Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1904-02-11
5ALTlMoRE's GREAT FIRE.
Business District Destroyed, Causing
Loss Of 100000.

Sunday and Monday, a great fire ragged
in the heart of the business section OF
the city OF Baltimore, Md. Despite all
that could be done to stay its progress,
il swept on until il practically burned
itself out, having destroyed about 1000
buildings, almost all Of them the more
important business structures OF the city
Fully 80 acres are covered with the ruins
of fine hotels, stores, office buildings, etc.
The loss can only be estimated now, but
it is put in the vicinity Of SIPS, ,000, 600
In value Of property destroyed and ter
ritory covered, il Is second only to the
great Chicago fire OF 1871, whose loss
was Sl5S ,000,00 The Baltimore property
was generally well insured. All the
leading companies lose heavily, but it
is thought none will be unable to meet
their losses in full.
The fire broke out about II O'Clock
Sunday forenoon in the John +. Hurst
dry goods store, occupying a corner on
Liberty and German streets. Its origin
is unknown, but supposed to be from
Illuminating gas. The automatic alarm
had hardly sounded when there was
heavy explosion inside and great column
OF fire, smoke, brands and cinders arose
10 a great height. This was quickly
followed by other explosions. A strong
I LOuthwest Wind was blowing at the time,
aud Ii was but few minutes before the
fire, gathering headway, leaped from
building to building and from street to
street. The fire department did its best,
but its efforts were scarcely noticeable.
Thousands of people gathered to wit
ness the spectacle, but were not allowed
to approach the danger line. The heat
was intense, and the gale carried large
masses OF flaming material TO great dis
tances, which, in many cases, spread the
fire. II was unsafe for police or firemen
to walk the street, amid the falling torrent
OF brands and the network of live electric
wires that came tumbllng down. To pre-
serve order and prevent looting, two
regiments OF militia were called out to
assist the police, and later 1000 U. S. regu-
lars were sent over from Washington.
The fire swept up to the court house,
postoffice and city hall buildings which,
being great piles of granite, helped to
stay its movement in that direction. The
wind now shifted to the northwest and
the flames spread back toward the har-
Dor, finally reaching ii and destroying
everything as far as the stream known as
Jones falls. Great sky-scrapers, supposed
to be thoroughly ire-proof, went down
like tinder under the intense heat.
Help was summoned from other cities
as soon as the extent of the catastrophy |
was understood. Two engines were rushed |
over from Washington, AZ miles, in 45
Some even went from New |
York and helped materially at the last |
Over 20 engines were at work at one
time.
So far as known, there was no loss OF |
life. The president and governors of |
many states sent messages of sympathy |
and tenders OF help. In Congress a bill |
appropriating million dollars for aid |
was introduced.
Fortunately, but few families were /
homeless, as the fire was con-
fined to the business section. II is esti-
mated that $1,000 persons were thrown
out of employment.
The work OF rebuilding will begin at |
once. Many of the structures burned /
we're old in type and the new Baltimore
will doubtless be a great improvement,
from what is now great