Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1904-02-08

Baltimore, Feb 8-There was little
sleep for the 100000 residents of Bal
timore last night because Of a terrible
confiagration that started on Sunday
afternoon. There has been no loss OF
life but the property will probably
reach $2OO,0OO,OOO. Acres Of the most
valuable property in the wholesale dry
goods, produce, lumber shipping, rail
road and financial districts have been
destroyed. Notwithstanding the heroic
efforts of the local fire department, re-
infOrced by almost numberless firemen
and apparatus from the great cities of
the east, the fire this morning was
raging as furiously as in the first hour.
Several tons of dynamite were used
during the day and night to blow up
buildings in the effort to check the
spread of the flames, but strong wind
carried embers across the city, light
ing other buildings. The main Office
of the Western Union and Postal Tele-
graph Companies was deserted long
before midnight and the building
which they occupied is practically de-
stroyed. All the buildings of the Bal
timore newspapers, including the off,
ces of the Associated Press were de-
stroyed. The fire continued to spread
eastward and southwark but is not
burning as fiercely az at daylight and
there is hope that 1t will spend itself
in few hours The lumber district
near Odonnefs wharf is practically
consumed and little is left for the
flames to feed on. All the electric pow
er is destroyed, and no street cars are
running.
One Of the Great Disasters OF the
World.
Baltimore, Feb. 8-The News Union
in an editorial today says: mo end
can be seen at the present writing Of
the great conflagration that threatens
the destruction of the entire business
section of Baltimore. No one can tell
the extent of the disaster. The
fire is still burning and with high
wind and the inflammable nature of
the buildings, it may be fed for hours.
To describe in detail the fire which
will go down in the history OF the
world as one of its greatest disasters
is simply impossible. The facts will
not develop for days to come"
Losses Estimated.
Baltimore, Feb. 8-The losses OF ov-
er a million are: John e. Hurst, dry
goods, $1,5O0,OOO, over $1,O00,00O in
surance; Daniel Miller Dry Goods
Company $1,5OO,OOO, insurance $1,000
900. R. M. Sutton & Company, dry
goods, $1,500,O0O. A loss of over $780,
900 each is sustained by more than 40
Starting in the wholesale section the
fire burned out every wholesale house
of note in the city, swept along
the retail sections destroyed
all the prominent Office buildings, lev
eled banks and brokerage offices. con-
sumed the stock exchange and finally
brought up at the falls were it invaded
the lumber district Roughly speaking,
the fire described the course of half
circle, the effect of which was to de-
scribe an immense question mark. The
area is enveloped in smoke that rises
in great volumes and rolls away over
the rest of the city. From Lombard
Street looking westward, is a scene OF
utter destruction.
Where were once large substantial
structures, is now a mass of smould-
ering ruins. The flremen are dynamit-
ing buildings in the burned area and
of explosions and the
shrill whistles of fire engines add to
the indescribable horror of the scene.
The fire is sweeping along the harbor
aud river men are taking vessels out
into the stream.
Extra Session Of Legislature Called.
Baltimore, Feb. 8-The burned dis
trict is two miles square. 1t is COM
mon remark Of the citizens that Balti-
more has received blow from which
i cannot recover in years. Twenty
thousand persons are without work
and It Is anticipated that much suf-
tering and desolation will follow. The
Governor has called an extra session
Of the legislature for this evening to
empower him to declare the city un-
der martial law and to suspend busi-
ness for ten days. The blackened re-