Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1873-07-31
GREAT FIRE IN BALTIMORE.
One Hundred Houses Burned and
Sixty Families Without Homes.
BAITIMORE. ,July 2G

The great fire here yesterday broke
out in the extensive four-story brick
steam planing-miIl and sash and door
factory owned and occupied by Joseph
Thomas & Son, and situated on the
south side of Clay street, near Park
Clay street is a narrow street, begin.
ming at Liberty street, about midway
between and parallel with Saratoga
street on the north, and Lexington
street on the south, and extends west,
intersecting Park and Howard streets,
and terminating at EutaW street
Thomas planing-mill was in shape
like Il letter l., having front on both
Clay and Park streets. The fire broke
out in the engine room, near the centre
of the mill, and in a short time the
building Was envelOped in flames, and
the boilers of the engine exploded.
In the meantime the fire alarm was
sounded, and steamers were soon on
the ground. A stiff breeze from the
southwest was blowing, and the flames
soon communicated with adjoining
buildings on each side on Clay and Park
streets. A general alarm was sounded,
calling out the entire Fire Department.
The fierceness and heat of the cOnfia-
grafton increased, and the breeze fed
the flames, which Ieaped across Clay
street to the north side, and soon each
side of Clay street, east to Park street,
was on fire. The flames shot high
above the burning buildings, and dense
volumes of suffocating smoke were
borne eastward, hurling in every direc-
ton blazing cinders, which. fell on the
dry, parching roofs. In a short time
Park street, on each side, from Lex
ington street on the south across Clay
street to Saratoga street on the north,
was sheet of fire, nearly every build
ing being in flames. The heat was so
intense that all the firemen were driven
from the street. The four blocks bound
ed by Liberty street on the east, Sara
toga to North Howard on the west,
and Lexington on the sonth, and inter-
sected by Park and Clay streets, were
each ablaZe, and several fine buildings
on Mulberry street had taken fire from
burning brands hurled by the wind.
About IL A. NJ. a general cOnfiagra-
tion seemed imminent, and the Fire
Department at Washington was tele-
graphed to for assistance. The greatest
CONSERVATION prevailed. The roofs Cf
several buildings as far as Calvert
street became ignited, as also the dome
of the Cathedral, and the steeple of ST.
AlphOnso's Catholic Church, corner of
Park and Saratoga streets. IN every
direction women and children Were
fleeing from their burning houses, and
for blocks around every article of furni-
Ttdre WIS being aaaved 4pell neil, and
thrown from the windows, The streets
were impossible from blocking by fur
.nitufe, wagons and every Kind of vehi-
Gle that could be brought into requisi-
tion. 20 aa .f1sf8 en9i - t-+'
While the fire was raging the entire
Department was nobiy at work bat
Ting against its progress, assisted by
an army of citizens, who crowded the
roofslof. tho; buildings on every side,
and many blocks off, quenching the
falling, blazing brands with buckets
of water, and preventing ignition by
spreading wet blankets. The dome Of
the Cathedral was covered with blank
cts, and this saved it, as also St. AL
phonso Church. 1oi .5-al-3 ..l.i-, .: -
The firemen, driven from Park
street, between Lexington and Sara
toga, by the intense heat. abandoned
this section to its fate, and directed
Etheir, main efforts to preventing the
spread Of fire beyond the four blocks
named.
| Shortly after1 O'Clock P. NJ. two en-
gines arrived from Washington, and
rendered valuable assistance. The fire
ragged till p. NJ, but by o'clock was
completely under control. .... ..,.....l
In estimating the total loss there is q
wide difference of opinion, some placing
| itas high as $500, 600; but experienced
insurance men tonight. think that be-
tween $500, 600 and $500, 900 will cover
ali losses. % i7a'i' ''ti' -'''''''-'