Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1904-02-12
AWFUL LOSS BY FIRE
Great Business Blocks in Baltimore
Licked Up by Flames.
For % Hours the Devouring Ele-
meuts Defied All Efforts of Fire
men-Loss Estimated at
Over $1OO, 1000, 900.

Baltimore, Nd, Feb. 9.-Baltimore is
staggering under fire loss which no one
has the temerity to put in figures.
The important commercial district is
l.lackened ruins, laid bare by a con-
flagration which ragged without mo-
mentary check from 10:45 a. m. Sun
day until late in the afternoon yester-
day. At three o'clock yesterday aft
ernoon the city officials again
breathed. It was agreed the flames
were under control. They had ragged
% hours in spite of almost superhu-
man efforts put forth by the best fight
ing forces which more than half a
dozen cities were able to muster. The
city is overcast with gloom. Apparent
ly there is but one cause for gladness
and that is that there are no home
less. The residence section of the city
escaped.
Throughout that terrible contest in
which firemen and fire waged for SUI,
premacy, humanity was handicapped
by gale which carried burning
brands over the heads of the workers
and beyond the reach of hundreds of
streams Of water poured into the rag
ing furnaces. But for the work of
volunteers in seeking out and extin-
gushing these embers it is almost
certain the burned area would have
been twice larger than it is. About 70
squares or 140 acres are in ashes, ex-
tending from Lexington street on the
north to Pratt street on the south:
from Liberty street on the west to
Jones' falls on the east
Mon, oCfr ,frr1,f toll ol ~.
were appalling ana almost incompre-
hensible in their vastness. An ex-
pert. the city building inspector, esti-
mates the loss in buildings alone at
$150,000,000. On the other hand, it is
said that insurance estimates do not
place the total loss at a greater figure.
Not a single life has been lost and
not human being has been even dam
gerously injured. The hospital lists
consist of minor burns, with the excep-
ton of Jacob IlginfritZ, fireman from
York, Pa He has a fractured leg and
is badly burned.
There has been no disorder and, to
the credit Of the city of Baltimore, 1t
should be said there has been no loot
ing or attempt at lOoting. Baltimore
last night was as orderly as a village,
and only the throb of the laboring fire
engines and the reverberating boom of
dynamite, as it brings dangerous walls
to the ground, disturb it's wonted quiet.
Men who have lost all, who were mer-
chant princes Sunday and practically
beggared now, view their great losses
with a calm that Is either the apathy
of daZed senses or quiet resignation
to the inevitable. This constitutes the
most remarkable phase of the measure
less calamity that has befallen the
monumental city.
1t is anticipated that there may be
much suffering and restitution follow
ing upon the heels of the destructive
visitation and Mayor McLane and other
city officials are already discussing re-
lief measures. 1t is estimated that as
many as 10000 persons will be thrown
out of employment and many of those
and their families will be without re-
sources.
Gov. Warf1eld called an extra ses-
sion of the legislature to empower him
to declare the city under martial law
and suspend all business for ten days.
Gov. Warfeld declared the day
legal holiday. 1t is expected
this will be extended for several
days, or until such time as the chaotic
conditions in the business and financial
districts can be Strengthened out This
proclamation closes all banks and other
financial institutions and deferS thu
payment of commercial paper This
action of Gov. Warfield suSpends the
operation of various business contracts
and greatly relieves the complex con-
ditions which confront the business
and financial interests.
the common remark of citizens is
that Baltimore has received a blow
from which it cannot recover for years.
Mayor McLane is among those who are
optimistic and while expressing his
sorrow over the calamity expressed the
hopeful conviction that this city will
quickly rise like a Phoenix from it's
ashes.
Roosevelt Aids In Relief.
Washington, Feb. 9.-President
Roosevelt has come to the assistance
OF the city of Baltimore. Upon the
appeal of the local authorities he or
dered the United States engineers to
that city to assist in checking the
spread of the flames there. They car
ried with them 1000 pounds of gun
cotton with fuses and electrical de-
tonators. At Baltimore they met
another store of ammunition compris-
ing 5000 pounds of gun cotton from the
advance supply at Dover, Del.
Thought 1t Fire Proof"
Webster. City, Ia, Feb. 9.-George H.
Reinecker, the Webster City MILL IN
aire, lost s25O,O00 in the Baltim ore
Ere. He owned the steel structure 1ext
to the Hurst building in which the fire
started He carried but $4,000 in
surance.