The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-12-10

The business portion of the city of Hopewell
which suddenly grew up around the manufacturing
plants of the Dupont de Nemo,us Powder Company,
Sy p0n lost ssr all and homeless
because OF the fire which swept through an area OF
fifteen blocks yesterday afternoon carrying be
fore it destruction all buildings, and which did
damage amounting to approximately one million
dollars, nearly all Of which is loss There in
carried except that in local mutual company
and another mutual company, and their totals were
small
though the confagraton had its start threestory Green
restaurant and roomng house Appomattox Street and il
+fective.
The fire. driven before thrty-mile gale the north
vest moved rapidly and within three hours from the time
wsp of smoke issued from the first burned building the entire
business section lay in ruins
Dynamite called into before the flames had almost
burned themselves out instrumental saving the st
cottages the village section the plant and beyond
the burned area.
During the progress of the fire there was little actual dis
order though excitement intense foreign element
who did understand and who seemed overwhelmed by thu
fury Of the onrhing flames which ate into their savings their
businesses and their homes haess and partly clothed
about the streets They made frantic efforts to such Ct
their belongings movable, and in their bewldement
added to the which held throughout the afternoon AMI
during the early hours Of the night.
There little ooting Quick justice meed the
only of actual footing which the offender caught
redhanded negro whose has been learned and
about which appear to be concerned ynced il
said
Though reports of several killing by police officers Of
caught 1oeng heard yesterday afternoon
h11ned last night
The only other fatality growing of the fire tbs
death Of Alexander Zacharia Greek who killed under
a wall Of tSe Friend drugstore, when it fell.
Though there much confusion the police of Hopewe
with assistance of number Of Dupont guards and cooler head
ed citizens maintained admirable condition Of order
Militia Is Asked For.
Fearing haa the fire progressed and the inhabitants
became excited and desperate otng might
Hopewe authorities appealed Governor Stuart provide
militia properly police the community. These were sum-
moned by the sounding of the military call of fifteen taps hers
yesterday afternoon and within hours 200 Richmond
mianlen speeding toward Hopewell a special train
provided by the Atlantic Coast Line and the Norfolk SnH
Western. s5ssfsSAs
These augmented Petersburg by the Petersburg
company of the State militia The troops reached Hopewe
during the early part of the night and II o'clock last night
the situation quiet Order maintained throughout thu
night the mtamen armed and ready for emergency
might arise patrong the Of the burned and Of
outlying subdivisions where in many of the cottages just but
nearing completion and in the school house hundreds ~
and children found shelter from the sharp cold
Many Walk To Petersburg. Z
Many hundreds walked from Hopewe Petersburg asE
night seeking shelter which nearly all found Hundreds
declined 60 Petersburg and remained the burned
city, rolling in hastily provided blankets and sleeping
ground mprovised beds @@
So many walking the tracks of the Norfolk and We
Railway that the special trains operated by that
for the relief Of the situation crawled at little better than
snas pace that the pedestrians might not be
injured or killed beneath their Wheels sNass8
In Petersburg tho X. M. G. IA, the Mechanics
Red Mems Hall snd eene of the churehe6 thru