The Mena weekly star., 1920-04-29
100 BAEfSVaLF
 HOMES BURNED
$50O.000 Loss When Fire Sweeps East End Residence Section of City-10 Blocks
 in Ruins

Batesville, April 21.--F'ire which broke out shortly after 2 o'clock this afternoon in the residence section of Batesville destroyed at least i0e homes and caused loss estimated at approximately $5O0,OOC. The homes destroyed included 50 residences of white persons, including some of the finest houses in the city, and aboux 50 dwellings occupied by negroes Several negro churches also were de- stroyed.
 The fire ragged about three hours and famed by stiff wind from the. southeast, covered an area of 10s blocks.
 The blaze originated in the resi- dence of H. Carpenter from the- burning out" of an electric fuse Several children were in the house, but they escaped. The building was in flames before the alarm was sound ed. The fire soon began spreading. and before it could be checked, vast area had been covered
 Arkansas College escaped damage although fires ragged on all sides of the campus. The public school, also, in the area destroyed, was not dam. aged. The Masonic Home, one of the largest institutions of the kind in the south, was not in the devastated dis trict.
 Entire City Joins in Fight
 Business men, laborers, students and others joined the Fire Depart ment in combating the conflagration, All business houses were closed. The Newport Fire Department was called shortly after 5 o'clock on special train. The blaze was under control ;. however, when it arrived.
 As result of the fire more thar 300- persons are homeless tonight They are being housed in Batesville homes and hotels, and will not have to cali upon other towns for assis- tance. Thousands of dollars worth of household goods were destroyed Practically no effort was made tos carry furniture from the burning buildings. Attention was directed to checking the fire, which for time threatened to destroy the entire resi- dence section on the east side of the. city.
 Flames Break Out Again.
 Just before the Newport Fire De- partment was ready to entrain foK home, fire broke out in the business section of the city, but it was quick ly extinguished by the visiting fire men. With the stiff wind blowing, fire in the business district would have endangered the entire city.
 Although hundreds of persons aid ed in fighting the fire, some of whom took desperate chances, there were no casualties.
 Telephone, telegraph and electric service was put out of commission temporarily. Repairs were made as quickly as possible, however, and all are in working order tonight An estimate of the amount of in~ surance carried by property owners in the burned district could not be obtained tonight. It was said that the loss was more than 90 per cent covered. Until representatives of insurance companies make an iIives- tigation, however, definite figures cannot be obtained.
 The burned area is being patroled tonight to prevent another outbreak and to guard the household goods that were carried into the streets
 The Heavier Losers.
 Among the heaviest losers in ths conflagration were H. Carpenter, Ed win Carpenter, Mrs. R. L. Smith, y. N. Cypert, Charles H. McClue.. Charles Walden, Mrs. Allie Wood, Mrs. Scofield, w. A. Edwards, Lloyd Mosley, State Senator Marcus Bone. Mrs. Willie Hipkle, Mrs. Addie Crow. J. o. Burns (business house and resi- dence), Albert Casey, Mrs. McMahon. Tom Shell, W. A. Rutherford Several residences), Mrs. Talley, !. S. Johns ton, Rev. A. F. Cagie, Mrs. IT. Bran non, Charles Prather (residence in course of construction), Simon Ball.. Paul Butler and w. A. Edwards.