The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-12-09
80 Blocks
Raced; Loss
$15,O00,00O
Business Section of Astoria,
Ore. Destroyed Dyna.
mite Used 10 Stop
Rush of Flames.
Other Towns Offer Aid

Astoria, ore, Dec. S.-By a. u
The business district IN Astoria, the
Oldest city in Oregon, is in ruins
hundreds uf persons are homeless and
property loss estimated around S15,
100000 Was caused by q fire here to
day. For 10 hours tho flames hold
sway, eating an Overwhelming path
through the city antil shortly after
noon
Banks. newspaper plants, hotels,
stores. theaters and numerous build
ngs housing a variety of business
places were wiped out. According to
Fire Chief Foster. the fire got out of
control because it burned beneath the
buildings on pilings upon which the
business section of the city was built.
He attributed the disaster to failure
TO fill the space beneath the piling.
Dynamiting was resorted to In an ef
fort to stay the flames.
Notores Staples, automobile man
and president of the Bank OF Com.
merce. dropped dead of heart failure
while the fire was at its height
80 Blocks Wiped Out.
The body of c. j. Smith, tran.
sient, was found hanging under tho
sidewalk on the waterfront at Eighth
and Astor streets, but whether he had
ended his life because of. the fire or
for other reasons the police were TN.
able to determine. He had spent tho
night in cheap lodging house ON the
water front.
Thirty blocks were wiped out by
the flames. Many homes in the older
residence district were destroyed aud
about 80 families living I'm an apart
ment house were made homeless by
the destruction of that building. In
addition TO these. many persons oe-
cupying rooms in the destroyed area
lost everything they had except the
clothing ON their backs.
Plan Relief Measures.
a committee Of citizens met at tho
call of Mayor James Bremmer snd
planned immediate. relief measures.
They We're assured of help from Port
land and Seaside Every restaurant
and hotel in the city had been wiped
out, so there WIS prospect OF immedi.
! ate want
Portland bakeries sent loads Of
bread and Seaside sent word that tire
hotel there was open to receive those
witlreut shelter. A large number of
summer cottages at the beach resorts
also were offered 10 the homeless.
Homes in the residence district also
were thrown open TO give aid and food
! to the needy.
"A' Building Thrown Open.
The Y NJ. c. A building, which wa,
outside the fire zone. was opened as
the headquarters Of all welfare
agencies.
The Budget. an afternoon paucls
which attempted to get out an ed.
| ton on the press Of the paper at
Seaside found this Impractical, and
instead issued nimeographed sheets.
j. s. Dellinger, published of the
Astorian, the morning paper, announc.
ed that he would probably get olit
saturday morning edition ON the
prcss Of the local Finnish daily. The
LoVeri
The Astorian recently moved into a
new building which Was swept by the
flre. Mr.. Dellinger said three type-
setting machines had been saved but
the resi- of the plant was DESTROYED.
including the files of so years ago.
Telephone Exchange Burns.
Telephone exhanges aud telegraph
offices were burned.
Communication with the outside
was maintained throughout the day
by means of long distance line tenn
porarlly set up at the city hall.
The meeting of citizens and the
mayor resulted in the naming of ..
committee on temporary relief.
H. A Hoefler placed his residenee
at the disposal of St Mary hospital
for housing of patients. The hotel
keepers Of Oregon in session at Port
land donated $1,000 for relief ami
railroads offered free Transportation
and free aid
The ". c, r. L. established free
lunch.
The Columbia River Packing as
sociation donated the Use of two
steamers for housing purposes ar
facilities In churches and other build
ings were listed FOR housing.
A detachment OF National guard
was due to arrive to aid the local
police. Orders were issued to keen
every person out of the burned dis
trict tonight.
Lee Drake, part owner OF the Is.
toria Budget and president OF the
Astoria Chamber of Commerce, calle.
a meeting OF all merchants for Sal.