Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1922-04-22
SHIFT OF WIND SAVES HOMES

SHIFT OF WIND SAVES HOMES
It was R shift in the wind and the
wall Of Magnolia Cemetery that COM
bined to save hundreds OF houses. This
change In wind direction began to
show ftsolf about $50 after the flames
had been spreading Mt will for two
hours. The wind was west Of south
when the fire started. The shift was
toward the east. The change drove the
fire ahead OF It directly toward the
cemetery, large open space across
which tho flames could not leap, auI
which was too great in width for burn
Ing brands or sparks to carry their
menace.
In the meantime calls for assistance
were sent 10 Newport News and Suf.
folk and apparatus was rushed to this
city.
During the period OF panic rumors
OF loss Of life. particularly among chill
dren, flew thickly. These are believed
to be unfounded. There was an absence
Of falling walls, there being few struc-
lures Of brick within the area. Most or
tho children were accounted for during
the night when families were reunited
at the two schoolhouses. Those still
missing-how many cannot he stated
tonight---are beloved to have gono
to the homes Of friends. Communicat.
ion is crippled through the destruction
Of telephone wires and whether there
was any loss of life will not be known
definitely for a day or two.
The blaze started from sparks from
tho old abandoned plant OF the Tunis
Lumber Company in which fire was
discovered about 1850 o'clock.
Carried from brisk wind, sparks
from the lumber plant landed in the
shingle roofs Of n half-dozen groups
Of houses on Eight, Nintks Tenth and
Eleventh streets.
Fire fighters were handicapped by
Inc kof water. SO great was the demand
made upon what water there was avail
able that almost as soon as the hose
connection was made it was necessary
to seek another's hydrant in the hope
of getting better pressure. The charnc
ter Of the buildings was such that they
burned like timber. Within few min
utcs after catching one would be gone
and the flames were eating in another
structure.
Tire fire jumped over the lots around
the Abraham Lincoln School which
was saved. The Central Baptist Church
(oolored) on Liberty Street was de-
stroyed. Tho water pressure was low
according to reports, and the large
number Of fire engines, practically all
from Norfolk, on tho main reduced
pressure. In order to avoid an eXplos-
ion, the tanks OF tho City Gas Com
pany were pumped out, and danger Of
an explosion from this source was
avoided. About $4,000 cubic feet OF
gas were lost, either dissipatcd in air
or burned at vents several blocks dis
tant from points OF danger.
TWO HAVE MARROW ESCAPE
Wind veering toward the southeast
shortly after p. M. gave rise to the
hope that the fire might burn itself
out at Magnolia Cemetery, an open
space, directly in the path into which
the indicated shift would drive 1t. At
! 6:10 p. M. the fire was crossing Berlt
ley Avenue Mt Eight Street. A gas
tank OF tho City Gas Company at that
time was in imminent danger. The
fire hed burned beyond tho big gas
tank On Eighth Street just off Berkiey
Avenue. On the other side the flames
were sweeping close and it appeared
that only a miracle could save the
tank. The tanks iron sides were badly
V, bliTered.