The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1915-12-14
CITY SWEPT
BY FIERCE FIRE
NEW TOWN ALL But WIPED OUT
BY FLAMES.
Hang Negro Looter-Crowd Puts Him
to Death For Stealing-Troops
Rushed to Scene.

Petersburg, Va, Dec. 9.-Hopeweli,
a year old city of $4,000 people, 10
Gated near the guncotton plant of the
E. |. DUPONT de Nemours company
near here. was practically destroyed
by fire this afternoon. The first was
not under control early tonight, but
there was little left to burn. The
guncotton plant was not endangered.
The loss will approximate more than
81 100000, according to estimates here,
and there. was practically no insurance
on buildings or stocks. No lives were
known to have been lost in the fire, but
a negro was hanged for looting.
At the request of the chief of police
Governor Stuart rushed six companies
Of militia from Richmond to the scene.
They were on duty tonight.
Petersburg early tonight was filing
up with HopeweN men and women
rendered homeless by the fire. The
local militia patrolled the city and
Mayor Cabiness ordered all saloons
closed. The Petersburg city council
held a special meeting tonight to pro-
vide funds for the relief of the needy,
while the churches of the city were
converted into sleeping quarters for
the homeless.
Wind Carries Flames.
The fire started at 1:45 o'clock on
the third floor of a Greek restaurant
on Appomattox street. A strong wind
famed the blaze and within 10 min
utes the entire block was in flames.
Long before the Dupont and Peters
burg fire departments arrived in re-.
sponse to an urgent call, the fire had ].
gained such headway that the fremen
we're helpless, and every business
house, restaurant and hotel in the
town was destroyed.
Adam Drum, an 11-year-old Rich
mond boy, was the hero of the fire.
He dashed into two burning buildings
and rescued infants and finally was.
borne away On the shoulders of men.
Drum first dashed into the building
where the fire started after he had
heard the screams Of a baby. He
rushed into a front room on the second
floor and appeared at the front win
dow a minute later with the infant in
his arms. He shouted to men below to
hold a blanket. They grabbed a bed
covering from among those thrown
from the building and the boy leaned:
forward and with a cry fell with the
infant in his arms. Both were caught
in the blanket and were uninjured.
Saved Another Baby.
When helped to his feet, Drum
rushed into a building next door and
brought out a second infant from the
first floor. Bystanders were astounded
at the boys daring conduct and when
there was no more rescue work for
him to do, men with guns strapped to
their sides carried him down the street
on their shoulders.
Mothers and fathers with infants in
their arms fed from the frame build
ings which had been hurriedly thrown
together during the summer to accom-
modate the Dupont employees, and sew
eral were more or less badly injured.
Hopewell until two months ago was
wide open town and much trouble
had been experienced in main aiming
order in the place, which sprung into
existence last spring. The town grew
in year fdom one country store to
city of $4,000 inhabitants, with two
daily newspapers. Tonight the town
had reverted to the conditions exist
ing before Gov. Stuart sent special
officers to put an end to the lawless-
ness.
The stores, hotels, restaurants, Of
fee buildings and other structures de-
stroyed probably will number 400.