The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-05-22

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on a sidewalk.
Red Cross to Rescue.
Red Cross nurses and dozens of VOL
unteers cared for the homeless men,
women and children wandering aim
less thru the devastated district where
their homes had been
Residential sections untouched by
the blaze, threw open their doors to
the sufferers, and Mayor Gambler an
nounced that while outside offers were
appreciated, the city would take care
of its own.
The fire was brought under control
by the liberal use of dynamite Private
residences were blown up on every
side of the fire. Even then the blaze
was so fierce it reached out and licked
up piles Of furniture in the streets and
adjoining alleys.
Escape to Country.
Seventy-five residential blocks of the
city were wiped out
Few in the path of the fire saved
more than they could carry. People
were slow to appreciate the rapldlty
of the fires approach. even hours
after it's start. The blaze progressed
as fast as man could walk
Families and individuals got away
in every sort of conveyance and on
foot. Many of them thought the city
was doomed. Hundreds came stray
Cling back along country roads this
morning.
Acres of beautiful homes were
blown from their foundations in the
twelve hour fight. The heavy detona-
tions Numbered and shook the city
thru the night. adding to the terror
and misery of the homeless folk
hurrying off into the darkness from
the great blaze.
Fire fighting apparatus from the
vice and today continued to direct
streams of water on the long line of
snouldering ruins.
Gale Carries Flames.
Starting in the Skinner Storage and
Warehouse plant near Decatur and
Fort streets. the blaze quickly spread
to small frame buildings nearby. Dry
as finder. they added fuel to the flames
which rushed north and northeast
ward on the wings OF a gale.
When the alarm reached the fire
department, 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 reports of
incendiarism
Funds were being received today by
the local Red Cross and the associated
Both white and black were cared for.
Save Family Valuables.
A path of smoking ruins, six blocks
I
extends today from Decatur street 20
Nedado way. Included in the swath
are the ashes of cottages and of man
Sions.
Heroism faced the advance of the
flames at every turn. Personal be-
longings of inestimable value were
rescued from homes in the path of
destruction. An endless stream of
automobiles poured up leading thoro-
fares toward the safety zones uptown.
bearing valuables.
Flurries of wind which sprang up
famed the blaze to unmanag eable
fury. These gales caused tongues of
flame to leap great distances ahead of
the main fire. Lashed by the wind,
burning structures sent showers of
sparks to envelop vast spaces, precipi-
tating countless blazes, which rose be-
yond control before the fire fighting
forces could cope with them
Scores Overcome by Smoke
Scores of firemen, soldiers and civil
ians were overcome. 1t was no I'M
common sight to see man in khaki
or fireman prone on the pavement
to revive him. Gangs of hurrying am
balances mingled with the incessant
clang of the fire bells.
The Georgia National Guard, the
Seventeenth United States regiment in
fantry and the men from the officers
reserve camp at Fort Mcpherson did
valiant work in fighting the blaze,
rescuing imperilled families and
household effects.
Atlanta will not ask outside aid in
its emergency, according to the follow
ing statement issued today by the
finance committee of the citizens Red
Cross:
The finance committee Of the Red
Cross has had many offers from
people thruout the country offering
to help us in our present crisis in
any amount we may wish even to
hundred thousands of dollars. The
committee wishes publicly to thank
the spirit which animates such gen.
crosby. Great as our calamity may
be, the Red Cross finance commit
tee, acting in conjunction with the
committee on public safety, feels
that Atlanta can take care of the
situation and that our generous
people will so respond to the call
made upon them that for the pres
we can ATTEND TO all