The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1865-02-24

Bartholomew Gillen owned and occu.

DartnolomeW Ulllen owned and 0ccu
pied the house No. 1161 Ninth street.
lie is an industrious mechanic, and this
property was the substance of his hard
earnings for number of years. He had
just cleared it of all liabilities so that he
could really call it his homestead, when un.
tortunately the flames reduced it complete.
ly to ruins. His furniture was totally de-
s'royed, and it was with difficulty his fam
lily escaped with their lives. The case of
this man is very sad one.
Between the warehouse and Federal
street there were some five or six dwell
lngs, all of which were destroyed. Upon
reaching Federal street, the flames spread
east to Sidney street, and played great
havoc. The grocery store of Mr.. Bowen,
on the corner Of Ninth street, was COM
pletely destroyed; also the following
dwellings on Federal street, No. S37, occu-
pied by Mrs. Scott; No. 835, by Mary
Mullin; No. 1873, by Mr.. Handy; No.
03l, by Mrs. Lewis; dwelling No. S29,
occupied by Mr.. John Pritchard, was par
italy destroyed, and the one at the corner
of Sidney street, No. 827, occupied by
John MeGill, slightly damaged. While
the flames were raging Oh the north side
of Federal street, the dwellings on the
south side were at one time in great jeop-
ardy. They escaped with severe scorch-
ing and were pretty well deiuged by the
6remen in their efforts to save them.
Several dwellings on Ellsworth street
Immediately to the rear of the coal oil es-
Enlistment, suffered badly. The struc.
ture No. 9l7 occupied as a. livery stable
by Patrick McGary, was partially destroy
ed, also the dwelling No 9l3 occupied by
VIM Riley, the rear of NJ. 919 occupied
by Mr.. Conway, was burned. Mr.. C.lostin
the flames some $4,000 in money. Dwell
ling No. 9l9 occupied by Mr.. Fields was
damaged in the rear. Two small, neat
brick houses in court back of No. 921
occupied by Patrick Cassidy an1 Patrick
Carr, were completely destroyed together
with all their contents
The above embraces q list of all the
forty-seven in all, that We're
destroyed. The total loss, of course, will
not be known for several days. The ma
jority of the occupants Of the houses which
were destroyed were poor people, who lost
everything of earthly value which they
possessed. Their situation is most pitt
ful. Many of them We're forced into the
street in their ni5ht-clothcs and were
obliged to depend upon the neigabors for
garments to cover their exposed bpiies.
The coal oil belonged to Richardson,
Harley & Co., Tack, Brothers Il o., Dill,
worth g. Ewing, and other parties. The
loss upon it is about $4,000, which is
fully c)verel by insurance
The ruin was most complete, and tn.
scene yesterday morning after the flames
had been checked, was truly awful.-
Whole blocks were thrown into rufus,
and numbers of families reduced at once
to perjury and want. Homeless and
houseless, they are dependent upon the
charity of their neighbors and acquaintan.
ces. We have here, therefore, an oppor-
tunity of fulfilling the motto that charity
begins at home," and whiIo We are send
ing aid abroad, we will do good to take
care of the destitute who are thus made
dependent upon our charity for help.
To the fremen too much praise and
credit cannot be awarded. They We're
upon the spot in remarkably quick time,
Notwithstanding the horrible condition of
the streets, aud when at the fire they
worked like beavers. To them alone is
due the credit of saving many lives
Many of the fire boys overwork6d them-
selves and became exhausted but the citi-
zens in the vicinity, good Samari;an-like
opened their doors and made them well
come.
There were many sad scenes that occur
red during and after the fire. While the
fire was in progress and had reached the
houses in Ellsworth street, man appear
ed iu the street with the dead body of his
wife in his arms. The poor woman had
died the day previous and was taken from
the ice box by her husband and thus pre-
vented from being consumed in the
flames.
After the FIRE, at an early hour in the
morning, the poor people who had been
burned out and who were yet uncertain as
to the fate of their friends, congregoted 10
the neighborhood of the ruins, wringing
their hands and showing much grief,
The fire is said to be the result of incen.
diarism. The fire Marshal is giving the
matter thorough investigation.
As soon as the destitute condition of
the families who bad thus in few hours
been made homeless became known, a
was at once started for their re-
lief. Subscription lists were opened in
numerous places, and liberal amounts sub
scrbed.
g0~ The first volume of the Emperor
"Life of Caesar" will be pub
lished on the 10th of February, 1t will ap-
pear simultaneously in French and Ger