The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1904-02-11
Block After Block Of The Most Substantial Business Structures
in the City Are Licked UP by III:
Consuming Element
SS00O00o0, Is Estimated, Will Not Cover the Loss
-firemen Are Utterly Helpless in the Face
OF the Remorseless Tide.
Imposing Business Blocks Dynamited in Desperate Effort
10 Impede Progress OF tn: Flames-Many
Cities Send Help.

News building from which the en-
ployes had to hastil flee. though not
until valuable records had been re-
moved.
Shortly thereafter the Continental
Trust company's fourteen-story build
ing took fire. A block below the
American newspaper building was en-
veloped in clouds of sparks and
burning splinters and Lne employees
were ordered out.
The financial district, including the
chief banking and brokerage firms on
South and German streets. seems to
be now doomed and scores of the
city's leading finapciers and business
men are
Scurrying in and Out
of their Offices bearing packages or
placing valuables in conveyances.
During all these hours the pyrotech-
mic display has been magnificent and
imposing beyond the power of painter
to depict.
At this hour vast columns Of seeth-
ing flames are shooting skyward at
varying points of the compass and the
armament is one vast prismatic ocean
of golden and silver hued sparks.
Great multitudes of people line the
streets, awe-struck by the panorama
which is being enacted before their
eyes.
At 10:40 the building occupied by
the Associated Press took fire and
the employees were compelled to va
cate, though they had time to take
away with them the telegraph instru-
ments, typewriters and other valuable
equipment.
Absolutely Beyond Control.
At this hour the fire is absolutely
beyond control and all occupants of
buildings in the center Of the city are
rapidly moving their valuables.
The city hospital, corner of Calvert
and Pleasant streets, is moving to
other hospitals as rapidly as possible
the twenty-four patients in that insti-
tuition. Seventeen injured were
brought to this hospital, mosC of
them firemen They were suffering
from burns. scalds and decorations.
Nearly every physician of the city is
in the fire district. So far as known
no one has yet been killed. Detach-
ments of the Fourth and Fifth regi-
ments have been called out and are
PatrolIing the Streets
in the vicinity of the fire, guarding
property and keeping order.
Fortunately thus far the confiagra-
ton has not reached the residence
portion of the city, but fires are
breaking out in East Baltimore and
the indications are that the residence
streets are doomed to be invaded.
The Baltimore & Ohio railway Of
fee building has been destroyed and
so has the Maryland Institute of En-
cheering. At HAS o'clock the tenn
porary custom house, adjoining the
postofIice, caught fire.
One hundred and fifty policemen
from Philadelphia has arrived here
to assist the Baltimore police and
military.
| Wires of All Kinds Frustrated.
At o'clock this morning the fire
] was raging fiercely. So far as known
at that hour no serious casualties had
been reported to the police. Tele-
graph. telephone and electric wires Of
all kinds are Frustrated. Express
wagons have been kept busy all night
removing furniture and fixtures from
the counting rooms and warehouses
| in tha Threatened distrirt Tho fire
has now covered an area of three
| quarters of mile in length by nearly
quarter of mile in width, taking
in many Of the most important build
ings in the city. No one will venture
to estimate the monetary loss.
New York, Feb. 9.--Fire Chief Crok-
er announced soon after 2 o'clock
/, that as the Baltimore & Ohio road
! had train all ready to start In Jer-
sey City, he would send seven engines
over that road. Battalion Chief Howe
| took charge of them.
Acting Chief Kruger received word
after o'clock from the mayor Of
Baltimore that the firemen of that
city were exhausted from the arduous
work of the day and night. Chief
Kruger thee decided to send four
more fire companies and crews to the
| fire.
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