The Detroit times., 1917-05-22
10000 ARE
HOMELESS
IN ATTAIN IA
Acres of Beautiful
Homes Dynamited
to Check Blaze

ATLANTA. Ga, May % after
having burned thru the heart OF AZ.
linta residence district. making
"a. 900 persons homeless and destroy.
Ing At least S2.000.oOo worth OF prop
erty one OF the worst fires the
south has even known was finally
gotten under control here early TO
day
There was only one death Miss
Bessie Hodges died from shock
Six persons were Injured The cause
OF the FIRE which started in a stor-
age house on Decstur-st. is unknown
Ere authorities believe 70 was in
cendiary Mayor Gambler believes n
was accidental An investigation is
progressing Today's great task IS
caring for the thousands OF home.
less and destitute who lost every
thing in the flames
Vandalism was throttled before
dawn by the arrival OF student -
serve officers from ForJ Mcpherson
who are in control Of the situation
The only arrest so far was that OF a
man who tried 10 steal piano
standing on Sidewalk
Red Cross nurses and dozens OF
volunteers cared for the homeless
men. women and children wandering
aimlessiy thru tho devastated dis
rrict Nhere their homes had been
Residential sections untouched by
the blaze threw open their doors 10
ne sufferers and Mayor Gambler an
nouncod thai while outside oTe-s
We're appreciated the city would
take care Of iJs own
The fire was brought under con
troll only oy the liberal use OF dyna-
mite Private residences were blown
up on every side Of fhe fire Even
then the blaze was so fierce 10 reach
Cd our and licked up piles Of furni
ture in the streets and adjoining
ALLEYS
Seventy five residential blocks Of
the city were wiped out
Few in he path OF the fire saved
more than they could carry People
were slow 20 appreciate the rapidity
Of the fires approach. even hours
after its start The blaze progress
ed as fast as a man could walk
Families and individuals got away
in every sort u conveyance and on
foot Many of them thought the
city vas doomed Hundreds came
struggling back along country roads
this morning
Acres of beautiful homes We're
blown from heir foundations in tho
~ hour fight The heavy detona-
lions Numbered and shook Tho city
thru tho night. adding 70 the terror
and misery OF The homeless folk
hurry ing on into The darkness from
the great blaze Fire lighting ap-
aaraus from the neighboring cities
rcndered able service and today con
lnued 10 direct streams Of water
on the long line Of smoulderng
ruins
Starting In The skinner Storage
and Warehouse plant near Decatur
and florists. the blaze quickly
spread 10 small frame buildings near
hy Dry az finder thew added uel
70 The flames which rushed north
and northeastward on the wing Of
gale
When tho alarm reached the FIRE
department much apparatus and
many men were already out fghrng
two other blazes This handicapped
tho department and gave the ere it,
start. This also gave rise 10 reports
Of incendiarism
Funds were being raised today hy
the local Red Cross and the Assoc.
ciated Charities for the care Of the
homeless Both white and black
we're cared for
Atlanta will not ask outside aid
in its emergency. according 10 the
following statement issued today by
the finance committee Of the CHI
zens' Red Cross
The finance committee ~ the
Red Cross has had many offers from
people turnout the country orering
70 help US In our present crisis In
any amount we might wish even "a
hundreds Of thousands OF dollars
The committee wishes publicly 20
thank the spiri, which animates
such generosity Grea1 az our ca.
lamity may be. the Red Cross
finance committee acting in con
junction with the committee on pub
lie safety. feels that Atlanta can
take care OF the situation and that
our generous people will 20 respond
70 tho call made upon them that for
the present We can attend 10 all
needs"