The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1904-02-11
THE BALTIMORE FIRE.
One of the Most Terrible in History.
Over 5000, 600, 600 Loss.

DhlbluuU1es Mu., TeD. O.-All uhy
Sunday with raging fury and all night
the flames have been spreading from
the fire which caught in the wholesale
dry goods house of John A. Hurst &
Company about IL O'Clock on that
morning. At O'Clock this morn
ing the flames were still beyond con-
troll with the wind blowing a gale.
Practically all the wholesale and
large part of the retail district has
been swept making forty blocks in oil
stretching over mile in one direc-
ton.
The fire department although aided
by engines from Washington, Phila-
dphia, Wilmington and the surround.
ing counties and the suburbs has been
utterly powerless to make any impress
sion on the all devouring element, al.
though for hours over 40 streams of
water were thrown into the flames
So terrific has been the heat ever
since the fire started and so dense and
suffocating the volume of smoke, fly
ing sparks and burning cindeIs that it
was difficult for the hremen to stand
long within lighting distance of the
flames, while several trucks and en-
gines were hopelessly disabled by fly
ing timbers at an early hour in the
action.
At 2 O'Clock Sunday evening the
situation was so hopeless so far as
effective work by the fremen was con-
cerned, that Chief Horton decided
that the only thing left to do was to
dynamite buildings at threatened
points and thus prevent as far as pos
sible further spread of the flames.
In pursuance of this plan number
of buildings on South Charles street
we're blown up. Subsequently the
splendid structure of j. w. Puts q
Co., notion dealers at Charles and
Fayette streets, the Daily Record
building, Keys drug store and other
buildings were dynamited. But this
heroic remedy merely delayed and did
not seriously impede the onward
march of the confagration.
The fire broke out shortly before / 1
O'Clock yesterday morning in the
wholesale dry goods store of John E.
Hurst 81 Co., Oh Hopkins Place, III the
heart of the business district with a
series of loud explosions, which were
| heard in all parts of the city. 1t
spread with fearful rapidity.
Baltimore, Feb S.-The storm of
| fire covers everything south of Fayette
street to Light, thence north to Lex
ington, thence to Liberty thence south
to Hopkins Place. thence south to
Pratt street, thence east to Bowley s
wharf and Pratt street, thence in di-
rect line to point on west Falls
avenue five hundred feet north OF
Block street. At II O'Clock the burned
area included 140 acres. 1t is believed
that the great couftsgration will eau le
a loss of 1925, 600, 900 to buildings
alone, which added to contents make s
| the lowest present estimate of under.
writers and firemen $3.50, 600, 900. With
regular and States troops everywhere
about the devastated district, business
paralyzed aud awe stricken townspeo'
pie thronging the streets, Baltimore il
! literally stricken city. All electric
power has been destroyed, no street
cars are running
The fire apparently was under con
troll at noon. The plackened remains
of Jacob lglenfrtiz of York, Pa, 6
fireman, were found in the equitable
building this morning, where ne
rushed to get a line OF hose to "a roo
early yesterday morning. Hundreds Of
firemen have succumbed to the ter
rible work and the hospital emergency
wards are being filled. Their places
in many intances have been taken by
citizens. President Hood of the Balti
more street railway has been missing
since last night. 1t is feared he may
have lost his life. The Evening WorlC
is the only paper in the city that il
being published today. Its buildings
escaped the flames. Thousands sur
round the office in Calvert stree
awaiting etxras. The mayor has called
a meeting of leading citizens to dis
cuss ways and means. Offers of ait
have been received from mayors o.
Louisville and Philadelphia and o.
coincidence from Mayor Mcclellan OF
! New York
Baltimore, Feb. SIS 40 p. IN. Water
front is seething furnace, great
mills, steam ships, wharves. ware.
houses offering a mighty feast for q
banquet of flames Fire is under con.
troll only in sense that unless the
wind changes the flames cannot cross
the falls, the river bounding on the
northeast of the business section and
it's confines. A dozen arrests have
been made for looting, Martial law
formally declared at noon. suppressed
ing police regulations Every saloon