THE 3I0KNING OREGONIAN, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1922
24 ASTORIA BLOCKS
IK TELEGRAPH i
ASTORIA AS IT WAS BEFORE THE FIRE OF YESTERDAY, VIEWED FROM SEVERAL ANGLES, AND PROMINENT BUILDINGS BURNED
E RAZED BY FlflE
EBUILDING BEGUN
Business District Swept by
$12,000,000 Blaze.
Linemen, Equipment Sent by
. Train and Steamer.
2000 LEFT HOMELESS
BIG LOSSES SUFFERED
Many Cities Offer Aid and Port
land Sends Apparatus to Help
in Battle Against Flames.
Overhead Lines Burn and Vmlcr
ground System Believed De-
stroyed; Workmen Busy. 4
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(Continued From First FaffO
from Portland arrived on the scene
in a special train at 10.15 this
morning and with two steam pump
engines, one gasoline engine and
60i)U feet of hose rendered effective
aidn bringing the blaze under con
trol. The Portland equipment was
handled by Walter Long of the A.
(i. Long & Co., who brought seven
men to assist in directing the lay
ing out of the hose and attending
the engines. Thirty minutes after
the arrival of the train the fire ap
paratus had been unloaded and S000
feet of the hose laid.
These additional streams were
thrown on the fire at the southern
boundary in an attempt to confine
the blaze to the immediate area of
V the business district. Use of dyna
mite was resorted to with success in
blocking the flames in their advance
on the residence district and with
the increased fire-fighting appara
tus the blaze was soon under control.
By noon it was decided by thoso
directing the fighting that the con
flagration was checked. Through
out the afternoon and tonight, how
ever, additional dynamite charges
demolished possible avenues by
which the glaze might reach into
new districts of the city. With the
flames under control the citizens ol
the city have turned to the serious
business of caring for the homeless
and hungry.
Hundreds of homes have been
thrown open to those made desti
tute by the blaze and all public
buildings available will provide
sleeping and eating quarters for the
several thousand persons. Although
not many residences were in the
path of the flames, apartment
houses, hotels and frame tenement
structures were destroyed and resi
dents of Astoria who made their
homes in these structures barely
had time to escape with their lives.
Relief Committee Formed. -
A committee of 23 representative
citizens appointed by Mayor Brera
ner met at the Y. M. C. A. at noon
and begun preliminary steps for
relief. Major W. S. Gilbert, pastor
of the First Presbyterian church,
was appointed temporary chairman
at the meeting and at a later meet
ing held at 2 o'clock .in the after
noon in the council chamber at the
city hall his appointment was made
permanent and the committee per
sonnel raised to 50.
Relief measures consisted of
orders to commandeer all of the
city's food supplies at once, to be
gathered together in the L.oveIl
garage building, one of the largest
unburned structures. Prom here the
; supplies will be distributed to the
J hungry populace upon written; or
ders issued by the relief committee,
which has taken up permanent
headquarters in the Y. M. C, A.
Difficulties of obtaining monev
for the thousands who have been
deprived of banking privileges
through the destruction of the five
banking institutions were taken
up and a committee, headed by C.
Tt. Higgins, president of the As
toria National bank, was ap
pointed. Officials of the other
banks will assist on this committee.
Hotel Men Give $5000.
Word was dispatched immediately
by this group to the Oregon Hotel
Men's association in Portland, which
telegraphed that it had contributed
$5000 to the relief fund, to send the
currency. Banking headquarters
have been temporarily established
in the Y. M. C. A. and from this
point funds will be used as neces
sary. Wholesale grocery concerns.
Portland baking establishmentsand
all intact warehouses where ood
supplies are available immediately
offered all food on hand, and this
was sent at once to the central dis- i
tributing point in the old garage i
building. i
Long lines of hungry persons
waited in front of the T. M. C. A. i
here tonight where they were being
fed with sandwiches and loaves of
bread. Inside many of the buildings,
including church buildings near the
scene of the terr'ble blaze, women
and men worked tirelessly in an ef
fort to provide for those without a
home. The problem of providing"
provisions for the hundreds, of
homes of the residents of the city
now presents itself to the relief
committee.
Several grocery stores ad small
meat markets in the outlying dis
tricts suffered an unprecedented
rush and police authorUies by way
of precaution issued orders against
any possible profiteering. As soon
as systematic operations can be
started by the relief - organizations
it will be possible to receive aid
through the Red Cross. This waa
assured here ton ght.
Cities Fledge Assistance.
The aid of Portland and Seattle
was also pledged by telegraph to
the mayor of the city tonight.
An optimistic note for th& future
of the city was sounded by all In
speaking of the plans for a new
Astoria. This was indicative of the
i ghting spirit of the citizens who
kept at the task of fighting the
flames until noon and then began
the relief work which will require
their constant attention throughout
the night.
'"Business men of Astoria have felt
that the city has been penalized in
the matter of insurance rates," de
clared G. W. Sanborn, prominent
broker and owner of one of the
largest canning firms here. "With
the excessive rates charged for in
suring our buildings I can onlv feel
safe in predicting that there will be
a 40 per cent return to the business
men."
Frantic efforts by telephone and
electric light workmen had partly
restored the lighting facilities for
the city here tonight, but through
out the remaining district a heavy
Kuard of soldiers and special police
men had been established to prevent
looting the destroyed area of the
city. Chief of Police Leb Carlson
said that 1-4 men had been arrested
by his officers during: the confusion
and that all were attempting to
carry away articles from stores
within the district.
Fire-fighting apparatus was all
working at full tilt at a late hour
and will b kept constantly on the
job until all the embers have been
extinguished
ALL STATE AIDS ASTORIA
(rontimiM From First
Vancouver barracks. When it waa
learned dlrecU' from iha citiiea
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leaders in Astoria that prch assist
ance was not needed these plana of
reliet were given up. but all units
are still In readiness to go to the
lower Columbia city should the
emergency arise.
nusiiicxs Men Act.
. At the call of ths Portland Cham
ber of Commerce about CO business
men. representing in the main
wholesale dealers in foodstuffs and
transportation lines, gathered at the
Chamber of Commerce rooms to
consider means of relief. The pur
pose of the meeting was outlined
briefly by O. W. Mielke. president
of the chamber, and l e was author
ized to appoint a general committee
to represent the ousiness men of
Portland and to take any steps it
thouerht fit for the aid of Astoria.
This committee was composed of
the following:
O. W. Meilke. chairman; C. C. Bell,
H. B. Bain, B. C. Darnell, Julius L.
Meier. Nathan Strauss, Jay Smith, A.
J. Bale. J. A. Leach, Edward Ehr
man, E. I. Neustadter, Frank Wood
ard. C. S. Calhoun. C. A. Noble, W. A.
McDonald. W. D. Skinner, Frid
Spoeri, J. W. Brewer, Dr. J. Guy
Strohm and Pat Allen.
Foodstuffs Are Sent.
All present were anxious to tender
immediate relief, but realized the
necessity of concerted action and it
was voted that C. C. Bell and Nathan
Strauss confer with Mayor Baker in
order that relief work of the two
agencies harmonize. Following this
conference a- session of the general'
committee was held at noon. It was
reported that the Astoria business
men would meet at 2 o'clock to make
a canvass of the situation and would
report their needs after that time.
After authorizing the chamber ts
take any emergency action that
might bo necessary, should word
come from Astoria, the committee
adjourned to meet in the late after-noon.-
In the meantime relief from a
number 'of agene'es had gone out,
including a truck load of bread each
from the Haynes-Foster Baking
company, the Log Cabin and the
United States bakeries, and a truck
load of meat from Swift & Co. A
full carload of meat was sent out
by Swift & Co. on the train last
night.
Food Warehouses Saved.
In the late afternoon word waa
received from Astoria indicating
that their immediate needs could be
cared for, and that the bi food
warehouse of Lang & Co., Alien &
A!at I -i- hy v r -
y- -V Nt .. iaiStSft..l,i4 - '
Photo No. 1 Copyright by Prentiss.
1 City, viewed from waterfront, with white line bounding fire-swept
district! numbers and arrows Indicate prominent bnildingsj 1, Beehive'
xtoret 2, Novell parage; 3, vVeinhard Astoria hotel; 4, Old Astoria
theater) S, old Astoria National bank; 6, Spexarth buildings 7, post-
office; S, Clatsop county courthouse; 9, Standard Oil company plant;
10, Astoria Flouring Hills. 2 Weinhard Astoria hotel; 3. Y. M. C. A.
building; 4, Astoria as it was viewed from west hill; 5 panorama of
Astoria from east hill; 6, Astoria Savings hank; 7, Astoria National
bank, old Oddfellows' building; 8, Flavelle buildins; 9, James Brenner,
mayor' of Astoria; 10, Astoria street scene; 11, St. Mary's hospital,
saved from flames after patients had been removed.
Lewis, Mason Ehrman & Co. and
Swift & Co. had been .saved and thai
the need lor food was not as urgent
as had been anticipated. It is ex
pected that word will be received
this morning from Astoria indicat
ing just what the city will need in
the way of foodstuffst and the
Chamber of Commerce has an
nounced that as soon as the word
is received the supplies will be on
the way.
In order that the chamber could
have first-hand information as to
the needs of Astoria and have a
representative in that city to assure
the As tori ana, of the desire of the
Portland organization to tender all
possible aid, the emergency commit
tee authorized P. E. Andrews, vice
president of the chamber, to go at
once to Astoria, accompanied by
B. N. Weinbaum, assistant secretary.
They left at 1 o'clock in the after
noon and are expected to remain in
Astoria as long as the-emergency
continues.
Red Cross Mobilized.
John H. Stevenson, head of the
Red Cross here, rushed to Astoria
to see what that organization might
do to aid, and the chapter here was
rapidly mobilized in the expectation
that the hospital at Astoria would
be destroyed and that medical as
sistance" would be needed. A special
car, with medical supplies, was got
ten ready and a- corps of 15 nurses
was organized, ready to leave on a
moment's notice. Late in the after
noon, however, word came from
Judge Stevenson at Astoria that the
hospital bad been saved and that the
present situation was being amply
cared for. It was announced at Red
Cross headquarters last night, how
ever, that the organization would
continue to have all in readiness in
case a later emergency should de
velop. This word was directed b?
Dr. J. Guy Strohm, chairman of the
emergency committee, and Miss Jane
Doyle, secretary of the local chapter
Towns Lend Assistance
Towns along the route from Port
land to Astoria have also come to
the aid of the city, according to
word received here. The town of
St. Helens dispatches a truck load
of bread, it was reported, and stood
ready to send other supplies. Rain
ier also sent a truck load of bread
and appealed to Portland for. 40
pounds of yeast in order to place
the bakeries there on 24-hour shifts
to meet the emergency. This was
rushed from Portland by stage.
Emergency meetings were held, by
a number of organisations of the
city yesterday to take relief meas
ures for the city o. Astoria, The
jot-1"
lE5--...xPi 51 is fit r &a iSE
S-'-Ti fit
Portland Rotary club held such a
session I5f its board of directors and
guaranteed a fund of $3000 to the
Astoria Rotary club to be used under
the direction of the latter organi
zation for relief.
Relief Money Voted.
The Portland Realty board at a
special meeting of its directors voted
a donation of $1500, and authorized
two members of its body to proceed
to Astoria to tender the money for
relief through whatever channel
would appear best. Directors of the
Associated Industries of Oregon at
a meeting in the afternoon voted
$500 for relief work. A telegram
was sent to the mayor of Astoria
telling him that the sum is at the
disposal of the citizens' relief or
ganization . '
Resolutions of sympathy, together
with a check for $100, donated by
Robert A. Booth, was forwarded to
the mayor of Astoria by the work
ers engaged in the Willamette uni
versity endowment drive. The reso
lution was passed at the regular
noon meeting of the-drive workers
at the Seward hoteL . The resolu
tion and check were sent direct to
M. C. Wire, Methodist pastor at
Astoria, for transmittal to 'the
mayor.
Leaders of the local Jewish popu
lation are offering assistance to
those of their faith- Rabbi Jonah B.
Wise yesterday announced that the
local lodge' of B'nai B'rith is able
and willing to joffei; temporary
1
financial assistance to any of the
Jewish people in Astoria who may
be in need. Those requiring help
are asked to get in touch with
either Rabbi Wise or Ben Selling.
Salvation Army Gets Busy.
At the urgent plea of Captain F.
Jorgenson. Salvation Army head at
Astoria, received by telegraph yes
terday afternoon at Portland head
quarters of that organization, four
Portland Salvation Army officers
were at once sent down to investi
gate and report on the immediate
needs of the fire-stricken city.
Brigadier H. W. Hay, Captain Mrs.
Upton, Envoy Ernest L. Graves and
Captain J. Frostad were the offi
cers who left at 3:30 F. M. yester
day. Following their report, which
is expected some time today, a large
force of army workers will be sent
down fully equipped to carry suc
cor to Astoria's homeless.
An unusual feature of the situa
tion yesterday was the lack of cur
rency in Astoria, following the
burning of the city's banks. While
the vaults will probably give forth
their contents unharmed, it was
impossible to gey to them yester
day and will be for some days to
come, it is expected. This left the
city virtually without money with
which to carry on its business.
Moratorium 1 Extended. ,. v
-Astoria bankers appealed to Port
land early yesterday and Elliott K.
Corbett and W. L. Thompson, rep
resenting the Portland clearing
house, immediately left for.
the
stricken city to help unravel this
problem. It is understood the prob
lem will be solved by taking suffi
cient currency from Portland, al
though the definite plans are nat
urally not . being made public.
As a further assistance out of the
financial difficulties which face the
Astoria business men, the Portland
Association of Credit Men, composed
of wholesalers, jobbers and bankers
of this part of the state, at an execu
tive session yesterday took action
virtually amounting to the issuance
of a moratorium for the Astoria
people.
A resolution adopted by the body
urged that no member of the associ
ation "take any individual or pre
cipitous action relative to the col
lection or securing of any account
which may be due from any mer
chant atfected by the Astoria fire
until such time as the emergency
shall be deemed to have passed and
the affairs of the merchants of As
toria are again under their complete
control and supervision."
Assistance in any way that might
be possible waa pledged and it was
voted to notify the National Asso
ciation of Credit Men of the fire
and ot the action of the local body
and to ask that all members of the
national association who may be
creditors of any of the Astoria mer
chants be urged to take, the same
stand. G. W. Ingram and M. D.
Munsen of the adjustment bureau of
the Portlarid association were dis
patched to Astoria to tell the As
toria merchants of the stand of the
organization and to assist them in
all possible ways.
Legion Pledges Help.
The Portland post of the Amer
ican Legion yesterday pledged as
sistance in. the worn of extending
relief to Astoria ana stands ready
to send down a contingent of men,
if such should prove desirable, ac
cording to action taken by execu
tives yesterday. : The relief work
is in the' hands of Pat Allen, in
coming vice-commander of the local
post, in the absence of the com
mander. The post, it was stated,
has tendered its services through
the Chamber of Commerce commit
tee in order that there may not be
duplication of effort, and stands
ready to do such relief as that body
may direct.
Salem Offers Help. '
SALEM, Or., Dec. 8. (Special.)
Mayor Halverson tonight sent a tel
egram to the Astoria officials offer
ing any assistance that might be
desired. The Salem lodge of Elks and
other local fraternal organizations
probably will send similar tele-
grams to Astoria tomorrow,
Despite , an almost complete de
struction of their local lines and
centralized equipment, both the Pa
cific Telephone & Telegraph com
pany and the Western Union. Tele
graph company reported last night
that reconstruction at Astoria is
already under way and that by this
afternoon they will be in a position
to handle all business offered.
The Western union,-, before the
flames had halted, had opened a
temporary central .office in the Spo
kane, Portland & Seattle passenger
depot, and was operating two wires.
Linemen and additional equipment
were dispatched to the coast city
on the special relief train yester
day afternoon, and the work of
emergency installation went on all
last night.
Lines to Be Added.
This morning the company ex
pected to have, in addition to the
two original lines, two other lines
and a quadruplex in operation. The
loss in equipment and lines is esti
mated at not less than $10,000. All
files were destroyed, and though
this does not represent financial -loss,
it is a serious inconvenience to
the company. Local officials of the
Western Union said that they would
be prepared to handle all tele
graphic business offered to and
from Astoria today.
Though temporarily paralyzed by
the destruction of its Astoria lines,
the Pacific Telephone & Telegraph
company resumed limited service in
that city yesterday afternoon. For
a time Its wires were the only
source of communication with the
outer world. Losses are estimated
to be between $100,000 ai d $150,000.
The Eteamer Astoria, specially char
tered by the company, sailed late
last night laden with equipment and
relief crews.
Steamer Takes Experts.
"The Astorian carried," said
Charles E. Hickman, division com
mercial superintendent, "50 linemen,
switchboard experts and instru
; ment men, who will at once begin
the work of reconstruction. To the
j present we have handled all busi
ness, but necessarily at tar less
than normal speed. Temporary long
distance exchange is established in
the city hall.
"Fortunately our exchange build
ing did not burn, owing to precau
tions taken by our crew at Astoria
and to the splendid fight they made.
As the fire approached they walled
the exchange with sheet iron and
when it raged next door they played
a hose upon the blazing buildings
opposite. Our equipment is badly
scorched, but is still intact.
"It is difficult to determine, as
yet, the exact extent of damage to
our lines. There was a great deal
of underground in addition to the
overhead lines, and as the main
business district was built upon
piling the fire ate its way through
these timbers and undoubtedly
ruined the system.
Relief Tracks Hurried.
"At 4 o'clock the morning of the
fire we started relief trucks to As
toria, with emergency supplies and
crews of workmen. They reached
there at 9 o'clock and began at once
the survey of damage. In charter
ing the Astorian for the carrying of
supplies, the company offered the
chamber of commerce committee free
use of the vessel to' forward relief
supplies. Newspaper men who are
at Astoria for the Portland dailies
have also been invited to make the
boat their home while it is in that,
port."
The Harkins Transportation com
pany will place a special boat on the
Astoria run tonight, and in addition
will remain open all day tomorrow,
sending another boat tomorrow
night. The hour of sailing is 7:30.
Company officials expressed a will
ingness to co-operate in every way
in carrying relief to Astoria. ,
Normal Rail Service Resumed.
Rail transportation to Seaside was
interrupted for only a few hours,
owing to hose across the tracks.
Passengers were transferred around
the fire from all early trains, but
normal service was resumed yester
day afternoon. No damage to tres
tles was sustained, and but slight
damage to tracks.
The Pacific Power & Light com
pany of Portland, which supplies
service to Astoria, was unable last
night to estimate the extent of
damage to its lines.
PflRTLIfl SENDS. HELP
FIRE EQUIPSDENT IS RUSHED
TO ASTOKIA.
Local Apparatus Arrives on" Scene
In Record Time Arte? Call
for Aid Comes.
Hastily assembled by order of Firs
Chief Young, additional fire fight
ing apparatus was dispatched to As
toria on a special train at 6 o'clock
yesterday morning, arriving in tima
to be in at the death of one- of the
greatest fires in the history of the
state.
The equipment, accompanied by
crews o'f local firemen, comprised
two steamers, one pumper, 6000 feet
of hose, and other apparatus and
represented Portland's response to
the call for assistance, received
scarcely two hours before the spe
cial broke rail records to Astoria.
Co-operating with Chief Toung in
sending the apparatus was Walter
Ixmg, of the A. G. Long company,
local representative of a fire ap
paratus company. With six mem.
bers of the Portland bureau, Mr.
Long and one of his employes
manned the equipment at Astoria.
The 6600 feet of hose was contrib
uted by various companies through
out the city, and was assembled by
Chief Young, who violated traffic
regulations in his dash from engine
house to engine house.
The speedy dispatch of the special
was made possible by the co-operation
of Spokane, Portland & Seattle
railway officials, who ordered'that
the train be made up at the load
ing docks and given right of way.
to the coast city. '