Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-05-22
EXTENDS TO HOMES
ON BEST AVENUE
Rich and Peer Suffer Alike In Worst
Fire Since Shsrman Destroyed City
Nss Backbone Of confsdsracy-Fins
RESIDENCES Dynamitsd In Effort TO
Cheox Ss.eed Of Flamss-Prspara
tiens Made 70 Feed Homeless.

Yesterdays fire that swept approu-
matsay seventy five blocks Of residence
properly and caused a loss Of $780,
900. Il was estimated today. Preparas
tions have been made to feed 5000 des-
tituto.
Atlanta went TO work today to care
for the destitute persons from 1000
homes. The fire that ragged yesterday
afternoon ana last night thruout sev-
enty-fivs blocks and was stopped only
after the dynamiting Of the beautiful
homes on Ponce de Leon avenue. The
property loss was estimated at moro
than 33.00oo0o.
The fire started in warehouse ON
Decatur ana Fort streets and drove
first north end then northeast. at some
points block wide and At times hall
d mile in width. Il crossed Ponce de
Leon avenue 1t one point and swept
down the boulevard for block. On the
south SIDE Of Ponce Dc Leon avenue.
wide residence street. the burned area
extend dad from North jackson street
some seyea blocks each of Peachfree
street. tho principal busineas eectlo1
! opt ala,oat 6 ses hsssaeal z pars:
II, uas the greatest fire In Aaianta'a
HISTORY since the civil war days Hhe1
General sherman. terming the CITY
the "backbone Of the Confederacy" de-
creed that iA should be burned. In
property loss the fire yesterday was
greater for tho city General Sherman
destroyed had only 10000 inhabitants.
Destitute persons from che burned
area. which included negro homes and
costly residences Of white people, were
cared TOR by the local Red Cross and
the associated charities. Hundreds were
fed last night and today.
Outside Aid Not Needed
Mayor Gambler and President Ivan
a. Alien, Of the local chamber OF COM
merce, have agreed that no outside aid
would be needed. Both expressed sthier
appreciation OF scores OF telegrans
telegraphed 20 them.
Only one person 10 known to have
died from tho fire Mrs. Bessie Hodgea
died Of shock after her homo was de-
stroysd. Injuries were remarkably few.
When the flames began advancing
northward they drove before them hum
dreds Of persons. Automobile trucks.
express wagons and every conceivable
vehicle were pressed into service to save
personal belongings.
Trsops Take Charge.
II was not until the fire reached
within . block Of two Of Ponce de Leon
avenue, an hour before darkness fell.
that ordar began to como Iout Of the
confusion. National suardsmen and
men from the officer1 training camp
at Fort MCPHERSON took charge of tho
situation. After this the abandoning
OF homes was carried out consistently.
The soldiers remained on duty AL
night
Furniture bod clothes and all Tho
odds and ends from the homes Uttered
the streets, which were made impass-
able In many cases by fallen wires.
The soldiers allowed nothing to bo
moved during tho night and blocked
civilians from 1he fire sone. Only one
case Of attempted looting was reported
and that resulted In an arrest.
Nstsr Cars commandsersd.
Tho hre started two blocks east Of
Ed1ewood avenue at Fort street and
was swept northeastwarf BY the wind
and went rapidly into the white resi-
dencs @ection.
Automobile trucks by the score were
rorn,andsred to sathepA every foot Of
nos s 4: 4. the city. but block after block
was, burned without anything what
ever being done to check the flames.
A. the CONFEDERATION continued 1t be-
came increasingly difficult to get ac-
sIrate reports from the burned area.
Wires were cut promlscuously and
streets were choked with debris, street
cars that did not get out of the area
IN time and vehicles OF all sorts.
Homes Are oynamitsd.
Some OF the fy1cSt serious losses
were II the section whore dynamite
vas used, scores OF pretty homes In q
:sfn sssat!yely new district OF the cily
peinE biaWn up. the dynatnitsng be-
ygn 1T Boulevard place ut about q
o'clock, hut the fighters soon were
driven back -, 4s lls Z.
Aided by wide Ponce dc Leon avenue
ana tho slowing dying wind. soldiers,
srencn, and private citizens blew up
whole blocks OF houses Now and then
home on the north side OF the avenue.
would catch fire. hut for aimost two
h0urs these outbreaks were stopped.
TheN thu flames GAINED f00tho!d
acrooe the ntreet. swept on = block 10
sve1S MAy And laas aast u!ght iwere
Z