Evening journal., 1893-10-14
AL LTIMORE'S BIG FIRE.
rush Electric Works Burned
Out Last Night.
TY JAIL PARTIALLY DESTROYED

rrIble Scene In the jail 90 Prisoners
We're Crazed with Terror and Pite-
usIy Begged to BE Released-stock
the Company valued at s1,25O,OOO
BALTIMORE, Oct. IA Baltimore was
rouded in comparative darkness at
10 last night. The Brush Electric
orks, Monument and Constitution
eets. had stopped running. The gas
hts were still burning, but the rays
ich came from them seemed to thicken
her than tighten the darkness. A
)rt interval elapsed and then the city
s illuminated with glare so bright
It newspaper could be- read on the
eets. The Brush Electric Works were
fire and the wind was blowing
10.
City. Jail Catches Fire.
The city jail and state penitentiary
not far from the electric works,
they were not thought to be in
lger at first. Suddenly a shout
Mt up that the Jail was on FIRE. The
lding had become ignited and frantic
)rts were made to put out the flames,
in vain. The fire went from point
point and one wing was soon over
cad. Smoke filed the corridors and
Is and. prisoners piteously begged
n Do released. Deputy wardens rushed
q u cell to cell unlocking doors and try
to keep the prisoners together so
t none could escape.
Appalling Scene In the jail.
& he smoke was so dense that it was
& lding and suffocating and the
q soners were crszed by terror. Some
& their hair out by the roots, some
& lted, some battered their heads
inst the walls of the cells. Others
an to shout and sing and laugh.
n " were taken to the lawn on Van
en street, and the injured cared for
"a Ors Hill, Geer, Ward and others
81 Warden Weyler at the penitentiary,
y ch adjoins the jail, was preparing to
bed when he noticed the electric
n is were out. He looked out the
s At window Of his house, which faces
4. he direction of the Brush Electric
y rks, block away Seeing the FIRE,
Immediately took precautions to
# I'd the prisoners and to protect them
case of the fire spreading. The
den has go prisoners in the peni-
& siary. The glare of the fire aroused
~ Of the prisoners. Cries, shrieks
means resounded through the cell
rs and corridors. When the blaze
eased in the direction of the jail the
ale prisoners in the penitentiary
vent to piercing screams.
i've deputy wardens are on night
y. They did all they could to reas-
the terror. stricken inmates
.olice Sergeant Ward aud fifty men
scattered through the penitentiary
revent the escape of any prisoners.
How the Fire Originated.
he Brush Electric Light Company s
1t and buildings were destroyed. The
thing left standing of the immense
It are the two draft chimneys and the
walls.
be FIRE caught on the roof of tn,
ument street front of the Brusf
pany's building. IL was caused by
live wires crossing each other, which
e the flame that caught the wood
k The fire was first seen by line
on his way to the building. He says
oticed little curling flame shoot oui
be apex of the roof and he hasteneC
ard the building to give the alarm
Notified the uperintendent, and to
Ter they ran TO the FIRE box, but by
time the alarm was turned in tn,
le front Of the building was ablaze
sn the fremen reached the scene
n was less than ten minutes aftet
FIRE was discovered, the flames haC
such rapid progress as to make i
psf impossible to save the building o
ontents.
History OF the Company.
less than an hour from the time tn
was first seen the whole building wa
ned out. The front roof fell with
b, soon after which the second foo
down with a report like a cannon
the crashing of heavy machiner
be heard many squares away.
nally the lower floor tumbled in wit
- ~ mus anu lHd
used to operate the immense plant
last fall came with such suddennes
startle the spectators, who surge
rushing over each other in the
nell hurry.
le Brush Electric Company was in
orated twelve years ago by Sun
ield Baldwin, r. Stockett Matthew,
rank Morrison, Benson NJ. Gree
]. d. Mason. Mr.. Baldwin was th
president The company wa
ed for the purpose of furnishin
ric light for the city. The frs
ract vas for FIVE years at sevent,
cents a light. At the expiratio
lis contract there was a controvers
cen the mayor and City Counc
to a renewal Of the contrac
E a time the differences were settled
e original capital stock of the con
was $500, 900 This stock W,
ased to 81, 2jO, 900 some years az
the plant passed into the cor
of the Westenhouse Electric Con
g building and plant were value
million and quarter dollar
.rts said last night that the plan
be replaced for three.quarters
lion dollars.
EW AN Ak AT HIS SWEETHEAR