Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-04-14
WIND SHIFT AIDS 4
F|REMEN IN FIGHT
TO CHECK FLAMES
Conhagration Destroys Col
ored Section of Sub
urb Of Norfolk.
CHILDREN MISSING;
BELIEVED TO BE SAFE
Navy-Yard Sends Six Trucks
Loaded With Food for
Destitute.
HELP CALLED FROM OUTSIDE
Low Water Pressure HnndIcnps
Battle to Prevent Spread
of Fire.
[snecial to Thc Timos-nisna1rh l

Especial to The Times Dispatch
NORFOLK. VA. April l3.-Ten
blocks OF dwellings. covering an
area more than n mile In length. in
which were approximately 200 houses.
several small stores and one
church. were destroyed by fire which
RACED for more than five hours in
the colored section OF Berkeley Ward.
The property loss is estimated at
from 100000 to s75o,o0O. More than
zoo families are homeless
-of the schools in the Berkeley
section out of the fire district were
thrown open early tonight, and more
than 1000 persons, a large propor-
ton of whom are chIldren..are maxi
Ing the best OF their efforts 10 sleep
on floors. tables. desks and n number
OF cots, mostsef which were fur
nished In the eniergency3 by Rdmiral
Andrews. commanding the navy
yard, and Captain H. z. Johnston.
commanding the training station at
the naval base. gsse, %
Aid for Victims.
Captain Johnston hearIngssof the
desolation confronting the frHsvica
tins, many of whom lost everything
they possessed. sent six ftve-ton
truckloads of food and provisions
and other needed supplies to Rerk- I
ley. These were distributed by men
from the training station whe re they
would prove most beneficial During
that period in which night fell hun
dreds OF people, most OF them coll
ored, saw everything they had de-
stroyed. Many were buying homes
from meaEer earnings. The roaring
OF the flames and the savage red glare
through the twilight seemed to men
ace the whole eastern end OF Berk-
Icy. Many were in panic. Some OF
the storekeepers along Liberty street
and elsewhere ip the business sec
ton prepared to move such valuables
as they might salvage.
The combined hre-hghtinE forces
of Norfolk. Portsmouth, South Nor
folk. Ocean View. the navyyard. the
army base and the navy base found
all efforts futile unth engines were
hooked up TO the river and streams
forced through long lines OF hose.
In one instance the line of hose was
almost mile In length.
shift Of Wind saves Homes.
1t was shift in the wind and the
wall OF Magnolia Cemetery that
combined to save hundreds OF houses.
This change in wind direction began
to show itself about $50. after the
flames had been spreading at will for
two hours. The wind was west OF
south when the fire started The
shift was toward the east. The
~ a
directly toward the cemetery. a larg.
open space across which the flames
could not leap. and which was too
great in width for burning brands
or sparks to carry their menace.
In tho meantime calls for assist
ance were sent to Newport News and
Suffolk. and apparatus was rushed TO
this city.
During the period of panic rumors
OF loss of life. particularly among
| children. flew thickly. These arc he
iievcd TO he unfounded. There was
an absence OF falling walls. there
being few structures OF brick with
in the area. Most OF the children
| were accounted for during the night
| when families were reunited at the
| two schOolhouses. Those still miss
| .nS-how many cannot be stated to-
| niSht-are believed to have gone to
! the homes OF friends. Communica-
ton is crippled through the deStruc-
| tion OF telephone wires. and whether
| there was any loss OF life viii not
he known definitely for r day or
two.
The blaze started from sparks
! from the old abandoned plant Of ;he
Tunis Lumber Company. in which flre
was discovered about 4:30 o'clock
Carried on n brisk wind. sparks
from the lumber plant landed In the
| shingle. roofs OF a half-dozen groups
| OF houses on Eighth. Ninth. Tenth
and Eleventh Streets.
| Fire lighters were Handicapped by
lack OF water. SO great was ~
demand made upon what
there was available that ~
soon as the hose connectl
made IL was necessary to
other hydrant In tho hope
ting better pressure. This CHI
OF the buildings Was surh thl