Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-07-25

The Presbyterian Church Completely
Destroyed.
The Whole Block West Of the Church
Gone.
The Cathedral Threatened
Intense Excitement In the City.

BALTIMORE, MD, July 25th, 2:l5 p. nj
The Central Presbyterian church is COM
pletely destroyed; the building is a roar
ing furnace inside, threatening the opposite
mansions. The whole block of buildings west
Of the church, on Saratoga street, is destroyed.
Twenty or more houses are completely burned
The north side of Saratoga street, opposite the
church, Is yet intact, though IL Is possible all
the dwellings there will be swept also through
TO Mulberry street. On Mulberry street, IN
front of the Cathedral, the fire IL subdued. St
the wind and fire is directly towards the Cattle
dral and may carry that structure. The dwell
ings involved Oh Saratoga street are all first
class houses. MIR. Abells house can hardly be
saved. The dwelling of Prof. n. K. Smith, ad-
joining IL on the west, is on fire. The tower of
the Central Presbyterian church il threatening
TO fall, the walls are crumbling and the excite
ment is intense.
tRY ASSOCIATED PRESSl
BALTIMORE, July ., p. m.-The fire is still
raging, but will probably be confined to the
area bounded by Lexington street south, How
ard west, Mulberry north, and Liberty street
east. After breaking out in the planning mill OF
Thomas s. Co., on the south side Of Clay street,
the flames rapidly spread across Clay to the
block bounded by Howard, Liberty, Saratoga
and Clay streets, consuming nearly the entire
block. At this hour few buildings remain at
hs
point the Central Presbyterian church (Dr.
Smith) Is located, which structure is now on
fire. The probability is that the entire block
win be consumed. From Clay street south the
fire worked its way back from Lexington, burn
ing all the buildings on Park street. From Lex
lngton to Saratoga nearly every house has
been burned, fully two-thirds of the entire
block, bounded by Clay, Park, Saratoga and
Howard, being consumed. The First English
Lutheran church, on Lexington street. Rev. DIR.
Barclay, was entirely consumed. 1t is possible
that the fire will not extend much beyond the
four blocks named. 1t is impossible 70 get at
the particulars, the streets in the Immediate
vicinity, and for number of blocks adjacent,
being damned with thousands of people, furn
iture wagons and every vehicle imaginable.
loading up with and removing furniture. The
greatest CONSERVATION prevails, the streets be-
Ing filed with frantic women hurrying in every
direction with children, bedding, cradles, and
various pieces of furniture in their arms. The
whole IRE department of this city, with
Ven TWO ENGINES PROM WASHINGTON,
are now successfully battling the flames. The
supply OF water up 70 this time is ample, and
unless the stiff breeze increases TO a gale and
watts cinders in other directions, the fire will
undoubtedly be confined to its present locality.
The district burned out is occupied principally
by small shops, several factories, and three
story brick residences At this time il is i'm
possible to make any estimate Of the loss. There
are number OF rumors of parties OF men, wo-
men and children being burned, but strict in
quiry has failed, however, to establish any loss
Of life up to this time, Las O'Clock p. m.
BALTIMORE, July Is, 2io p. m.-The fire is
still raging, but has not extended to any great
extent hey ond the blocks named in the last dis
patch. The Central Presbyterian church; DIR.
Smith, southeast corner Of Saratoga and Liber-
ty streets, is a complete wreck, nothing remain
ing but the walls. With the exception of
three brick dwellings on the southeast
corner of this block, in the immediate rear OF
the ruins Of the church, not a building remains.
At this our the widest rumors prevail in re-
gard to he fires in other portions Of the city,
but an Inspection of the localities named as on
fire fail TO verify the report. The roofs Of sew
eral bui iings on Calvert ST., north of Saratoga,
have tak en- fire, among them the childrens aid
society Oh Calvert, adjoining the city spring,
but all Z we been extinguishea. ST. Alphonsus'
German Catholic church, beautiful structure
at the northeast corner of Saratoga and Park
streets, IL In imminent danger, but at this mo-
ment has not taken fire.