San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-09-18
Forest of Charred Chin
neys Marks Fires Path
in IS Blocks.
$lO,OoO,OOO DAMAGE
ConHagration Gnaws Its
Way to Very Gates Of
University.

BN tUf tssOcitttu
Berkeley, Cal. Sept. 1S.-On 1.-The
wings of dry. hot wind that swept
furiously from the landward, brush
fire in the Contra Costa country hills
above San Francisco bay, leaped down
the valley into Berkeley yesterday
afternoon and. for time, gnawed
its way unchecked toward the heart
of the college town. 1t burned -
residential blocks in one of the pref
ticst sections, causing damage estl-
mated at $10,0O0,OOO, and leaving
about 2400 homeless before it was
brought under control early last even
ing.
There were no authentic reports OF
deaths or serious injuries today. Many
persons were slightly injured.
Berkeley. home OF the University
of California, situated across the bay
from San Francisco, today faces the
greatest task of reconstruction i'll its
history.~- The fire, sweeping through
the prosperous and thickly settled
Cragmont, Euclid avenue and La
Iona Park districts of North Berke-
ley. laid waste at least 600 build
ings. including the homes of many
wealthy and prominent citizens.
Forest Of Chimneys.
Today only q forest of stark. flame
charred chimneys, great masses of
smouldering debris and piles of fur
niturc and personal belongings seat
tered in helter-skeltcr confusion re-
main OF what yesterday morning was
peaceful suburban district. The
conflagration began in small brush
fire of undetermined origin early yes
terday on the northeastern slope OF
the high ridge which lies ON the
northern edge of the city. AT > o'clock
the flames roarcd over the crest of
the ridge. driyen by the high wind,
and swept into the residential dis
trict
Spreading in three directions. the
fire leaped from home to home, SPARKS
carried By the wind enkindling trees,
roofs and bushes. Within few hours
the flames had spread ten blocks 10
the southeast. and were stubbornly de-
tying the efforts of hundreds of fran
tic householders. police and fire de-
partments from Berkeley and adjacent
cities and volunteers.
Dynamite. with which the fire
fighters ripped away firebreak on
the northeast, served TO check the
spread of the conflagration in that
direction. but it was not until the
wind subsidized into gentle breeze
shortly after Z o'clock that the rapid
advance of the fire was checked and
the danger of further destruction
averted.
Dozen in Hospitals.
Nearly a dozen persons were treat
cd at hospitals and infirmaries in
Berkeley for minor injuries and burns,
resulting from their attempts to res
cue household goods from homes men
accd by the flames, but none of the
cases is considered serious.
In a statement issued at midnight
Mayor Frank ID. Stringham declared
that n proper water service and sup
My probably would have averted the
disaster. The catastrope had been
long feared by the city. he said, owing
TO inadequate water mains.
With the city hall as headquarters,
Police Chief c. ID. Lee Immediately
modified a force of several hundred
deputies. including hundreds of Uni
versity of California students. who
assisted in policing the devastated
zone. removing household goods anu
fighting at least two small fires which
broke out after the large conflagra-
ton was placed under control.
Patrolmen from Oakland and sur
rounding bay cities were rushed to
Rerkeley. One hundred soldiers from
Fort Scott were entrained Immediately
and arrived at the scene at : o'clock
and several hundred volunteers were
assigned to posts around the edge oil
the fire zone.
When darkness fell last night.
Berkeley virtually was an armed
camp. with 100 soldiers of the reg
ular army. and the national guard on
duty.
Scenes of the widest confusion fol-
lowed the first destructive blast which
swept through the fire zone. In n
FRENZY of terror women seized such
personal belongings rs they could
carry away. fled from homes GOWN
STREETS. which in some instances. al
ready had been converted into bias
ing lanes by the flying sparks which
had set fire to the waving eucalyptus
trees lining both sides of almost every
street in the vicinity.
Hurried calls went out for auto
mobile trucks as residents of the dis
trict saw the flames creeping closer
to their homes and great vanloads OF
furniture were moved through the al
ready congested streets TO places OF
safety,
Others. less fortunate. and unable
to obtain cOnveyances. piled their
household goods in the street or on
the spacious lawns. hoping to be able
,C....a ~. ,sreA