Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-07-26
THE FIRE FIEND.
Destructive C0nflagratiOn in Bal.
timOre.
Eight Whole Squares in Ashes.
The Academy of Arts and University
of Maryland in Ruins.
Assistance Invoked from Washing ton
and RhiiRdalnhia.

BALTIMORE, July 25.-A little after 10
O'Clock to- day fire broke out in the plan
ing mill OF Joseph Thomas & Co., on the
south side CT Clay street, between Liberty
and Park streets. The flames soon extend
ed to three adjoining blocks and an i'm
mense confsgration is now raging. A stiff
southwest breeze is blowing, and immense
cinders are waited several blocks, even to
the cathedral. The fire is in the imme-
diate vicinity of the Presbyterian church
where the Presbyterian General Assembly
was held. The entire southwest corner
Of this block burned.
Second Dispatch.
BALTIMORE, July 25, P. M.-The fire
will probably be confined to an area
bounded by Lexington street on the South,
Howard street on the West, Mulberry
street on the North, and Liberty street on
the East. After breaking out in the plan
ing mill Of Thomas & Co., on the south
side of Clay street, the flames rapidly
spread across Clay to the block bounded by
Howard, Liberty, Saratoga and Clay, con-
sumiDg nearly the entire block. At this
hour few buildings remain, at the north
east corner of the block, at which point the
Central Presbyterian Church of DR.. Smith
is located, which structure is on fire. The
probability is that the entire block will be
consumed. From Clay street, South, it
worked its way back to Lexington, burn
ing all the buildings in Park street. The
fire is still raging in this block. On the
west side of Park street, from Lexington to
Saratoga, nearly every house has been burn
ed, fully two-thirds of 'the entire block
bounded by. Clay, Park, Saratoga and
Howard streets, being consumed.
The First English Lutheran
Church on Lexington street, Rev. DR..
Barclay, was entirely consumed. 1t is pos
sible that the fire will not extend much be-
yond the four blocks named. 1t ia impos-
sible to get at particulars, IS the streets in
the immediote vicinity and number of
blocks adjacent, being jammed by thou
sands of people, furniture wagons aud drsys
loading up with the remaing furniture, and
the greatest CONSERVATION prevails, the
streets being filed with frantic women, hur-
rying in every direction with children, bed
ding, cradles and various pieces of furni-
ture in their arms. The whole fire depart
ment of the city, with two engines from
Washington, are now successfully battling
the flames. The supply of water up to this
time is ample, and unless q stiff breeze now
blowing increases to gale, the fire will un-
doubtedly be confined to its present locali-
tiles. The burned district was principally
occupied by small shops, containing beside
small factories, three story brick residen-
ces. At this time no estimate of the loss
can be made. There are numerous rumors
of persons having been burned, but strict
inquiry has failed to establish any loss of
life up to this time.
Third Dispatch.
BALTIMORE, July 25, 1:30 P. M.-The
fire here is still raging. Park street, from
Lexington to Sarato "a streets, is in flames,
every house being on fire. The fire extends
on Clay street from Park to Liberty street,
and rear of Liberty from Lexington to the
corner of Liberty tsreet and Saratoga street.
St. Alphonsus school, on the South side of
Saratoga street, running back to Clay street
is gone. Stewards stables on Lexington
street, will be lost. On Saratoga street,
west from Park street, every house is in
flames. Up Park street from Saratoga to
Mulberry street, at intervals roofing on both
sides of the street are burning. On Null
berry street row of houses commencing at
the northeast corner of Park street and ex.
tending east to Cathedral street are or ire.
Maryland Academy of Arts, on Mulberry
street, and the University of Maryland, ad-
joining, are burning. The Cathedral on
the corner of Mulberry and Cathedral
streets, caught fire, but it is thought will be
saved. The wind is steady from the south
west, and has carried burning embers
around, causing the destruction of many
houses distant from the origin of the disas-
ter.
Fourth Dispatch.
1:40 P. M.-The fire seems to be under
control. Great excitement in the city and
vicinity.
Fifth Dispatch.
1:45 P. M.-The fire is now under con-
troll and with the aid of fire apparatus OBJ
tanned from hotels and other sources the
flames will probably be subdued there is
so much excitement it is impossible to get
any details at present of the losses.
Sixth Dispatch.
2P. M.-The fire is still raging. Eight
blocks of fire buildings have been
burnt. The authorities are sending for
outside help. The water supply is failing
Clay street, from Liberty to Howard two
squares, is burned out. This is narrow
street, filed with carpenter shops and box
II CLOTl0S' 4u0 sIotpIo vi Iio SouGIaI IoS-
byterian Church was on fire at half past
one. The fercest portion of the fire was
on Saratoga street, between Park and Lib
erty streets, on South side. Every house
in the Square was in flames.
The fire in this Square came from
back buildings which reach to it, and de-
stroyed the houses on Clay street. On the
south side houses were still burning at one
O'Clock. The course of the fire from Thomas
factory, where it commenced, was up Park
street on one side, and in the rear of St.
Alphonsus' school on the other side. Burn
ing shingles and sparks started a fire in tho
square on the north side of Mulberry street,
between Cathedral and Park streets. The
fire then dashed across to the Academy of
Arts. The dome of the cathedral at one
tire was on fire, but was put out by citi-
zens stationed on the roof. At Ito the cas-
ings of the windows of st. Alphonsus'
church were on fire for the third time.
Sparks were showered all over the church
from burning houses in front and along the
eide. Notwithstanding the intensity of the
a Al, o,Ea iuO onf