Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1916-03-29
PARIS FIRE CAUSES 3 DEATHS.
Property Loss Runs High Into Mil
lions--Many Homeless.

loss, estimated AT between S.UOU,UOU
&nd $4,000, 900, together with three
known deaths, resulted from the fire
which swept this city last night, ac-
cording to Mayor Ed McCuiston in a
statement issued about noon to-day.
Practically the entire business sec
ton Of the city, as well as about
1900 dwellings,, were destroyed by
the flames, rendering 10000 home
less.
"No survey OF sufficient accuracy
has been completed to enable me to
announce definitely the number Of
homeless, the mayor stated.
Work of clearing away the debris
from the streets, demolishing threat
enng standing walls and measures
for the feeding and housing of the
homeless were started at daylight.
All available buildings are being used
as refugees, and car loads Of food
stuffs, dry goods and other supplies
during the day. Relief committees
from other Texas cities also arrived
and worked in cooperation with local
officials.
How FLAMES Spread.
The fire started about $50 yester-
day afternoon in a storage warehouse,
belonging to S. }. Long, at the foot
OF South 18th street, adjoining the
Do
Nhe wind was blowing a gale at
the time and the flames were driven
so rapidly that they soon were be-
yond control. In less than two hours
the wind. blowing southwest to north
west, had laid waste section extend
ing from 18th to 25th streets, in
width, and along several blocks of the
Texas and Pacific right of way, burn
ing several Of the most costly resi-
dences, the Episcopal, the Congrega-
tional and First Baptist churches,
several apartment houses, the Gibral-
tar and Merrick hotels and many
other structures.
The flames first made clean
sweep Of the southern part OF the
city, burning a path three to four
blocks wide, extending to the public
square, where large open space ar
| rested the course Of the fire tempo
rarily. Thence the fire was swept by
the gale into the residential section,
mill districts and on until about 80
blocks were consumed.
Among the most prominent BUILD
ings destroyed we're. the new sx-story
Gibraltar Hotel. the !Ierrick Hotel,
two national and one State banks.
three churches, the Paris Daily Advo-
cate, the Paris Morning News, the
new 100000 post Office building, the
old Federal building, the city hall,
county court house, county jail, all
dry goods stores, all drug stores, and
| almost all grocery stores. Not hotel
or restaurant was saved.
Only Few Stores Left.
In the business section there are
left only smaller stores on side
streets radiating from the public
square. In these stores Paris busi-
ness men opened esta blishments to-
day to care for the needy. In one
brick building, less than 500 feet
wide and about 100 feet long, were
located a branch Office of the tele-
phone company, q temporary tele-
graph office, a hastily constructed
| apothecary shop ana on the other
| side small store Of dry goods and
| clothing, which was in great demand
by those who had lost most OF their
| apparel in the flames.
1t was planned to have large guam
titles Of bread and other necessities
concentrated at Dallas, Fort Worth,
| BonIham, Greenville and other cities,
for quick dispatch here on special
trains and fast express.
There was all apparent feeling Of
resentment among some citizens in
the matter Of asking for outside aid.
In spite OF the calamity and the great
loss OF homes, the instantaneous cut
ting off Of food supplies, the bulk Of
Paris residents felt that they could
depend on their own resources for
taking care Of themselves.
CASTORlA