The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-09
NOT A LIFE LOST.
Only One Person Seriously Injured in
the Big Fire.

Baltimore, Feb. 9.-With the great fire
which ate up property variously esti-
mated at from 25 millions to $50 millions
of dollars slowly burning itself out,
Baltimore awolze this morning to face
the grave question of civic and mu-
nicipal REIMBURSEMENT. Confronting the
mayor and his associates of the city
government are the problems of aid,
the acceptance or refusal of generous
DrOfferS of assistance from every section
of the country, policing of the vast
burned district where lies buried untold
treasure in warped vaults and safes and
all the hundred minor things that follow
a calamity SO stupendous that it is even
yet hardly fully realized.
With admirable promptness all the
important phases of the situation have
been provided for. To relieve banks and
citizens from the embarrassment of
financial transactions the next seven
days have been declared legal holidays
in the commonwealth of Maryland
Three regiments of state militia in
fantry are on duty and Troop A of the
state guard has also been called into
service So thoroughly is the policing
of the city, that the big force of federal
troops yesterday ordered here to assist
the national guard, was not needed and
after a conference with Brigadier Cen
eral Riggs, Major General Corbin has
returned to New York and it is not
probable that single federal soldier
viii be retained in Baltimore. The city
IS OIQ6Ely. Inc hours OF the early morn
ing which vandals and looters usually
seize for their work, passed without
event. But one man is under arrest for
OHense directly connected with the fire
Probably never before has there been
q nre of such magnitude absolutely
without loss of life and so remarkab bly,
free from accidents. The only person
seriously injured was Jacob Inglefritz,
volunteer fireman of York, Pa. He
was unconscious when taken to the hos
pitaL A report arose that he was dead
He soon revived, however, and was re-
ported this morning to be suffering only
from broken leg and minor injuries.
"A careful round of the hospitals reveals
the fact that by far the greater part of
the entries in the books are simply for
foreign body in the eye" In this re-
epect as in many others, the great blaze
that had the city in it's grasp for 27
hours is unique. History affords no
parallel to a calamity so intense and so
fortunately free from loss of life or
limb.
Bright and early, in spite of the fact of
his long tour of duty, Mayor McI4ane was
at AIS Office this morning holding confer
ences with the other city and state Off
Gals, and Gov. WarheId was also ON
hand.
Today dawned cold and clear and lack
ing wind There was a decided fall in
temperature during the night and by
early morning the full cutters of the fire
olsrlct ana the hooded streets were turn
60 TO ice. Inc cold, however, is not in
tense enough to cause suffering among
the police, soldiers and firemen on duty.
The absence of wind is a God-send for
thousands of feet of tottering walls would
surely tumble in a strong breeze and add
greatly TO the peril of the men whose
duty calls them in the danger zone.
Baltimore is not under martial law.
General Riggs terms the condition mill
tary control" but in no way have the
civil authorities been superseded Military
and civil authority are working together
One-half of the local fire companies were
ordered to their quarters at / o'clock this
morning, the newly arrived volunteer
visitors remaining to assist the weary 10
cal men. With the exception of a few
buildings, 140 acres of valuable city prop
erty is devastated. During the early
morning hours several small fires start
ed among the ruins of the burned build
tngs; Only debris, however, was left to
be DESTROYED.