DISASTROUS FIRE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 202, 23 February 1912, Page 5

DISASTROUS FIRE.

THOUSANDS HOMELESS. NO LIVES LOST. By Cable—Press Association— Copyright. New York, February 21. The eastern section of Houston City, Texas, has been swept by flames, which destroyed twenty-five blocks. Thousands of persons are rendered homeless, and scores of big manufacturing plants have been burned, and cotton valued at two million dollars destroyed. The employees of a manufacturing house sought to 6tay the march of the fire, but were helpless. Although the conflagration reached such enormous dimensions, it is believed that not a single life was lost, although there were many narrow escapes from hotels when the alarm was raised. LOSS MILLION AND A HALF. FIREMEN'S GOOD WORK. Received 22, 10.25 p.m. New York, February 22. Relief committees are operating to relieve a thousand persons who are homeless through the great fire at Houston. The loss is estimated to exceed a million and a half sterling. The fire originated in an untenanted house, and, fanned by a fierce gale, spread rapidly in a southerly direction, only being checked when it reached a stream. The flames leaped the stream, several times igniting the roofs of oil stores, but the firemen suppressed t'.ie blaze, thus preventing still greater damage.