The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1922-12-09
$500 ARE
HOMELESS IN
ASTORIA, ORE.
Loss Placed at II Million
From Fire That Razed
"a Blocks
FOOD GREATEST NEED
Relief Tains Rushed From
Portland to Stricken
<Area
(By the Associated Press)

AStOIa, OIeS ou, bet' o.Aouoii" l"
today surveyed it's losses from the
$12,O00OO0 fire which yesterday
razed "a blocks of the city's busi-
ness section. ....
The city set on foot measures to
relieve the $500 persons made
homeless by the conflagration. A
citizens committee, hastily formed,
announced that obtaining of food
and necessary supplies and the tenn
porary housing Of the homeless
would be it's first object.
It was the general sentiment Of
all that rebuilding on larger and
more substantial scale would start
as soon as the more immediate re-
lief needs were supplied. ..
Hundreds of telegrams Offering
relief in the form of money and
supplies we're received here and the
the relief committee announced that
large amounts of staple goods and
quantities Of clothing were needed
1T once Word from Portland was
that special train carrying sup
plies would be sent from there to-
day.
$500 Homeless
Twenty five hundred persons were
homeless.
The city was without banking
facilities.
No food was obtainable except
from central distributing station
established by swiftly organized
committee Of fifty business rea.
Last night beds were provided for
all. a
Hundreds of homes have been
thrown open to those made destitute
by the blaze and all public buildings
available will provid sleeping ard
eating quarters for the homeless.
Although not many residences we're
in the path of the flames, apartment
houses, hotels and frame tenement
structures were destroyed and resi-
dents Of these barely had time to
escape with their lives.
Commander Supplies 49,,
Relief measures consisted of or
ders to commander all of the city's
food supplies at once. They be dis
tributed upon written orders issued
by the, relief committee,
Long lines of persons waited in
front Of the Y. M. C. A., where they
were being fed with sandwiches and
loaves Of bread. Inside many build
ings, including churches, women and
Wnrko1 $iro1nco1sy o(E
provide for those without homes.
Several grocery stores and meat
markets in the outlaying districts
suffered an unprecedented rush, and
police issued orders against profit
eering.
Telephone and electric light work
men had partly restored lighting
facilities last night but throughout
the remaining district heavy
guard Of soldiers and special police
men had been established to pre-
vent looting.
Chief of Police Carlson said four
teen men had been arrested by his
officers during the confusion and
that all were attempting to carry
away articles from the stores with.
in the district. -
Fire fighting apparatus will be
kept constantly working until all
embers have been extinguished.
Mayor Bremen expressed the min
ion yesterday that the fire was Of
lncendiary origin and could be char.
ged to radicals" Chief of Police
Carlson concurred in this belief,
II am certain that radicalism is
responsible,' the mayor said. "Of
course there will be a more thor
ough investigation that has been
possible. When it is ov ver am sure
it will be established that the fire
was SET"
The town of Astoria grew from
piles built far out into the water.
The piles originally were extended
into the deeep water to accommo-
date vessels which otherwise would
have had to anchor out in the har-
Dor. The business district naturally
grouped itself close to the sea COM
merce which gave the little city it's
principal impetus. The residential!
section was built on higher ground
Officials Of the Oregon National
Guard sent II officers and men
with a quantity Of supplies here
from Portland.
The supplies included 1000 cots,
1000 blankets, rolling kitchens, cook
ing and food supplies. The latter
equipment would be sufficient to
feed $500 persons in emergency, It
was stated, although it was estimat-
ed the demand would not be that
great.
Many refugees wandered about the
streets aimlessly until through sheer
exhaustion they went to sleep in the
corridors of the Y. NJ. c. A. build
ing, the city hall and other shelter
ed spots. With their worldly pos
sessions tied in "a towel or table
cloth many of them were taken in
by more fortunate residents whose
homes we're not touched the flames.
Local bankers said the vaults in
the four banks probably would not
be opened for two weeks. 1t is gen
orally believed the contents of the
vaults are undamaged.
Release Prisoners
The churches were in the direct
path of the flames, but none was
burned. In each case the fire was
either checked before the church
was reached or veered around and
by the house Of worship.
Everyone was barred last night
from the burned area.
(Ha.4;nnad an pano ON