The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1904-02-12
SWEPT BY FIRE.
Flock Aftr Block Destroyed in the
CitS Of Baltimore.
THE LOSS Is VERY HEAVY
The Conhagrntion Began in the
Hear. OF the City at
Eleven O'Clock Sunday
Morning.

The most destructive cohflagration
In the history Of Baltimore occurred
Sunday In the wholesale dry goods
business district, raging practically
unchecked for hours, destroying scores
OF the largest business houses in the
wholesale district, involving losses
which, cannot be estimated, as the fire
was still burning flercely when night
fell. Owing to the wide extent of the
calamity it will be some time before
even an approximate estimate can be
made, though it is certain that it has
already exceeded S25, 100000.
The fire broke out shortly before IL
O'clock Sunday morning in the whole
sale dry goods store Of John e. Hurst
y Co., on Hopkins Place, in the heart
Ut tine business district, with a series
Il loud explosions which were heard
in remote parts Of the city, and spread
with fearful rapidity.
In half an hour there were dozen
big warehouses in the wholesale dry
goods and notions district burning
flercely. The entire city fire depart
ment was called out but was utterly
powerless to check the spread of the
tlames,. which were aided by high
winds, and by noon there were savage
fires In at least 80 big warehouses and
the conflagration was steadily eating
its way into successive blocks east,
north, west and south.
On Baltimore street the block be-
tween Liberty and Sharp was soon
ablaze, then came the next block east
to Hanover, and after that the block on
the south side to Charles street broke
out into flames. The Consolidated
Gas company's building and Oehm's
A0me nail burning Eercely.
Meanwhile there were stores north
Of Baltimore street being similarly
consumed. Mullins hotel caught and
other buildings near it. West of Lib.
erty street on the south side of Balti-
more the block was doomed, and the
big Baltimore Bargain House also
caught. Down in Hopkins Place,
where the conflagration started,
Hurst's building and the other whole
sale houses on both sides Of the street
crumbled and fell
Though every bit Of fire fighting
apparatus in the city was called into
reQuiSition as the flames continued to
rived from Washingt ton and four from
Philadelphia. Engines from stations
IN Baltimore, Howard, Anne Arundel
and Hartford counties also joined in
fighting the flames. 1t is roughly es-
timated that there were $50 hose all
playing at one time upon different
parts OF the conflagration. With loud
roars wall after wall toppled into the
streets and tiremen ran for their lives.
All Kinds OF wires had to be cut to
clear the way for the fighters. The
block bounded by German, Liberty,
Sharp and Baltimore streets was early
found to be doomed and the tiremen
turned their attention to saving the
buildings on Baltimore street, east OF
Sharp, but the fire was beyond their
control. Red hot cinderS ignited the
roof OF Front Street theatre at least
half mile from the main cOnfiagra.
tlon, which shows to nat distance
the frey rain fell. The L..-. was ex-
tinguished by the firemen, assisted by
citizens.
At 3 o'clock tremendous explosion
Of about $50 barrels of whiskey stored
In the upper floors of "a Hanover
ooASSo iiullCu COilo VI OuTUlDR maUler
across the street on the roofs OF the
buildings opposite, which the tiremen
were drenching with water in vain
hcpe to make Hanover street the
eastern boundary line of the con-
lagration. Here an engine was buried
by falling wall, the tiremen fleeing
for their lives.
The whole city was notified of the
confiagratiOn 10y q terrific explosion
which occurred some minutes after IL
o'clock. A sharp, splitting roar
went up with reverberating thunder.
This was followed by peculiar
whistling noise, like that made by
shrill wind.
AT three O'Clock Monday morning
the fire was still raging. The post.
office building is burning, also the
SA,000,000 court house. The Holli-
day street theatre has been blown up
with dynamite and the United States
Express offices and central offices of
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad are
burned.
Bicycles and Automobiles.
After some discussion on Wednes-
day the House of REPRESENTATIVES, paSS-