The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-08
80 INJURED.
But One Firsma Has Been Reported
Killed.

Baltimore, Feb. Sat 1:15 p. M,
sweeping along with unabated fury, the
greatest conf1agration in the history
of Baltimore was raging in the harbor
section, and bids fair to roll up prop
erty loss far in excess of all previous
estimates.
A northerly wind was blowing, add
ing to the terrific odds which the army
of fire fighters were combating with
the great fire still running unchecked
The estimates vary. ranging as hlgh
as 5000 OOO. 600 to $500 600, 000. With the
fierce wind blowing, nothing could stem
the tide of the flames till all the prop
erty in this section was burned to the
waters edge. From the myr1adS OIL
lumber yards on the western SIDE OIL
Jones Falls the little muddy stream
that flows through the business sec
ton of the city. the flames leaped over
to the other side of the stream and
were rapidly eating into the mass OF
oyster and fruit packing establishments
and these We're rapidly crumbling into
ruin. One fireman was killed. and the
Changing of the hospital ambulances
bore evidence of the minor casualties
up to this hour approximattng 30 per-
sons injured including one fireman.
The city government has been entire
ly suspended and the city is under com
plete military control. The city officials
are adopting the most heroic measures
to check the flames. and Governor War
field has telegraDhed to the secretary
of the navy a request to Immediately
dispatch dynamite expert to work
on burned buildings where bare walls
are lettering at every shift of the wind
and threaten to endanger life by fall
ing at any moment.
In the business district the fire had
well nigh spent itself. The residence
section of the city had not been affect
ed, and the fire fighters were hopeful
that tho flames would not shift in that
direction. Buildings without number,
some of them tall and stately and
erected at immense cost. are now
block of the down town section for a
vast area are now mass of brick and
stone piles with an occasional standing
wall.
STATE AID INVOKED.
These crumbling ruins of commercial
prestige include the Law and Equitable
buildings, the Continental Trust COM
pany, the Baltimore & Ohio Central
building, the International Merchant
Exchange and scores of institutions
numbered among the greatest enter
prises of the stricken city. The awful
blow to the business interests has fair
ly paralyzed the city and scores of
thousands of citizens spent the most
of the day outside the firm military
Gordon drawn around the fire arena.
The fall of tottering and dNnamited
walls, the shlill calls of engines for
coal, the changing of the gongs of fire
engines and ambulances, the hiss of es-
Gaping steam and the dull red glow
that lowered over the old part of the
city, marks the scene of the height of
the flames and adds to the awe-inspir-
ing situation.
The authorities have already taken
steps to meet the emergency and a
special meeting of the Maryland legis-
lature was called for tonight when re-
lief legislation will be enacted. The
measure is not drafted but it is I'M
derstood that the legislature will APP
propriate $25,O00,O 900 for relief if that
amount is deemed necessary. The eff
feet of the immense loss on the insur-
ance companies is a matter of specula-
ton and fears are expressed that some
of the smaller enterprises may be
forced to the wall.
AT 1:15 it appeared the fire would be
confined to the west side of Jones
Falls. The Cataract, fire tug at the
foot of Union docks, checked the fire
at that point. It is believed the fire
can now be controlled.