Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-05
CUMBKRLAND.s BIG FIRE.
Il 10 Claimed Thst the Losses win Reach
100000.

100000.
Cumberland, Md. was visited last night BY
the most disastrous fire in her history Of the
past forty years. There we're two fires in differ
ent parts of the city. An entire block OF build
ings were swept away and merchandise of all
kinds, valued at many thousands of dollars, fell
prey to the flames a. . result Of the first FIRE,
and seven buildings were wiped out by the
second. The total loss cannot be even approx
mated. Some place it at 600. 900. others at
$500. 600, while there are those who claim that
the loss will not fall short Of 800 900.
The town was in perfect terror. and men
seemed to have lost their heads completely.
The lack Of proper fire apparatus was painfully
apparent. and last nights work may have the
effect of bringing the people and the authors
ties to a realization Of the needs Of Cumberland
in this particular.
THE FIRST ALARM.
The first alarm of fire was given at $40 p. m.
The cause was found in a stable in the rear of
the New -ork clothing house, which fronts on
Baltimore street. A high wind was blowing at
the time, and it was not long before the flames
leaped across the alley aud secured Q hold on
the handsome building Of the clothing store
company, and then the destruction began which
involved the loss of many thousands of dollars.
The flames. driven by the high wind, leaped
from roof to roof, with amazing rapidity. The
FIRE department was as toy compared to the
requirements Of the hour. They did the best
they could, but in the face Of q conAagration
such as this they were powerless.
People living in the immediate vicinity, see
ing inevitable destruction, began instantly the
work of removing their household effects, and
in few minutes the streets and alleys were
glutted with them. The citizens were para
lyzed: they could do absolutely nothing but
Il Al xl-&- ~ =
neigabor licked up by the flames with the
avidity of a western cyclone for the outbuild-
inss that stand in its path.
One after another the buildings caught, and
what with the roar of the flames and the crack
ling Of timber and the falling Of walls it was
terrible to contemplate.
At $50 the block on Baltimore street between
Mechanic aud Liberty streets in ruins
Among the stores demolished were these: Dan
E. keen, wines and liquors; J. ]. Derr. boots
and shoes; ]. L. Herman, hardware; Joseph
Greenfield toys and notions: Mrs. Charles
White. dry goods. and T. L. Coulehan, grocer
les Over these stores the Offices OF the W. G.
White Lumber Company and other concerns
were situated. and many private families re-
sided there. AL Of these places faced on Bal
timore street, around the corner on Mechanic
street.
The saloon and restaurant Of d. c. Mickey,
the saloon Of German. the butcher shop OF
Alexander McFenan, one vacant store and the
corner building were swept away, and the
sparks and huge glowing timbers hoated across
the city in a southerly direction, jeopardizing
the dwellings and business houses lying in that
section.
SECOND ALARM.
Meanwhile the fire department. was doing its
level best fighting the flames and trying to
prevent them from crossing Baltimore street.
The side streets were damned up with the
household effects of the unfortunate reopie
who suffered, and the larger crowd of citizens
was doing all it coulG to pu. out the FIRE when,
about 7:30 second alarm was sounded. locat-
ing another blaze in South Cumberland, IA
miliarly known as Shan.vtown. and that part of
Wineow street from r. D. Johnsons mills, ex-
elusive, souta on one side was swept away.
Seven buildings. consisting OF saloons. stores,
&C.. were RACED tothe ground.
This tire was eItinguished BY IL o'clock, when
the entire attention of the depar: nent niser-
ably equipped, was turned to the one srill rag
ing in the business cen!er, which was finally
extingaished at 11:30. By that time it had
extended and destroyed the property Of Mr..
Goetz, a saloon keeper. and AT. Lear, baker.
street.
A full lis. OF the occupants of the .eremen.s
over the stores destroyed is unavailable at
present. The loss is estimated at from $500. 0CO
to $500. goo bat this cannot be verified 1t s more
than likely i. is more. At present every thing is
confusion and no one ca n be found from whom
authentic data can be procured.
The only accident reported so far was that
OF young man named ShGtfer. a weighmaster
at the rolling mills, who had his leg broken by
falling bricks.