The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-02-09
TUESDAY, FEB. 9, 1904.
HELP FOR BALTIMORE.


The destruction wrought in Balti-
more on Sunday and yesterday will
give that catastrophe rank among the
great fires in our history. While the
loss of life was comparatively small,
owing to the ample warning which it
was possible to give in all cases, the
property loss is almost beyond the
reach of imagination. 1t is now con-
servatively estimated that this will
pass the enormous total of 5000, 900 900.
In the vivid descriptive accounts of
this event which have been carried by
our news dispatches there appears the
! feature common to all disasters on a
similar scale. This is an element en-
tireIy outside of our comprehension.
I There appears to be some mighty ply
steal change wrought in the very con-
stitution of things by a confiagration
so universal. The very atmosphere it
self seems to change to an ignitible or
buildings or cities about, as it WERE
with an envelope of fire. We recall
this phenomenon in the case of the
Hinckley fire, when sheets of flame
suddenly appeared in the forest at
considerable distance from any point
where a fire was already burning. 1t
has been noted in all the big fire dis
! asters; and so in Baltimore, all at
tempts to check the progress Of the
flames were Knocked by the suddenness
with which they leaped from point to
point and crumbled most obstinate ma
terials before them with the violence
. Of a cyclonic shock.
One of the fairest cities Of the coun-
! try lies in ashes. Baltimore is old and
/ rich and proud and conservative. Per-
! haps she will suffer as little as any
! city in the country would from such
calamity. Her people are full Of cour-
age, and their Golfers are still full of
wealth; yet no such benumbing blow
as this could fall upon any community
In the United States without calling in
stantly for outside sympathy and as
sistance. There will be much tern
porary suffering; there ought to be am
pie relief, both temporary and perma-
nent. The other cities of this country
that responded so nobly to the needs
of Chicago and of Boston under like
circumstances must be as quick and as
generous to the people of Baltimore
No line of state or section has ever
been drawn when this great appeal to
humanity was made, nor will it be now.
Communities and individuals everv-
where will spring gladly to the work
OF helping the people of the proud old
town rebuild their vanished greatness.
st. Paul should be neither last nor
least in this noble work. and We coll
upon the official representatives of the
city, and upon all individuals to whom,
such a frightful calamity can annual
10 come to the rescue The GIoba
A"lIi hedrtlly support every movement
In this direction, and will receive. ac-
knowledge and forward such contrihu-
tlons as may be sent it. This is emil
hently case where he gives twice
who gives quickly, and relief work
should be begun at once. Baltimore
VIII rise again from its ashes more
beautiful and more prosperous than
ever To aid that future consumma-
ton it is our business today to Law
mold instantly with helpful hands unon
the beginnings Of that tremendous Ia
Dor, and aid this stricken, but undis
couraged people to reclaim and restore
their own.