Bessimer City Boarding House, Cotton Warehouse Destroyed in Fire, Two Killed, Dec. 27, 1922

Boarding House Fire Claims Two Lives in Gaston. . . Third Person Is Missing in a Blaze That Destroyed Lodging House. . . Warehouse Is Burned. . . Bessemer City Is Scene of Fire Causing a Loss of Not More Than $30,000. . . Woman Injured by Leap. . . Jumped From Second Story Window of Boarding House and May Be Fatally Injured

Gastonia, Dec. 27—Two men were burned to death and one other is missing as a result of a fire which destroyed the Underwood boarding house and several other buildings at Bessemer City, near here, according to reports from there early today.

Two bodies found in the ruins were identified later as those of John D. Hough and his step son Mack Hopper, which E.J. Eddings was missing after the fire. Mrs. Hough was seriously hurt in leaping from a second story window and it was feared her injuries might prove fatal.

The office and cotton warehouse of the Gambrill and Melville Mills also were burned, together with about 100 bails of cotton and a one-story residence, but the total loss was estimated at not more than $30,000. It was understood to be partially covered by insurance.

The origin of the fire was not known.

From the front page of The High Point Enterprise, Dec. 27, 1922