Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-05-22
s o'clock that we were going to lose a

and that while tho many offers OF out
side help were appreciated, II would
be unnecessary TO tak1 anything OF
them. In this he was 10 ned by leading
members OF the Chamber OF Commerce.
rv Al, officials agreed tina. great deal
OF relief work would have 10 be done
Io-morrow. Many people tonight were
being temporarily cared for. who were
expected 10 ask aid tomorrow. An
emergency fund was started tonight
and II was announced that meeting
would be held tomorrow TO further
the relief work one of the first sub.
scriptions reported TO the Mayor was
81 900. from Ernest Woodruff. a local
capitalist.
THOUSANDS or PERSONS
49, HOMELESS DURING Ni"HT
ri Thousands OF persons Tonight were
homeless and are being fed and quar-
tered in public buildings by the Red
cross and committee OF Atlanta men.
The loss at o'clock was estimated
AZ from 1000, 900 to $1,000 600. but per-
sons familiar with real estate values
stated that any estimate a; this time
was nothing more than gucssworh.
The flames did not attack the more
exclusive residence sections, but
large part OF tho devastation was in
nciEhborhsodS composed largely OF
homes ranging in value from 5000 TO
$4,000
scores of pretty homes in com
r."ativcly new section OF tho city to-
hich, were blown up with dynamite TO
SION tho blaze but four hours OF this
work had no, resulted in much good,
tjr,.y
aftc. home. more slowly than in the
'-cIcrncon. when driven by ii high wind,
hut moving forward rcleutlcssly.
The dynamitns began at boulevard
rlacc at about 4 o'clock. but the light
crs soon were driven back two blocks
~ Ponce dc Leon .Avcnuc where the
Creates; effort WAS made. Aidcd by The
Vide avenues and the slowly dying
WIND, soldiers, tirenvn and private citi-
2rns blew up blocks Of houses. once
cr twice y home OH Inc north side Of
the street would catch fire. hut for
utmost tao hours these sporadic out
breaks were stopped.
Later. however. the flames gained a
. ioctho,d across tho street. swept on
f, block TO Ncdado Way. and moved ON in
n 'northcastcrly direction.
SECTION or SEVERAL BLOCKS
LAID WASTE ny FLAMES
Between Edgewood Avenue and DC
%caiur street at the start of the fire.
tho flames confined themselves 10 tho
section between boulevard and billiard
Street. At EdGewood they moved east
ward as far as Prospect Place in spots.
wipinE out block now and then.
Practically tho entire section, bounded
by billiard street on tho west, Prospect
rlacc on the east Edgcwood Avenue
OH the south and North Avenue on the
north. waS laid waste.
At North Avenue North Jackson
street became the western boundary
and with Slight change in the wind
the fire moved steadily on in north
casterly direction II never got nearer
Teach,ree street, the main thorough
fare OF the city. than seven blocks
although al times a monentary change
q, Mind threatened in that direction.
Eirerpen had been lighting small
blaze IN the big Atlanta cotton ware
supplies are stored. ana a, The same
trrrc six residences in West End were
burning when the alarm came in from
could re spared were sen, TO this sec
ton, but II i doubtful II The entire
department: could h-.e checked the
Games That. driven ny high a'md
fairly ate ~ the small houses upon
which rain had not fallen In many
days
Inc b,szs started in the skinner
storage Company plant, which is
almos, surrounded by small frame
houses
In s,a,emen, to the Associated
Press tonight, Mayor asa q. Gambler
stated thu, he had fully Investigated
INC reports that The tire Vas Of in
ccnd!ar% origin.
There Is nothWs whatever TO sup
rort tina, iheor%, .sayef Gambler said.
The fact that thrcc.hres were burn
lu- at practically the same time, il is
relieved. lent strength 10 the incendiary
reports
When tho flames had jumped across
Edgevood Avenue and were driven
with incredible raptdity toward the
better sections OF the city, a general
ca!! for aid went out. Fire departments
a, Chattanooga. and al Macon. Augusta.
Newman, Marietta, and Griffin. Ca.
were asked 70 send aid Fort Nc
Emerson was called upon for all the
Clcn that could he spared. business
ouscs were asked 10 send trucks to
uaui extra hose and any other supplies.
and private automobiles were offered
"y the score
The 100 men in the officers reserve
corp. and most OF the members OF Tho
, rifih GeorGi" suardsmcn We're sen.