The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1922-12-08
500 DWELLINGS ARE
BURNED AT NEWBERN
Property Loss More Than Two M;i-
Lions-1, 500 Are Homeless
High Wind Famed Flames

New5ern, \. c., Dee. 2.-Probao ole
damage estimated at around S2,00o,-
600, loss Of employment for 500 per-
sons, destruction of the homes OF
approximately eighteen hundred and
one fatality was the toll of the fire
which swcpt through this townl yes
terday, according to q check up to-
day.
Numbers cf persons suffered burns
and injuries in attempts to save thcir
belongings or TO aid firemen Of New
.sern ard nearby towns in fighting the
flames, but none was believed to be
serious hurt. a ncgress wAo~" neigh
bacs sid was 105 years ola, was for
gotten in the excitement, it was re-
ported and left to perish in 4 little
house Oh Cedar street.
With the approach of dawn today
the fremea. who had finally conquer
ed the flames, had retired and their
places had been taken by three de-
tails Of battery D, 117th field artii-
lery. The soldiers guarded the hun-
drcds OF piles of household goods
dumped iadiscrinina ately around the
town after frantic holders had
s.,atched them from the flames, but
throughout the night and morning no
reoorts came Of even attempted van
dalisn among the 10000 or more IN
habitants.
There were numbers of persons in
the ruined district, some seeking to
find remains of valuables, soaie mere
!y walking around. Many had rofus-
cd to go to bed il the homes, church
es and buildings profered them, bus
had stalked around or lain shivering
on the ground near the devastated
district.
The church societies, Red Cross,
Salvation army and other org sniza-
tons were busy providing food; UnlS-
ed States Senator Simmons Of North
Carolina obtained promise from
8rigadier General Bowley Of Fort
Gregg, Fayetteville, last night that
he would rush army cots, tents and
bedding here and Mayor Edward
Clark issued call for mass meetings
today to take definite acton toward
relieving the sufferers.
Most OF those who lost their homes
and household possessions were ne
yroes, probably 1,4oo Of these suff-
ern;p, since the flames started in the
aero section Of West Newbern. A
s250,0oO fire was raging at the time
n the sswmiil of the Roper Lumoer
.onpany's plant across town and
winds Of gaIe-ike force were GLOWING
and continued until sundown.
A fire in. the kitchen CT . negro
,ouse was said to have been the be-
r:nning CT the great fire snd that IN
;he saw mill is believed to have been
saused by friction from belt.
The blaze in the negro section gain
ID. such proportions that 1t swept q
,ath aln:cst through the center Of the
own. destroying around 200 resi-
leacas. two negro churches and three
isrge warehouses on the Neuse river
and threatened the union staten ane
nearby structures, but in some way
leaned across them. Railroad tracks
were so warped by the heat, however
tbat train service through the town
was suspended.
Starting on Kilarmcaic street, the
blaze, despite the dynanaitsng CT the
houses and pulling tacm OFT their
foundations by cable attached to a
switch engine was driven eastward a.
most ON a straight line until it reach
ed George street. Along here 1t was
bounded on one side by Queen street
and on the other by Court and Dunn
streets. On the south side of~Ceoar
Grove cemetery, the fire swept along
for block on New street as lar as
Crescent street, then leaped over the
Union station, attacked the ware
houses along the water front.