The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-02-10
THE STORY TOLD.

Baltimore, Feb. S.-Baltimo,e is
staggering tonight under the FIRE loss
which no one has the temerity to put
in figures.
The important commercial district is
blackened ruins, laid bare by a con-
hagration which ragged without q
momentary check from 10:45 a. m.
yesterday until late in the afternoon
today. At 8 o'clock the flames were
under control. They had ragged twenty
eight hours, in spite Of almost super
human efforts put forth by the fire
fighting forces which more than half a
dozen cities we're able to muster. The
residence section of the city escaped.
This phase of the situation relieved
the officials from any thought other
than saving property.
The flames were held in check at the
Union docks and prevented from leap
ing jones' Falls, and placing the
entire city east Of there in jeopardy.
A score of times flames were found
tapping the sides of lumber piles on
the east bank of the falls. Heroic
measures stayed the onsweep of fire.
Throughout the terrible contest in
which fremen and fire waged for su-
premacy. humanity was handicapped
by gale which carried burnibg
brands far over the heads of the work
ers and beyond the reach of the hun
dreds Of streams of water poured into
the raging furnaces. But for the work
of volunteers in seeking out and extin-
guishing these embers, it is almost
certain the burned area would have
been twice larger than it is. About
seventy five squares or 40 acres are in
ashes, extending from Lexington
street on the north, to Pratt street
ON the south from Liberty street on
the west to Jones' Falls on the east.
INSURANCE MEN PUZZLED.
Insurance companies have opened
temporary Offices in the Lexington
hotel, but their representatives de-
cline to estimate the loss. The an
swer of one is typical of all: Its too
big. We have not figures to describe
it. Make it above one hundred mil
lion. That's the best we can do.''
The same indecision was shown in
regard to estimates concerning in
surance.
MARTIAL LAW.
The city was early placed under
martial law and thus all danger of
looting in the doomed district was
eliminated. Word was received to-
night that Gen. Corbin of New York
would be here tomorrow to take COM
mand of the federal troops. The pres
ence of two regiments of militia as an
adjunct to the police, which were aug
nsented by details from Philadelphia
and Washington, resulted in the main
Genance of the best of order.
FIGHT TO STOP THE
H. FLAMES.
SEsSsNo one dares to guess what would
SsAye happened if the flames had Jump
ssh3' Jones Falls. The struggle today
.fas been with the one end Of confin-
llAg the fire to the west side of the
muddy little stream. That this effort
"ps successful is merely the result of
tbs fire burning itself out and coming
in contact in front with the concen-
tfate3 labor Of nearly hundred fire
companies, aided by the powerful fire
tug, the Cataract. Again and again
the terrible heat, driven from the
burning district across Jones Falls,
ignited buildings and lumber piles.
Furious hand to hand fights occurred,
which fortunately for the residents
of East Baltimore, were won by the
iremen. For several hourssin the
:lu1nber district Of the East SIDE, vol
ffteers watched every ember. Bucket
brigades were formed to prevent the
destructive leap of the flames across
the narrow stream. Had the fire
gained a foothold in the East Side