Albuquerque morning journal., 1922-12-09
FIRE DESTROYS
BUSINESS AREA
Of THE OLDEST
CITY IN ORE CON
Property Loss at Astoria Is
Estimated at S15,000,-
900 and Hundreds of
Persons Are Homeless
80 BLOCKS ARE WIPED
OUT BY THE FLAMES


Astoria, Ore, Dec. 8 (bV the AS
sociated Press The business dis
trict of Astoria, the oldest city In
Oregon, Is ruins, hundreds of per-
sons are homeless and property
loss estimated around $t5.0O0000
was caused by q fire here today.
For ten hours the flames held
sway, eating an ever widening path
through the city until shortly after
noon.
Banks, newspapers, plants, ho-
tells, stores, theatres and numerous
buildings housing a variety of bus
mess places were wiped out. Ac-
rording to Fire Chief L. b. Foster,
the fire got out of control because
il burned beneath the buildings uu-
der piling driven when the business
section Of the city was built. He
attributed the disaster TO failure to
fill in the space beneath the piling.
Dynamiting was reaOrted to in an
effort to stay the flames.
Norris Staples, automobile man
and president Of the Bonk of Com
merce, dropped dead of heart fall
ure while the fire was at its high
est.
The body Of C. J. Smith, a tram
silent, was found hanging under the
sidewalk on the water front at
Eighth and Astor streets, but
whether he had ended his life be-
cause of the fire or for other rea-
sons the police were unable to de-
termine. He had spent the night
in a lodging house on the water
front.
Thirty blocks We're wiped out by
the flames. Many homes in the
older residence district were de-
stroyed and about fifty families
living in an apartment house were
made homeless by the destruction
of that building. In addition to
this, many persons occupying
rooms in the destroyed area lost
everything they had except the
clothing they had on their backs.
A committee of citizens met at
call OF Mayor Brimmer, and
planned immediate relief measures.
They were assured of help from
nearby cities. Every restaurant
and hotel in the city was destroyed
and stocks of food in the stores
hod been destroyed, so there was
prospect OF immediate wants.
Portland Sends Bread
Portland bakeries sent loads or
bread and Seaside sent word that
the hotel there was open to re-
ceive those who would accept it,
and a large number of summer cot
tages also were to be offered to
the homeless. Homes in the AS
,-f nF
to give shelter and food to those
who needed it.
The Budget, an afternoon paper,
which attempted to get out an
edition today on the press of the
paper at Seaside found this tmpos-
sible and instead issued mimeo-
graphed sheets.
j. S. Dellinger, publisher OF the
Astoriau, the morning paper, an
nounced that he would probably
get out tomorrow's edition on the
press of the local Finnish daily,
the Toveri.
The Astorian recently moved
into new building which
was swept by the fire. Mr.. Del
linger said three typesetting ma
chimes had been saved but the rest
of the plant was destroyed, IN
Guiding the files of fifty years ago.
Telephone exchanges and tele-
graph offices were burned. Com
munication with the outside world
was maintained through the day
by long lines temporarily set up
within the city hall.
A meeting of citizens and the
mayor resulted in the naming OF a
committee on temporary relief.
The hotel keepers of oregon in
session in Portland donated $50
600 for relief. The Columbia Riv-
er Packing association donated the
use of ten steamers for housing
purposes and facilities in churches
and other buildings were listed for
housing.
A detachment of the Oregon ma
tional guard was summoned to aid
the local police.
Lee Drake, part owner Of the
Astoria Budget and president OF
the Astoria Chamber of Commerce,
called a meeting of all merchants
for tomorrow to discuss plans Tor
rebuilding.
----------s--------------