The Wrangell sentinel., 1922-12-14
Astoria
 Burns Up

local Ire department, reinforced by equipment and firemen from Port land.
 The loss is estimated by W. A. Ty- fer, president of the Astoria bank, at between S10, 100000 and S15, ,000, ,000
 The fire was discovered in the Pal ace restaurant in the heart of the business district and the flames quickly spread to adjoining buildings
 At $. o'clock this morning the fire had eaten its way under the paye- ment on Commercial street, burning the piling which the city had install ed to retain the pavement above, and the firemen were unable to cope with this development.
 By Il o'clock the flames had ex- tended over thirty blocks in the busi- ness section and were spreading in the old residential section.
 Dynamite was resorted to early this morning to check the flames but even this proved intellectual, and at noon dynamite still continued.
 So far as can be learned but two deaths Have resulted although many injuries have been reported.
 At s o'clock this morning Norris Staples, automobile dealer and pres ident of the Astoria Bank of Com merce, dropped dead while assisting the firemen in combating the fire.
 The other known death is that of an unidentified man, who hanged himself while the flames were raging.
 All patients were removed from St. Mary's hospital, where all windows were shattered by explosions of dy- namite and gasoline tanks.
 Portland and Seattle are said to be making plans to send aid to those rendered homeless, who will be giv- en temporary shelter by the hotels at Seaside.
 Business men of Astoria have mo- tified the city of Portland that money is needed here, as all the banks were burned and the cash is locked in the vaults. All the bakeries have been burned and bread is needed.
 ASTORIA, Dec. g. Astoria today courageously surveyed the destruc- tion wrought by yesterdays great ire and began measures designed to relieve the twenty-five hundred peo- pie rendered homeless by the confia- grafton.
 undaunted by the catastrophe a citizens committee of fifty was has, tily formed and announced that it was obtaining food and other neces- sary supplies. Temporary housing of the homeless will be the first ob- jective sought.
 With the heart of the city in ruins and still smouldering, plans for re- building are nebulous, but sentiment IS strong for rebuilding on a larger and more substantial scale and will start as soon as possible.
 Hundreds of telegrams offering re- lief ill the form of money and sup plies were received today by Mayor Bremmer.
 Scores of homes have been thrown open to those made destitute and public buildings provide temporary sleeping space.
 Although few residences were burned, practically all the apartment houses, hotels and tenements were destroyed, manyt of the occupants barely escaping with their lives.
 Fire Chief E. S. Foster became de- iirious today as result of being struck over the head with a fire noz- 1Ie yesterday and his condition is re- ported to be grave.
 Conservative estimates today place the loss from the fire at $12,000,0 0,000. Iwenty-four blocks were burned, de- every department store, notel and bank. Twenty-Five hun dred people were made homeless, food for whom is obtainable only from a distributing station established by a of fifty. Beds and hot meals are being provided for all.
 More than hundred men. atten ded a meeting called by Mayor Bremmer to form relief committee of fifty.
 Hotel keepers in session at Portlan
 Hotel keepers of the state in ses- sion at Portland donated $5,O00 for relief work. The Southbank rail road placed coaches at the disposal ,f the the homeless, and the Colum mbia Packers association donated two steamers to be used for housing the 
 In his office in the scorched and battered city hall, with water drip ping from the ceiling Mayor Rrem-