Evening star., 1915-12-10
HOPEWE[L BURNS;
LOSS, $2,0OO,0OO;;
LO0TER LYNCHED
Continued from First Page.)

do so removed them to places Of safety.
Surrunding the community, which lay
in ashes, today could be seen men,
women and children seated upon what
articles they had been able to save. 1t
was not unusual to see men standing
near with freely displayed revolvers,
while some held repeating rifles to pro-
tect themselves against robbery.
Dpring the .early stages of the fire
the population of the community was
too amazed for any one so inclined to
attempt any crime. The police were
throng of people who were insstent
upon getting near the flaming struc-
lures for a better view of the confia-
grafton. Though many were insistent,
the officers were able to keep them
within the bounds of safety.
AS soon as it was realized that the
place would be entirely wiped out, the
police, assisted by experts from the
powder plant, began dynamiting build
ings. When the first blast was set off
many persons thought that there had
been an explosion of guncotton. When
other detonations followed 1t was
quickly understood that buildings were
being blown up to prevent greater
damage.
Exit Almost an Evacuation.
The exit from Hopewell was almost
equal to an evacuation. Long before
the shadows of evening began to fall
families. individuals and small parties
of friends and strangers were seen to
be leaving, carrying with them the
possessions which they had saved. The
more fortunate occupied motors, some
got away in horse-drawn conveyances.
while many trudged along on foot
Some of these found refuge at du Pont
City, which was at no time threatened
othere went to City Point, but most
made their way to Petersburg.
On account of the great influx OF peo-
Pile, Mayor Cabiness ordered all saloons
in that city closed at $40 o'clock. All
available policemen in Petersburg were
called out on duty, while the city coun-
Gil, chamber of commerce, the Y. M. T.
A, churches and others took quick ac-
ton in order to accommodate those
who had lost their homes with tenn
porary shelter. Many were forced to
remain at Hopewell in the midst of the
ruins.
After s o'clock last night it was all
most an impossibility to obtain a con-
veyance to reach Petersburg. Drivers
of few automobiles who sought fares
had no difficulty in overlooking and
collecting fancy prices for the trip.
Powder Plant Resumes Work.
Famed by a northwest wind of about
flames swept over Hopewell at a rapid
rate and burned themselves out when
they reached a lumber yard situated at
the intersection of Woodland avenue
and the tracks of the Norfolk and
Western railway.
When all chance of danger had
passed, the du Pont plant resumed it's
operations. and the night shift men
took their accustomed places at II
o'clock. Special trains were arranged
for to carry the other employees, those
who had been forced from their Hope
well quarters. to Petersburg. With the
entire place under martial law, the life
at the plant went on as usual. the only
Indications of the great confagration
being the smoking ruins of the town.
Early in the afternoon, seeing the
necessity for a strong force of armed
guards, Chief of Police Cotton request
ed Gov. Stuart to send the militia. At
5 o'clock four companies of the Rich
mond Light Infantry Blues. under COM
mand of Maj. Bowles, and four compa-
MES of the Richmond Grays, under Maj.
Bright, arrived and at once took
charge. At 10 o'clock the town was Of
ficially pronounced under martial law.
The soldiers pitched camp near the
scene and spent the night under shell
ter tents. The place at once took on
the appearance of an armed camp.