Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-12-02
Churches, Factories, Hospi-
tai and Other Prop
crty Burn.
CEMETERY SAVES
BUSINESS SECTION
Conflagralion Gets Hcadway
While Fircmcn Fight Lum-
berry Yard Blaze.
lBy Associated Press.l

NEW BERN. y. c., Dec. l.--Mayor
S. Clark, Of this city, in an inter-
view concerning the fire which today
swept over An area OF residences.
stores and churches nearly "A mile
long and from two to six blocks
wide. stated that from his survey OF
the situation tonight. the loss would
run close to S..000.000 with Liore
than l.cO0 persons homeless. Other
well-inforinsd sources place the loss,
conserva;ively, at the same figure
More than 500 dwellings, were de-
Stroycd.
y battalion OF the State militia is
in charge of the devastated dis
trict, and the local Red Cross Is di-
recting the relief work. State Of
tcials have taken steps to get 5JD
cots here tomorrow TO relieve the
sufferers.
~ savage fight wherein the local
fire companies. backed by re-hght-
ing forces from kinston and Wash
ihSton. y. c., were pitted against
the onward sweep of the flames.
has been waged since shortly after
o'clock this morning, and. although
stiil burning. officials tonight ex-
pressed hope that further destruc-
tlcn WoCld he slightly.
Hnif-NIiIc stretch Burns.
The area of the razed district to-
night stretched for half a mile from
the western boundary of the city
To the NeuSc River. The churches
destroyed and most OF the homes
were those OF negroes.
Fire started at the Rowla nd Lurn-
hcr Company plant about $3.50 this
morning. where yards and building
were destroyed with loss of $3.50
600. More than 800 men were thrown
out OF employment. .r
While the flames still were raging
at the mill an alarm was turned
In from the western section of the
city, where fire had started in the
negro district. Firemen. being occu-
pied at the lumber yard. were un-
able Immediately to respond to the
second call, and it was not until
"a half hour after the alarm had
been turned in that the first hose
was stretched.
Flames Get Big start.
Ry that time five houses were in
ruins. Famed by n high wind. the
flames gained great headway in 4
short space, and soon negro families.
assisted by hundreds OF volunteers,
were hastily removing what house
hold effects they might.
Increasing hcadway OF the blaze,
however. forced them to abandon
their effects TO the furnace
Belching column OF sparks and
smoke OF great intensity, the fire
swept onward, unchecked until IL
had reached the white section. where
preparations To remove household ef.
fects had already been under way,
and as the flames bore down. auto
mobiles loaded with household goods
We're moving 10 safety.
Cemetery Saves business Section.
Checked in it's dasi. to the busi
ness section by the block occupied
by Cedar Grove Cemetery, the frs
Necred TO the north and swept down
On the union station. All buildings
on Pasteur street fronting the depot
were destroyed. y house two blocks
beyond burst into ilames when show
cred by sparks and by sparks and
burning leaves. The tiro spread
along the river front, consuming the
Roystcr Fertilizer warehouse. the
Norfolk Southern paint sheds and ono
or two other structures in its path.
At tho end of Pastcur Street and
along Crescent Street. the lire made
its last stand, unable to lean
across the gap of empty blocks
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