Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-05-22
ConfIagration Has Inception in
Obscure Negro Section but
Is Driven Fast and Far by
Wind.
DYNAMITE EMPLOYED
TO CHECK FLAMES
Property Loss Estimated at
Between 100000 and
$3,000,000; Only One
Death, Due to Excitement,

htidHtd Ist.i NAY @l,~-Fie tiio'
started this afternoon in an obscure
negro section swept broad path
through the residential section of At
lanta, devastating scores of blocks and
destroying many of the city's finest
homes and hundreds of negro houses.
Although the flames were not entirely
under control tonight they had been
checked half way through the exclus-
I've Ponce de Leon avenue residence
section and fire officials believed there
was little danger of a further spread.
First estimates of the damage
placed it at between $2,000,00O and
SO, 100000 So far as could be learned
the only life lost was that of a wom-
an who died of shock.
The fire was confined to the north
eastern part Of the city and the only
business houses burned were several
warehouses.
Carried by High Wind.
high wind carried the flames
northeastward with speed which
soon outran the efforts of the fire de-
partment. Within an hour after the
n IN the blaze began TO assume
lions of 4 conflagration and
Is called in several hundred
10. ,.aa the Fart Mcpherson off
GERS training camp to aid in the fight.
Appeals for help also brought fire
equipment from a half dozen neigh
boring cities.
The dramatic struggle with the
flames reached climax at nightfall
when the fire fighters made a stand
at Boulevard place. and began dyna-
miting wide area to protect the
Ponce de Leon section The effort
was only partly successful and an hour
later the dynamiters began their work
over again two blocks beyond the av-
enue. A lull in the wind favored their
work and tonight they were about
holding their own, though many stiIl
feared that before morning the
flames would gain headway and
and burn their way through to the
edge of the city
Thousands Homeless.
The thousands of homeless were be-
Ing cared for tonight by citizens
committee and by the Atlanta Red
Cross chapter. Most of them were
quartered in public buildings. Many
minor injuries were reported but Of
ficials said there had been few per-
sons badly hurt.
The fire started in a storehouse on
Decatur street and swept unobstruct-
ed into the better residence sections.
A large part of the devastation, how
ever, was in the neighborhoods com
posed largely OF homes ranging in val
ne from s2.5O0 to 5000.
The blaze started in the Skinner
storage company's plant which is al
most surrounded by small frame
houses.
Tonight for blocks on all sides of
the area of destruction household
goods were piled in every open place.
These are guarded in most cases by
national guardsmen.
Soldiers Assist.
The presence of the soldiers direct
ing traffic, guarding household goods
and keeping people from the danger
zone gave the appearance of martial
law. AS far as had been reported to-
night good order was maintained,
The fire had swept only a few
blocks before relief measures we're
undertaken by the Red Cross and the
Associated Charities, who joined
forces
Food was provided at the armory
for 5000 people. Army trucks, ex-
press wagons and private automobiles
We're pressed into service to handle
the foodstuffs, the relief workers an
nouncing they were going to feed
everybody who is hungry"
Pretty Homes Blown Up.
Some of the most serious losses
were in the section where dynamite
was used, scores of pretty homes in
comparatively new district of the
city being blown up.
Aided by wide Ponce de Leon ave-
nue. and the slowly dying wind, SOL
diers. firemen and private citizens
blew up whole blocks of houses. Now
and then home on the north side of
the avenue would catch fire but for
almost two hours these outbreaks
were stopped. Then the flames gain
ed foothoid across the street. swept
on block to Vedo Way and late to-
night were moving slowly on in a
northeasterly direction.
Mayor Gambler issued statement
tonight saying outside offers OF help