New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-09
TIE BALTIMORE FIRE.

The Monumental City has just suffered from
m Addiction which has only one or two parallels
in the history Of lhe country. The greater part
OF her business district has been swept by
fire. 4 region measuring three-quarters OF
mile by half a mile Is now 4 scene OF ruin. by
q fortunate change in the direction or the wlnd'
the retail shops and handsome places or resi-
dence were spared, rs were also the City HAM,
Custom House and Postofice. But the banks
principal Office buildings. headquarters OF the
leadin, newspapers. wholesale warehouses.
factories and some OF the big lumber YARDS
have succumbed. From the first outbreak on
Sunday forenoon until late on Monday heroic
but almost hopeless war was waged by the
Baltimore Fire Department Engines and men
from half dozen other cities came to Its as
siStance. but with little effect until good gen.
eralshiD Iorevented the spread Of the flames into
the tenement house district Of East Baltimore.
No estimates Of the damage 10 property can
ret be made which are very accurate, but e1-
merits vcs-c~- feared that Il might reach
S1O0OOGOJ0 ELlch IS half the amount lost at
Chicago in IST1. More conservative figures may
be hoped for when fuller Information is avail
able Even Boston's loss IN lS72-about $780,
O00O00-mav not be exceeded. 1t is only too
evident. however. that the world has witnessed
q calamity Of exceptional magnitude
In some measure, no doubt, the proportions Of
the conharration are due TO the high wind which
prevailed on Sunday and Monday. Maybe the
fact that some Of the fire engines from other
cities were not adapted TO pumping salt water
contributed also TO the result The principal
factor in the situation, however, seems 10 have
been the combustible character Of many or the
buildings in that part Of the city which has suf-
fered. Baltimore is one Of the Oldest places In
- 80
were destroyed antelated the Civil War. These
were far from frepro0f and became an easy
prey to the flames when the latter were car
ricd beyond the spot in which they originated
The few buildings that represented modern
methods Of construction were thus placed at an
immense disadvantage, and il is conceivable
that even some Of them were more vulnerable
than had been supposed When that district
is rebuilt. it is safe to say that marked changes
viii be wrought IA security as well as in out
ward appearances.
Iameutable as is this event from many
points Of view, one may yet find IN certain de-
tails cause for satisfaction. There was no loss
Of life except among the fremcn- The dwell
ings OF rich and poor escaped. On any day but
Sunday the factories which were destroyed
would have been filed with scores, II not hun
dreGs, Of employees. Again, never did nremen
conduct 50 brave a battle. Baltimore never
VIII forget their daring and persistence, futile
as their labors seemed 10 be. The promptness
with which the legislature was convened, 10
offer succor to such as might be made home
less is another beautiful feature Of yesterdays
history.
one must admire, too, the sturdy pluck of the
municipality IN announcing, while yet East
Baltimore was in peril. that it would take care
Of its own wards without financial aid from
outside sources. This assurance, no doubt, was
intended to apply only to those who suffered by
the destruction Of their abodes or through accl-
dent Hundreds, perhaps thousands, Will have
been thrown out Of employment; and relief may
be needed for them before many weeks. For
much Of the financial distress which business
men viii experience as a result Of this weeks
visitation only sympathy can be offered but
IL may be possible TO help the wage earners
who have Just suffered. If Baltimore finds that
burden heavier than she can bear, she has only
10 say the word, and the rest Of the country
viii come 10 the rescue.