The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-07-29
The 8atland Daily Glube.
TUESDAY, JULY 90, 1873.
THE GREAT FIRE IN BALTI-
MORE.
The Centre of the Monumental city
i'm Ashes.


sURAscE.
The confagration in the city of Balti-
more, on Friday, is the most disastrous in
its effects of any that has occurred in this
country Since the great fire in Bos-
ton in 1872. In addition to the account
given by telegraph on Saturday morning, we
have further interesting particulars. The
extent of the territory burned over will
aggregate at least ten acres, and fully one
hundred houses are in ruins. The district
burned is bounded on the north and south
by Saratoga and Lexington streets, and on
the east and west by Liberty and Howard
streets. 1t was portion of the city princi-
pally inhabited by poor people, and the
dwellings were not very valuable. The
total loss will not therefore aggregate a sum
at all in proportion to the extent of the con-
1agration, but the suffering and privation
of the unfortunate people who have been
rendered homeless by the fire fend will be
very great Singular as it may seem, right
in this locality, the very center of the city,
were congregated great number of poor
people, living in small tenements two and
three stories high, and containing from one
to three families.
ORIGIN OF THE FIRE.
Clay street, running east and west, and
Park street north and south, divide the
burnt district into almost equal portions.
They are narrow lane like streets, and
within few years quite number of small
stores have been opened in them. In Clay
street, between Park and Howard, several
extensive wood working establishments
were located. In one of them, the steam
sash and door factory of Joseph Thomas &
Son, the fire originated. A large quantity
of shavings and sawdust had been collected
in the fire-room of the engine house, and
were ignted by cinders from the boiler
furnace. 1t had evidently gained some
Roadway before the engineer discovered it.
He, however, turned on the water and at
tempted to extinguish the flames with hose
kept in the building, but in few minutes
he was driven from his post by the fas,
spreading fire. The workmen in the up
per portion of the building knew nothing
of the fire until the entire lower story was
in a sheet of flame and every avenue OF
escape save the windows cut Off
They were therefore compelled to jump
for their lives from the second and third
stories. One man named James Watson
was seriously wounded by falling on thu
curbstone. In less than ten minutes tn,
building was one mass of fire, and stronl
wind ~,sept the fro brands north and east
The alarm was sounded at a quarter to II
o'clock and engines were promptly on til,
ground, but not less than eighteen houses
on Park, Clay and Saratoga streets were OF
fire before stream of water could be di
rected against any one point. At tn,
northeast corner of Park and Saratog;
streets stands the st. Alphonsus German
Catholic church, whose beautiful spir
towers even above the boom of the grea
Cathedral on Mulberry street, one blocl
away. Several times the roof and spire o
this church were on fire, but as often tn
incipient flames were extinguished by tn
heroic priest, assisted by the sexton and
few parishioners. Clay street, almost iron
Howard to Liberty, was in an incredibl
short space of time one sheet of flame, an
the sparks had also ignited almost ever
house on Park street from Lexington t
Saratoga. The tall, square tower of til,
Central Presbyterian church on the south
west corner of Liberty and Saratoga street
was soon in flames, and before an hour two
thirds of this block was one solid mass o
fire. The heat was so great in the marrow
streets that the firemcn could not direct tn
streams of water with much effect. The
were soon forced to abandon the burnin
buildings and directed all their efforts t
prevent any further spread of the flames
IT'S COURSE.
The flying firebrands were swept owe
the houses on the north side of SaratOg
street and lighting on the University c
| Maryland on the south of Mulberry stree
kindled a new fire square away. 500
afterward the fine dwelling on the nortl
east corner of Mulberry and Park street
was also in flames, while the intervenin
houses on Park below Mulberry and Sal
atOga streets were untouched. Streams G
water were soon directed against these, an
the University building was saved with tn
loss of one wing. The fire spread rapid
along Mulberry street from the corner, an
five houses were soon burning. BY de-
perate exertions the firemen succeeded
stopping the progress of the flames in tn
direction, but not before the corner hous
and three others were in ruins.
AT 10 o'clock it was apparent that I'll
fire was uncomfortable with the whole fiji
department of the city at work, and me
sages were sent to Wilmington and Wasl
ington asking for aid The engines wei
Immediately loaded in open cars in Wasl
ington.
There seemed to be dead calm at tn,
hour and the tall spre of st. Alphons,
doomed up like spectre above sea ,
roaring flames. Clouds of smoke aroun
and at times obscured 1t from view. Oh
enthusiastic Catholic declared the churt
was the very centre, and with pious ferv,
said; "See how she stands dcfying Il
flames, like the true Church of st. Pet
ever has stood and ever will stand"
st. Alphonsus church is solid brio
structure, with no wood facings or trir
mings, and served as bulwark against Il
spread of the flames northward There a
a number of fine residences on the mort
side of Saratoga street, just where Nor
Liberty street terminates They star
back some distance from the street on te
races, with large trees in front They a
solid brick structures with tin roofs, al
these buildings also helped to stay II
flames to the northward.
| II seemed a miracle that the low-hous