The evening times., 1897-09-30

causing the northwest corner, occupied BY
the offices OF the Capital Traction Com
pany and the Southern Railroad Company,
TO be the last TO go.
The entire structure above the third flool
was one mass Of roaring flames before
the ground floor was touched by the
fire. In fifteen minutes after the firsi
alarm was sounded the whole edifiee
was doomed to destruction, and not long
after was entirely enyeloped.
Long before this Chief Paris saw that
1t was useless to a attempt TO save the 20 wsr
house, and directed hrs men to use their
efferts toward saving the ad djoining build
ings.
This action, as well as the fact that there
was no wind blowing. prevented the de-
struction OF the entire block east Of Thir-
tecH-snd-a-haif street to Thirteenth street,
including the large building of the South
ern Railroad Company, which block, start
Ing with the office OF the Mount Vernon
Railroad Company, seemed for a time to
be In great peril. The same can be said
OF the building on d street, and Fourteenth
street. opposite the power house.
There were probably 100 windows In
the power house and each one sending
forth tongue OF fire rendered the heat
so intense that the ffremen were badly
Handicapped in their work. The heat, how
ever. served to drive the crowds back and
allowed the firemeD free access and plenty
Of room to work. The Gro wds Were orderly
and gave { he police little trouble In handling
them.
The first section OF the wall to give was
on the Thirteen-and-a a half street side,
which went down with a crash while o
gang OF firemen were at work sending
streams on the Mount Vernon Railroad
office and neighbor'ng buildings They all
escaped injury, and before the cloud Of
dust ami smoke had cleared away were
back nt their post and continued their
work.
Closely following this the Fourteenth
street side Went down and the fire Iaddies
On that side, who were endeavoring to
save McCauIey's stables and Joyce's cat
riage factory, had similar experience
as the men on Thirteenth-a and a-half street.
It was not long then until the big roof
covering the entire area bounded by E,
Thirteen tn an d-a-half, d and Fourteenth
streets caved in with a terrific crash
that must have been heard above the roar
of tie engines and crackie OF the flames
to the most remote parts OF the city.
As the roof vent down the flames shot
upward with renew ed fury and vigor IL
luminating the sky for miles around. and
the reflection in the heavens was plainly
seen in Baltimore, according to people
who came over on trains last night. The
embers were scattered abroad for many
blocks.
By o'clock the fire was under control
only for the fact that tie power house was
utterly barned out and the work Of the
firemen had saved the greater portion Of
the neighboring property. with the ex-
ception of a few buildings In the imme-
date vicinity, which were damaged to
some extent.
After the flames had subsidized SO that
there was no longer any danger Of their
spreading. the streams Of W ater were again
directed upon tue burning embers, and q
flood of water was poured into the ruins
all night, AMI was kept up by Several
of the engines all day.
The police have roped off the ruins 50
asto prevent any danger from falling walls
This afternoon workmen are engage In
blowing up the wans with dynamite, and
already those on the Fourteenth street side
have fallen.