The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-10
BALTIMORE WILL RISE
IN RENEWED GLORY FROM
THE ASHES OF ITS RUINS

try districts came army of visitors
many of them driving carriages that
showed signs of the muddy rural roads.
But it was an orderly crowd and gave no
trouble to police or soldiers On the great
broad plaza between the courthouse and
the city postoffice the crowd was roped
off and in the square thus formed the First
Regiment of the Maryland National Guard
was stationed, frequently being put
through the manual of arms to warm up
the half-frozen milit amen. The President
street station of the Pennsylvania Railroad
was used by some of the troops for quar-
tiers.
One of the most remarkable freaks of the
fire was the escape of the big government
buildings. The flames wrought destruction
on all sides OF this group OF structures eX-
cept on the north. These buildings are the
City Hall, the United States courthouse,
used as the temporary headquarters of the
building, and by the customs office. In the
poStOfflce building was also contained the
United States marshafs office and the office
OF the collector of internal revenue. All to
the south of this entire group is complete
destruction, but these buildings escaped
without a scratch.
AT THE POSTOFFICE.
At the city postoffice the usual routine
has been resumed. Many men were oc-
cupied in returning the valuable mails
from the substations whence they had been
from the vaults. Firms in the burned dis
trict are served by the various carriers in
charge of that section at new addresses
which are being registered. In this way
nearly all of the mail which accumulated in
the two days of the fire has been delivered
When fire threatened the postoffice every
package was removed and put in the
vaults. Postmaster S. Davies Warfield di-
rected the efforts of federal employees in
saving the building. Every window was
kept wet inside and while a number were
attacked by the heat, none was broken suf-
'ficiently to cause a draft.
For a time it was feared that a food
scarcity with an accompanying advance
in prices would occur, but it is felt this
apprehension has no grounds. Supplies are
INSTRUCTED and merchants now believe they
will be able to meet every demand. Most
of the provision houses in the wholesale
district were burned, but arrangements have
been made to sell food supplies from freight
yards and stations Those merchants unin-
jured are helping those in distress with
the result that no keen shortage of food has
yet been felt. 1t was fortunate that the
fire did not touch the extensive terminals
of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. The man.
agement of that company have arranged to
give quick movement and prompt delivery
of all traffic for Baltimore.
The military grip on the ruins was
frightened and ii will be impossible for
anyone to pass the line of soldiers around
the burned territory unless on pass issued
by Brigadier General Riggs for official
business. So rigdly was the mo pass
order enforced that physician who had
two patients just within the rOpedOn Sec
ton of the eastern side of the fire was
refused a pass, but was accompanied by an
officer to the homes of the sick persons.
CLEARING AWAY THE DEBRIS.
The ruins of the fire territory having
cooled sufficiently to permit the handling OF
debris the work of clearing some portions
of the burned district began to-day. Hun
dreds of laborers engaged by the depart
ment of street cleaning were put to work al
the western end of the ruins clearing the
street. The task before them is difficult
one and the work of removing the great
mass will necessarily be slow Many weeks
will elapse before all the streets within the
fire territory will be open to traffic. Bricks
to the depth of four feet, large marble and
granite blocks, great Orders, bent or broken
and networks of telegraph, telephone and
electric light wires cover the streets. Or
both sides of the thoroughfares in many
places are towering walls that will have &c
come down before any attempt can be made
to clear the streets at these points.
Besides the work of the street cleaners
there was much activity shown in other di-
rections. There were groups anXiously
watching safe experts opening vaults Al
other places bank officials stood near fire
men while the latter poured water on hot
safes to cool them off sufficiently to be
opened. All the experts in the field reported
this evening that with very few exceptions
vaults and safes stood the fire test There
were some scOrched papers and books
found but they were not damaged enough
TO make them worthless. In all cases the
temporary offices of the burned-out firms.
There are still scores or small fires burn.
ing and many great heaps of smolderins
ruins that are sending up clouds of smoke
No effort has been made to extinguish
these. as they can do no further damage
The only places where the fire department
are az work are on the boundary lines OF
the ruins where they are drenching with
water every pile of debris that emit:
flames.
WHISKY STILL BURNING.
In the heart of the desolated area, op
positc the new customs house. which wa:
i'm course of erection, there stood a row Of
wholesale liquor houses. Every one ha:
been leveled TO the ground From their
ruins at whose bottom are hundi eds OF
barrels of alcohol and liquor, great sheet:
of fame shoot up. Muffied reports ensus
as the heated barrels of spirits exploded al
intervals
The Consolidated Gas Company has suf
fered severely from the enormous waste
of gas from broken pipes, and a force wa:
sent out to turn off gas from all pipes thai
had not been damaged. The gas work.
has been pushed TO the limit in the day
and night in order 10 supply the resident
portions of the city.
There has also been a great waste Of
water from broken pipes and men from
the water bureau were engaged in turnine
off the stop cocks on the water mains.
All of the out-of-town fire companies tha
came to Baltimore and rendered such valu
able service in stopping the progress Of
the fire have returned 10 their homes Tn.
last 10 go were the Philadelphians and tn.
New Yorks-
Chief Engineer Horton. of the local de
partment. in speaking of the work OF tn.
visitors, said: The services of the visiting
firemen were greatly appreciated, not only
..,,.sclf hut ALI the citizens Of Ra LII