New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-10
Hopewell, Va, Wiped Out
and Its $4,000 Inhabi-
tants Homeless.
COMPANY'S PLANT
SAVED FROM FIRE
Negro Lynched for Looting-
Rumors of Incendiary Origin
of Fire Persist.

Petersburg, Va, Dec. 9.-Hopewell,
Va, the boom town Of $4,000 founded
by the du Pont Powder Company, virtu-
ally was destroyed by FIRE late to-day.
The flames were not controlled until
late this evening, when there was
little left in the town TO burn. The
companys powder mill, some distance
away. was not in danger.
The blaze started in a restaurant
The financial loss is estimated roughly
at $4,000 900, and thousands Of home
less families were taken 20 Richmond
and Petersburg on special trains to-
night
Despite the place of origin Of the
fire. there were persistent reports to-
night that it had been started by an
incendiary, who might have been the
accomplice of an employe of the du
Pont factory arrested last night.
Officials of the powder company re-
fused to discuss the incendiary theory
or the arrest, but it was said the man
ir custody had aroused the suspicion
of the private police force which for
months has kept a close patrol about
the plant.
Nearly every building in the town,
which had sprung up with q sensational
rapidity suggestive of the Western
mining settlements of the SOS, was Of
wood. A high wind aided the spread OF
the flames. and within few minutes
after they were discovered several
blocks were on Are. Firemen rushed
from Richmond and Petersburg were
powerless to check the confiagration
until long after several buildings had
been blown up with dynamite to re-
move fuel for the flames.
Troops to Prevent LoOting.
Six companies of state troops were
sent to prevent rioting and looting
among the frantic laborers and their
families. One negro caught looting was
lynched. No other life was lost as
result Of the fire, according TO reports
reaching here.
A local militia company was placed
in the downtown section Of Petersburg
TO aid in preserving order among the
thousands pouring in from the burned
town. All saloons here were closed
al z o'clock
The fire started at LAS o'clock this
afternoon. The alarm was given by
Adam Drum, an eleven-year-old boy,
who saw smoke coming from the roof
of q three story restaurant building.
He rushed into the building and soon
afterward appeared at a front window
on the second floor with an infant in
his arms. He shouted TO the crowd
that had gathered below TO hold a
blanket. A bed covering was used as
a life net and the boy leaped into II.
Neither he nor the infant was hurt.
The mother Of the child dashed from
the building a moment later. her dress
on fire, but she escaped serious injury.
Boy Twice a Hero.
The boy then entered a building next
door and brought out a second infant
that had been left by its parents. By
ISLANDERS carried the boy away from
danger cn their shoulders.
Mothers and fathers with infants In
their arms fed from the frame build
ings that we're hurriedly thrown to-
gether during the summer to accom-
modate the du Pont employees, and sew
eral were injured.
Hopewell until two months ago was a
wide open town and there had been
much trouble in maintaining order.
Many men carried guns, as in the old
days in the West.
Everywhere among the ruins tonight
lawyers, doctors, business men and la
borers we're sitting on the goods they
managed 10 save, with rifles across
their knees or guns at their belts.
The stores, hotels, restaurants, office
buildings and other structures de-
stroyed will probably number three
hundred. There was little insurance.
While the precaution of throwing
water on the bunkhouses within the
du Pont inllosure was taken. there was
no apparent danger of the flames
Spreading TO the plants of the com
pany, these plants being 500 yards from
the railroad crossing, which separates
the compary's property from the town
proper.
Fully 10000 employees Of the powder
company are homeless tonight. but the
company put its night force Of men at
work as usual AZ IL o'clock.