The Savannah morning news., 1904-02-09

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UP IN SMOKE
Lexington street on the north to Pratt
street on the south, from Liberty street
on the west to Jones Falls on the east.
Insurance companies have opened
temporary offices in the Lexington Ho-
tel, but their representatives decline to
estimate the loss. The answer of one
is typical of all:
Its too big. We have not figures
to describe it. Make it above one hun
bred millions. That's the best we can
DO"
The same indecision was shown in
regard to estimates concerning insur-
ance.
Under 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 tonight that
Gen. Corbin of New York would be
here tomorrow to take command of
the federal troops. The presence of
two regiments of militia as an adjunct
to the police, which were augmented
by details from Philadelphia and
Washington, resulted in the mainte-
nance of the best order.
No one dares to guess what would
have happened if the flames had
jumped Jones Falls. The struggle to-
day has been with the one end of con-
filming the fire to the west side of the
muddy little stream. That this effort
was successful was merely the result
of the fire burning itself out and COM
ing in contact in front with the con-
centrated labors of nearly a 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 lum-
Der piles. Furious hand-to-hand
fights occurred, which fortunately for
the residents of East Baltimore, were
won by the firemen. For several
hours in the lumber district e the east
side, volunteers watched every ember.
Bucket brigades were formed to pre-
vent the destructive leap of the flames
across the narrow stream. Had the fire
gained foothold in the east side lum-
Der yards, it is conceded nothing could
have stopped the onslaught, and the
departments would have been power
less to prevent damage as great, if not
greater, than that of the Chicago fire.
Used Dynamite Constantly.
Dynamite explosions have been con-
slant to-day. The programme adopted
last night of blowing up buildings in
an attempt to stay the progress of the
flames was continued until the fire was
under control. Then the dynamiters
turned their attention to razing totter-
ing walls, which threatened to collapse
The result was almost constant can
nonading, and the decorating was
heard in all parts of the city.
With the fire under control. the
blackened waste which lies in the wake
of the sea of flames presents a view,
terrible in its pyrotechnic grandeur. 1t
can be likened best to oceans of great
coke ovens, each shooting out its thou
sand tongues of flames from pyramids
of brick stone and cement. Where the
fire has died out nothing remains but
waste. from which rise hundreds of
towering, insecure shafts of the same
color. These are all that are left of
what were once handsome office build
ings. storage and wholesale business
houses of all kinds.
Rich Men One Days Poor the Next
The loss will not be accurately esti-
mated for weeks. for business men,
prosperous yesterday morning, are
moor to-day. Expressions heard
among these men as they peer into
their collapsed properties, reveal an
astounding number who were only
noorly protected with insurance
At 1890 o'clock the northern limits
Of the fire had travelled from Fayette
s,raet to Eastern avenue. At this
noint half dozen fire companies were
fobting from the rear, while other
companies were thanking on the Jones
RAILS and Liberty street borders.
Sandwiches and coffee were served
from draws. Many of the men were al
most famished from their long and.
dangerous detail and the hot food was
a God-send.
E,verv bridge over Jones Falls held
SCORE Of frenen, and not infrequently
-. .n.,,vaiiad 10 turn their at