The Monroe journal., 1922-12-05
Five Hundred Buildings Wiped
Out in New Bern Conflagration

lee. the relief organization which is
working under the direction of the
+ Chamber of Commerce.
Early Reports Underestimate
+ Early reports from New Bern as
Z TO the extent Of the disaster which
struck many as exaggerated and toe
I big to be authentic were terribly
conservative. On the train this
morning the entire passenger list
reading its papers, declared that
nothing so vast could have happened
in New Bern. II was unbelievable.
But it is so. 1t is more than the
papers estimated.
A mile out along the railroad be-
fore there was any hint of the dis
aster save the pail of gray smoke
that almost completely hid the land
scape, passengers began to see the
refugees. Disconsolate mothers, with
their children struggling at their
knees, sat huddled on pitiful little
piles of disheveled household goods.
Nearer town they grew thicker.
Mercifully it was not cold to discom-
fort last night.
Organized Relief
Last night the entire population,
working on individual impulse, stay
ed the night through among the
might help. Today they got together
to organize, with the mass meeting
as the first step. II was very brief.
Mayor Edward Clark didn't have to
explain the need. None but had seen
it. What was needed was organiza-
ton. One relief committee, made up
of the heads of every organization
IN the city, and subdivisions to look
after specific things. John Holland,
who was mayor yesterday in the alb
sence of Mr.. Clark, is buying food.
Mrs. Wade Meadows has organized
the women to cook it and distribute
it.
Captain Fisher, who turned out the
crew OF the "Pamlleo" to tight fire
yesterday, is head of the committee
that will set up the tented city that
will house the homeless temporarily.
Mrs. Leila Stevens is distributing
bedding and clothing. The Red Cross
is serving TODD. The Woman's club
is organizing the the army of home
less and directing them to relief. 1t
will be two days before census of
them is complete.
Astounding Liberality
The Chamber of Commerce, with
H. c. Barlow and Harry Jacobs as
the moving spirits, assumed the lead
ership of the community along with
the mayor. If there are any who are
doubtful about the human race they
ought to have seen that mass meet
ing. Nobody stayed any longer than
it took to give. Then they left to do
W. w. Griffin, a quiet,
modest banker, who never says much
but does many things, is treasurer
and disbursing agent. The bank is
shut up.
The lberality of the people was
They were impatient to
give and get away. They didn't
promise anything, dumbly to seek
them in the ashes of what was yes
terday, home, have been unable to
find them.
Ashes Holds Mystery
Rumor lies over the scene like
pail. Here in the ruins of house
a charred something that may be
the mortal remains of a child that |
has not found its mother. She stands
by it in dumb horror, afraid to
look. Over another mother gazes
in dazed wonder into the ashes at |
that may be her flesh and
blood. Here with hands and feet |
burned away, an old woman, dead in
her feeble fight to get out of the
path of the consuming death. Yon-
der a group that has heard that in
the ruins of a house a mile away
are two bodies. Nobody knows.
So vast is the task that confronts
he local police, so far flung is the
territory that must be gone over,
hat none yet know whether more
than one perished in the fire. SO
intense was the heat that it burned
everything, and 1t is thought bN
many that several perished in the I
re and were burned up completely.
The fire has its mysteries that will
perhaps never be made known to
.hese dump, sorrowful ones who
potter around in the ashes.
Despair Everywhere
There is so much everywhere to
bring lump to the throat. A mother
sitting on faded trunk. holding her
,rying baby to her breast and a child
a tile cider plantively crying to go
home A father, a hundred fathers,
sadly in he ruins, or
silent and just staring at
nothing. A little boy came upon the
carcasses OF puppy that
yesterday he had loved and today he
sorrows for.
New Bern has not yet begun to
take stock of the catastrophe. But
one thing has been on its mind
How can it take care of them.
They brought up checks and fid-
geted until they had turned them
Dose. The fund will probably be
100000 before the night is over. Sew
sral Of the gifts were of 81 900 each.
The men on the "Pamlico" gave $53
)ut of their wages. Several of them
we're injured in fighting fire yester-
lay.
A City as One Man Il
Thomas Hyman, head of big sup
ply house that bears his name took
,ne minute to make speech. He
wanted everybody who had a truck
10 shut up his business and send
.he truck to move the homeless to
some shelter before the rain came.
They cheered and went out to do it.