Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-05-22
ATLANTA SUCCORS
BIG FIRES VICTIMS
Citizens and Red Cross Feed,
Clothe and Shelter the
Homeless
FIFTY-TWO BLOCKS LOST

ohu sixteen blOCke long In ashes Atlanta
To-Day set TO work to provide permanently
for those who are homeless and repair the
damage caused by the big FIRE
Fltty thousa n dollars was subscribed for
fire relief at ~mass-meetinE or citizens in
the Chamber OF Commer'. today II was
one Of the most remarkable meetings In the
history OF Atlanta and afforded a splendid
demonstration OF the famous Atlanta
spirit"
Fire relief work Is throughly organized
an dunder way. Rehabilitation Of the
burned area viii begin Immediately and
The houses demolished will be replaced with
new and more modern structures
At n meeting Of the public ,afety com.
mittee Of the Chamber OF Commerce today
II was determined that all relief work
shall We conducted through the local organ.
iEation Of the Red Cross which has already
taken hold Of the situation.
1t is stated that the city viii neal no aid
from the outside.
Considering the tremendous area burned
--1fty-two blocks--thc monetary loss was
remarkably small. owing 20 the cheap char
acter OF most Of the buildings burned. II Is
believed that S3,500,000 will cover the
damage
Hundreds of persons today were quar-
tered In the auditorium and in houses Of
Kindly citizens until they could be perma-
nently cared for The relief work Is In the
hands Of the Atlanta branch Of the Amerl-
en- Red Cross and officers Of that organiza-
tlon said every one Of the homeless had been
fed and sheltered
There have been no deaths as a result of
the fire, although about sixty persons sur-
fered minor injuries. There was remarkably
little looting owing to the presence Of sew
eral regiments of troops who paced the fire
swept area all night turning back those
who could not show valid reasons for
wanting to enter the burned section
GERMAN PLOT DENIED
Many wild stories we're current here to-
day to the effect that the flames were
started by German potters. This was pos.
itively denied by the authorities Mayor
Gambler said he had investigated thor
oughly every plausible report Of incendiar-
ism. but had found them all groundless
The ftaines started In a negro settlement
near Oakland Cemetery and sparks carried
by the high wind, leaped across the Georgia
Railroad to Fort and Decatur streets
spreading the blaze to the hmsy negro
quarters there.
From Fort and Decatur streets the blaze,
famed by the steadily increasing wind
swept northward for sixteen blocks To ST
Charles avenue and Jackson Boulevard,
finally being checked early today by
dynamite.
Few in the path OF the fire saved more
than they could carry. People were slow
20 appreciate the rapdity Of the fires ap-
proach, even hours after its start
HOUSEHOLD GOODS LOST
Moving as fast a man could walk the
names licked up household goods that had
been hurredly piled in the streets
The departure Of families finally, how
ever, began In every kind of conveyance. ,
The exodus became general
Guardsmen and men from the officers |
training camp at Fort Mcpherson today |
were in control OF the situation. Up to |
early today the only arrest for vandalism |
was that Of man who tried to cart away |
piano he found unguarded on sidewalk |
Acres OF homes were blown from their !
foundations in the twelve-hour fight. Fire
fighting apparatus from neighboring cities |
however rendered heroic service and today !
continued to direct streams of water on |
smoldering ruins.
Starting in the Skinner Storage and |
Warehouse Plant near Decatur and Fort |
streets the blaze quickly spread TO small |
frame buildings nearby. Dry as tinder they |
added fuel TO the flames. which rushed north /
and northeastward on the wings Of a gale /
When the alarm reached the fire depart |
ment much apparatus and many men were |
already out fighting two other blazes This (
handicapped the department and gave the |
fire its start This also gave rise to re- |
ports Of incendiarism.
Funds were being received today by the |
Red Cross and Associated Charities for /
the care Of the homeless. Thousands were |
fed at the Auditorium Armory this morn
".
Homes were thrown open all over At |
lanta last night to house the unfortunates |
Today relief measures were directed toward |
providing permanent shelter for the home |
less. Clothing will have to be provided, as /
many lost all their possessions except the
clothes they wore.
Heroism faced the advance Of the flames
at every turn. Personal belongings of in
estirnable value were rescued from homes
in the path Of destruction. An endless
stream of automobiles Of every description
poured up leading thoroughfares toward the
safety zones uptown bearing valuables
and furnishings. The flow Of homeless
afoot through Ponce de Leon avenue re-
sembled a hurried exodus Of refugees from
invaded Belgium.
Flurries of wind which sprang up famed
the blaze TO unmanageable fury These !
gales caused tongues Of flame to leap great
ahead OF the main fire. Lashed
by the wind, burning structures sent showers
of sparks TO envelop vast spaces pre-
countless unnoticed blazes which
rose beyond control before the flre-fghting
forces could cope with them.
Scores OF hremen, soldiers and civilians
were overcome. II was not uncommon 10
behold a man in khaki or fireman in an
ulster prone on the pavement while fellows
to rescuscitate him. The gongs
Of hurIylng ambulances mingled with the |
incessant clang of th~ Ere bells.
The Georgia I~Ntional Guard, the Sew
snteenth United States Regiment Infantry
and the men from the officers reserve camp
at Fort Mcpherson did noble work in fight
ing the blaze. rescuing imperied families
and saving household effects
The following statement was issued to-
day by the finance committee of the Citi-
Eers Red Cross:
The finance committee OF the Red Cross
has had many offers from people throughout |
the country offering to help us in our pres
snt crisis In any amount we might wish |
even to hundreds Of thousands of dollars. |
The committee wishes publicly to thank |
the spirit which animates such generosity. |
Great as our calamity may be, the Red |
Gross finance committee, acting in con- [
junction with the committee on public |
safety feels that Atlanta can take care |
Uf the situation and that our generous |
people will 30 respond TO the call made upon |
them that for the present we can attend to |
ali needs"
WOOL CLOTH PROCESS FOUND