The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1904-02-12
Loss ROUGHLY ESTIMATED At NEARLY $b0,0OQ,0O0

Baltimore, Md.--Smoke ensnrouded.
this stricken city lies stunned and
silent under the weight of the worst
disaster in its history. The great fire
which began shortly before MONDAY on
Sunday burned itself Out at the waters
edge just as evening fell the next day.
having swept, giant all-conquering
wave OF fame, up from the heart of
the business centre Of the city. through
its financial district. and then. reced-
ing. back among the wharves and
warehouses.
A territory twelve full city blocks by
nine, and extending beyond over a mifc
of waterfront, is left in smoking. hid
eous ruins. Where at Saturdays close
of business stood stately office struc
lures, substantial buildings of business.
and docks teeming with the shipping
drade of the world. there are now piles
of broken brick and stone and tottering
walls which the sappers are fast level
ing with dynamite.
The business streets are deserted.
not because it is the days end and the
workers are gone till morning, but be-
cause there can DE no work until the
restored city rises from the ashes.
AS for the !oss-that is all matter
If reckoning now. The authorities
here pns it at S150,00o,000. but such an
estimate take, ITO account only what
can be figured as the dIreet and lnmc,
-diate damage Indirectly the losses
are quite hheaysona computation, and it
sWill take the days necessary to over
haul vaults and deposit chambers in
order to make any accurate apprecia-
ton of the injury done to all interests
affected.
A negvative estimate is from $780,
10 Sroo, 100000. While the fire
at its height there were many ru-
Dhors of loss of life, bn nhese fortu-
nately proved enormously More than
1000 buildings have been destroyed in
the district bounded by Howard. Gay,
Fayette and Pratt streets. Controller
Ridgeley declared a legal holiday for
the banks in order to protect them III
paper coming due
After travelling to the water front
che flames about q O'clock Monday af-
ternoon We're got under control. The
progress OF the fire was stopped at the
AOOl VI OliOH GOCh anu hCPl II ACub-
ing to the Canton side of Jones Falls.
From Pratt street down. on the west
side, the flames destroyed the I. J.
Meyer Packing Company and the Boy
or Fruit and Packing Company plants,
the latter facing West Falls avenue
and running back TO Union dock. The
fire then continued until it reached the
Maryland Ice Company's plant, which
was quickly swept away. This plant
included huge frame building, ad-
joining the Union dock, the depot Of
the American Ice Company. This lat
ter, with large humber yard to the
south, was the last to burn.
The fireboat Cataract did splendid
service in checking the fire. and was
well aided by numerous tugboats AMI
launches. On West Falls avenue two
of the New York engines, backed nj
against the wharf. played on the
American Ice Company's plant TO pre-
vent the fire spreading TO Deumeade':
Malt House. This is one of the larges
of the kind in the country. and wa:
stacked with malt. Had it caught fire
the last barrier would have gone ant
nothing could have saved East Balti
more.
At 40 O'Clock a. III. there was a ter
rible crash in the neighborhood o
Pratt street. near Jones Falls, ant
huge bolts of iron and sheets of meta
were sent flying. 1t was the tremen
dous power house of the United Rail
way Company and United Eiectri
Light and Power Company. In lifteel
minutes the gigantic structure was
mass Of ruins. and the expensive MI
ehinery. recently installed. was Il tota
wreck This was the largest and on
of the most expensive plants for gen
Grating electricity in the country.
All night a guard of men were worG
lng guarding the gas main acres