The Washington times., 1904-02-08

The flames are stin beyond coptrol.
with the wind blowing gale. Practi-
cally all the wholesale and n large part
Of the retail district has been swept,
making about forty blocks in all.
stretching over a mile I'm one direction.
The Fourth and Fifth regiments OF
Maryland militia, regulars from Fort
McHenry. and police from Washington
and Philadelphia are guarding property
from pillage.
Telegraph and telephone communica-
ton with the outside world has been de-
stroyed. All OF the local newspaper
plants, with one exception. have been
consumed.
Citizens Fight Flame.
The citizens OF the stricken city are
fighting desperately to stem the tide Of
crimson that now threatens to engulf
every business house OF Importance
within the territory OF trade.
Every inch of hose. every pound of
steam. and every human hand at the
disposal of the Baltimore fire depart
ment and neighboring cities has been at
work on the fire since Sunday noon.
More engines, more men. and more
horses are. now hurrying from Jersey
City, New York, and Brooklyn.
IN spite of the foods of water being
deluged over blazing roofs and CULVER
ing walls Ihe destroyer is still reaching
oct its myriad arms like gigantic oc-
topus and gathering in block after
block Of valuable property.
Frightful Scenes at Daybreak.
When day broke over the stricken
~st NH rr OIL ho Hov zinc l.
low Of fire which lowered like demon
over her financial and business center
had been in total darkness. the people
had not realized the frtghtful loss they
had sustained
The cOnfagration. which had been rag
ing from 10 o'clock on Sunday morning
worked with an irrepressible determine
ton to wipe out the entire city Nc
effort of man TO stem the Hood Of fire
can avail.
Only the hand of Divine Providence
can still the fearful scourge.
All night long the people crowded
around the fire limits. They hardly
realized the horror Of the situation-alI
even the policemen. the fremen, ex-
hausted from their fourteen hours OF
steady fire fighting; the militia, and the
regulars. who were called out to pre-
serve order and to guard the stores
from possible pillage. were spellbounc
by the grandeur of the mighty flames
that licked building after building into
ruin.
Losses May Reach Szoo,Ooo,ooo.
The loss is estimated to be from $780,
00oOOO TO 5000 Co., 900. No one can exactly
tell. The heart of the city has been laid
in ruins. Magnificent "fireproof' build
ings, costing hundreds of thousands OF
dollars. were as easy prey to the fiery
demon as the storage houses and the
oil plants on the water front
Through the volumes of smoke and
fame, tossed hither and thither by the
wind. shone the glowing skeletons Of the
Quilted slxyscrapers. rising like ugly
monsters from the freswept territory.
At midnight the firemen were fighting
like mad. Re-enforcements from Har'
risburg, Philadelphia. Wilmington. and
Washington had arrived. The infusion
OF new men into the conflict. however
was without avail. They were com
pletely helpless, and az building aftel
building fell the fighting apparatus had
to be constantly shifted in position. Be
fore long there were a number Of com
panies unable TO aid further in the work
as their hose was lost in the falling o.
walls and the explosion of many of thu
buildings.
At midnight the wind had shifted
The city hall building. court house. and
postoflce buildings. which seemed
doomed UP 20 that time, were SAVED
by the action of the wind. but thu
change drove the flames down to thu
waterfront. into the oil houses, ware
houses. and shipping concerns.
When it was seen that this section o.
the city was doomed. countless trucks
and laborers were pressed into service
and the work Of removing as much o.
the wares as possible was begun.
At / O'Clock the police and militi;
stopped the trucks and men from agsiI
entering the doomed district The fir
engines were withdrawn and that no
too soon. The sparks had set fire 4
buildings two blocks further down OF
the water front and delay would meal
disaster to those engaged in the re
moVaI
Hebrew Tenements Threatened.
The Jewish district which adjoins tn
warehouse districts is the only IivinI
quarter OF the city 10 be endangered. ]
is not believed that these tenements an
closely crowded houses can be savd 7
FIRE begins IN them no EFFORT will d
made to extinguish II. The efforts O
the fremen will be turned to preventin
its spread.
All OF the Jewish residents had theI
belongings moved out OF their house
during the night With only the fam
ing towers TO light them counties
numbers Of Jews migrated from tn
district They carried their possession
with them in all kinds Of bundles.
The first resident to pass out OF IN
doomed section was Jewish boy. NO
more than fourteen years Of age. II
was STOPPING under a mammoth Ioa
which was done up in a gaudy colore
cloth and with his right hand he guide
a panic-stricken goat
AT O'Clock this morning the fame
mad cut swath a mile long and nv
blocks wide. The great Chicago disaste
OF lSd now bids fair 20 be eclipsed.
New Telegraph Communication.
All this morning a force Of Wester
Union inemen has been busy on tn
York Road, on the third floor of an oil
building. trying 10 re-establish tele
graphic communication
Every daily English newspaper in IN
city has lost rs ri.