Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1917-05-22
Starting in Negro Quarter, High Winds Fan Flames
 Over Wide Expanse.
ONE WOMAN DIES
 AFTER HOME BURNS
Men in Officers Reserve Training Camp and Soldiers of State Guard Render Great Aid-Ncarby Cities
 Send Fire Apparatus.

hllanla, May Zl.-flfe tHal IOuay swept through large section of the city, from Decatur street north and northeast, cutting clean swath of varying width, was finally brought Under control before it reached the Atlanta baseball park, in the opinion of Chief Cody.
 Approximately 75 blocks were de- vastated. but this is not definite, as the conflagration skrted Ponce de Leon avenue, after it's headlong prog ress had been checked
 Mayor Chandler late tonight stated that he estimated the aggregate loss in the neighborhood of $3,O00, ,O00. Other officials would not hazard guess as to the monetary loss.
 The buildings destroyed ranged from negro shacks to handsome homes costing $6.000 or $S,OO0. Be- cause most of the houses were owned by their occupants, 1t is feared the aggregate insurance will be compara- lively small
 Late tonight several blazes could be seen in the northeastern section, but they were being handled easily.
 Tonight the city is under martial law, administered by soldiers from Fort McPherson, acting upder direc- tion of Col. Chas. R. Moves, of the United States army, who is officially unred the chief of police.
 Most of the homeless saved only what they could carry, as household goods piled in the streets were de- voured in the rush of. the conflagra- tion. Finally dynamite won the fight. Apparatus from other cities was of some aid, and will be of more aid in finally extinguishing the many smaller fires.
 Only one death was reported. Mrs. Bessie Hodges died of shock after her home was burned. Sixty per- sons were taken to the hospitals, but none was seriously hurt.
 Dynamite Many Houses.
 The flames did not attack the more exclusive residence section for a large part of the desolation occurred in neighborhoods of homes ranging in value from $2.500 to $6,0OO.
 Scores of pretty homes were blown up with dynamite, to stop the flames, but four hours of this work did not re- suit in much success. The conflagra- tion tonight was eating up home after home, more slowly than in the after noon, when driven by the high wind. but moving forward relentlessly.
 The dynamiting began at Boulevard place, about o'clock. but the fighters soon were driven two block to Ponce de Leon avenue. where their greatest efforts was made. Aided by the wide avenue and the slowly dying wind. soldiers, fremen and private citizens blew up blocks of houses.
 Once or twice home on the north side would catch fire, but for almost two hours these were stopped as fast as they started. Later, however. the flames gained foothold across street. swept on a block to Decoway and moved on in a nOrtheasterly direc- tion.
 Between EdgewOOd avenue and De- catur street, at the state of the fire, the flames confined themselves to the section between Boulevard and Hil- lard streets. At EdgewoOd. they moved eastward as far as Prospect Place in spots, wiping out block now and then.
 Great Area Laid Waste.
 Practically the entire section bounded by Hillard stret on west. Prospect Place on the east. Edgewood srteet on the south and North avenue on the north was laid waste. On North avenue, North Jackson street became the western boundary. and with the slight changes in the wind, the fire moved steadily on in north easterly direction. It never passed nearer to Peachtree street. the main thorOughfare of the city. than seven blocks. although at times momentary change of the wind threatened that di- rection.
 Bremen had been fighting small blaze in the Atlanta cotton warehouse. where military supplies are stored. and at the same time six residence in the west end were burning. when the alarm came from the Decatur street box. As many men as could be spared were sent to the fire. but it is doubt full If the entire department could have checked the flames that, driven by 2 high wind, fairly ate up the small