven companie
of Virginia militia patrolled the burn
ed area to prevent looting.
All telephone and telegraph com
munication with the devasted tow
was destroyed by the flames, and !;
complete estimate of the loss IN III
and property has not yet been com
piled. The property loss IS estlmat
ed at s1,oOO,OOO.
Reports reaching here today sal
one negro was lynched for lootlnf
while several others, including q:
Italian who went crazy over the loss
his money in one Of the two BAN
destroyed by the flames, were she
down by soldiers. According to info,
nation brought here by persons re
turning from Hopewell, five person
we're shot by another Italian who ws
fred upon when he attempted to er
ter burning bank.
Hopewell, Dec. 10. = Thousands
people were left homeless and with
out shelter and probably 800 build
ings were destroyed yesterday whe
fire swept across sixty Of HopewelJ'
eighty acres, doing a property dam
age estimated at more than s1,OO0,OO'
AS far as could be learned, ther
,yas, no s4loss af. life ssed 1ar'ly. g des
minor accidents. Report that ne
gro had been lynched for iooting wa
unconiriimed.
At s o'clock last night seven milit'
companies from Richmond arrived c
the scene ON a special train, and ma,
tial law was proclaimed.
The fire ragged from '1:45 o'cloc'
until nearly 8 O'Clock at night, de
stroying fifteen blocks. Available fire
fighting apparatus was utterly made
quate te:cope with the situation, tt
flames eating their way through tt
limsy frame structures thrown u
during the early boom of the powde
town last summer like SO much tine
er.
The exit from Hnpewell was almos
equal to an evacuation. Long befor
the shadows of evening began to fa'
families. individuals and small per.
ties Of friends and strangers wer.
seen: to >be I: leaving, carrying witt
them:the possessions which they hai
saved. The snore fortunate; occupie'
motors, some igots away Tin horse
draw conveyances, while many trudg
ed along on;foot. / Some Of :thes'
found refuge: at; Du ,Pont City, which
was at no: time: threatened; other
went to City: Point. but most mad,
their way to Petersburg.
Richmond, Va, Dec. 1e-Fanne'
by a thirty-fve mile wind, fir
which started m a restaurant, yeste;
day afternoon quickly spread to ad
joining buildings in Hopewell, tn
lu Pont boom town., twenty mile
from here. Last night practically ever.
business house, hotel and rcstau
rant in the town had been wiped out
First estimates placed the loss a
sl0OO,0OO.
The du Pont plant was in! no dan
ger, being located 500. yards ~:fror
the railroad crossing, which separs
tes the company's property from tn
town proper.
Fully 10000 employees are home
less. Special trains are bringing thel
to Petersburg and Richmond.
Just as a special train, carryin
The Richmond Blues and two con
panies Of the Richmond Grays role
into Hopewell yesterday evening,
negro was hanged for looting.
The widest excitement prevaile
throughout the afternoon and cit
zens wired Gov. Stuart for, troop
Companies from Richmond and Pete
burg were ordered to the scene.
The fire swept the business Sc
tion of Broadway, Poythress sire
and Railroad avenue, cutting . disl