Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-03-23
CARRANzA FORCES join v|LL|STAS?
Rush Relief
to Homeless
in Big Fires

Augusta. Ga, March 23.-Twenty
blocks in the residence section Of Au
gusta is charred ruins and the bare
walls of six business blocks bear tes-
timony today of Augustus most serious
fire disaster in recent years. Upwards
of ZOO houses were destroyed and at
least 5000 persons are homeless.
The fire which ragged for more than
nine hours last night, causing a loss
estimated at from 100000 to $1,000
900 was brought to a halt early today
after it had crossed Green street.
An area of about one and one-fourth
flames which were driven by a heavy
gale. The Augusta firemen were pow
erless and fire apparatus was sent from
Columbia, Charleston, Atlanta, Macon,
Savannah and Waynesboro. Wind sub
sided just after / o'clock and it was
not until then that the f1remen could
gain in their fight.
Wiped Out Vast Area.
Starting in the Dyer building at the
corner of Eighth and Broad streets,
the fire spread rapidly to Cotton row"
in the rear, whipped around the En-
pire Life building and then by leaps
and bounds destroyed block after block,
except the 600 square on Broad street.
The flames cut path from two to
three blocks wide for eight blocks on
Broad street down to east boundary,
the end of the city.
The flames leaped across Broad
street to the south side of Ebert street
and cut their way through to Green
street.
The street railway company, the
telephone company and the electric
lighting company suffered heavy losses
and service was crippled.
Leading citizens of Augusta early to-
day began to lay relief plans. City
ton and a general mass meeting of
citizens was called
Officials of the fire department to-
day began an investigation into the
cause Of the fire.
Organizations Join in Relief.
Nashville, Tenn, March 23-Citi-
zens, civic and church Organizations
of Nashville today were caring for s.
900 persons made homeless by the fire
| that swept East Nashville late yester-
day. destroying 600 residences, causing
one death and a property loss OF ST.
! 100000.
National guardsmen, called out by
Governor Rye, patroled the burned
! area to protect property and prevent
looting.
The one fatality was that of a negro.
Many other persons were injured but
none seriously.
The blaze started from lighted ball
lot by boy. A planning mill first was
destroyed. The flames quickly spread
to an extensive negro settlement,
where, famed by high wind, every
house was consumed. The confagra-
ton broke into distinct blazes, one
flowing east on Seventh street and the
other down Fifth avenue. An area of
80 blocks was swept clean which in
cIuded many of the costliest residences
of Nashville, several churches and one
charitable institution. After parallel
ing each other on separate streets for
many blocks the two fires again Joined.
The fire department worked desper-
ately but the gale rendered their eff
forts useless.
! Bucket brigades were formed and
| tons Of water were thus thrown on
buildings at important points in an eff
| fort to check or divert the fire The
flames were finally brought under con-
| troll.
| Relief measures were under way be-
| fore the fire had been extinguished.
Relieving Paris Sufferers.
Paris, Tex, March 23-Work of re-
| Iieving the sufferers and the homeless
in Paris, after the disastrous fire OF
| Tuesday night was carried along swift
| ~ early today. Large sums Of money.
raised in Paris and in cities nearby,
were distributed by a relief committee.
The homeless spent last night In the
| bnp,oo of friends and rn1atiyas on