St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-12-03

Quilted Buildings-Five Hmm
dred People Thrown Out OF
Employment.
BALTIMORE. Nd, Dec. 2.-One of the
most disastrous confiagrations in the
history of this city swept through the
commercial center tonight, entailing
loss of 100000. and throwing out of
employment over 500 people. 1t was
only the fact that the fire broke out
after working hours that prevented a
narrowing loss Of life. Darkness had
hardly fallen over the city before a
general fire alarm was sounded
from Plaza and Lombard streets. When
the department. arrived upon the scene
the mammoth Hciser building, Nos. 81
and 36 South Plaza street, was seeth-
ing mass of flames. and other structures
of like Importance in the vicinity were
menaced by showers of sparks which
strong west wind was sending in every
direction. Before the flames were got
ten under control the following build
ings had been Quilted: No. "a South Plaza
street, occupied by the Deutsch LiIho-
graphing and Printing company; l..
Johns, overalls and dry goods factory,
and Charles Heiser'S shoe factory. No.
So South Plaza was occupied by D.Lang-
field q Co., cloak manufacturers. Next
door was the cigar manufactOry of
August Mencken d Bro. All these
establishments were totally destroyed.
The fire then spread to the
DISSECTION HALL.
of the Maryland university. Sixteen
cadavers were In pickle on the top floor
of this building, among them the re-
mains Of Uncle Perry Anderson, of
Burking fame. Before the flames were
gotten under control at O'clock in the
evening, the flames had communicated
to the warehouse and storage
departments of M. S. Levy
& Sons, straw hat manufacturers,
at Plaza and Lombard streets
While the fire was at its height the con-
gregatiOn of the Jewish synagogue was
deep in worship in it's temgle at German
and Place streets. The roof of the editice
caught and fire began to rain upon
those Engaged in prayer. 1t required
the united efforts of the firemen>a and po-
lice to prevail upon the people to leave
the building, which seemed in immi-
nent danger Of heing consumed.
Firemen and spectators had a hard
run for their lives when the walls of the
Helser building tell. With terrible
roar they crashed into the streets and
upon the adjacent buildings, setting fire
to L. Conlep's stables, which are located
on German street, and ran through 20
Cider alley.
| ~ THREE HUNDRED HORSES
and mules which had been housed here
were removed in haste to safer quarters.
While the fire was at its height, a Shrek
from the second story of the Langfeld
building drew all eyes In that direction.
Standing upon a window sill with
her hair ON fire was Annie Tay-
lor, one of the employees. Hundreds
of voices were lifted, Emporium
ing her not to jump. while Pipeman
| Ben Riley, of No. engine. dashed into
| the burning building 10 her rescue. He
| coon reappea1ed with the fainting form
of the woman i'll his arms. The Heiser
building stood upon what at one time
| was the Dunkard burying grounds. Ad-
| used by NJ. s. Levy u Sons as storage
| warehouse.
Only the strenuous efforts OF the fire
| department saved the. establishments of
Brigham, Hopkins & Co., straw hat
manufactory, and Straus Brothers,
wholesale clothiers, from being de-
| stroyed. The firms first named lose
| their entire stock, all Of which are
| fully insured. The buildings are owned
by the Mcdaniel estate, and are also
covered bv insurance