The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-02-10
SWEPT BY FIRE.
Flock After Block Destroyed in the
City Of Baltimore.
TIE LOSS IS VERY HEAVY
The Confagration Began in the
Heart of the City at
Eleven O'Clock Sunday
Morning.

The most destructive coLfagratlor
in the history of Baltimore occurred
Sunday in the wholesale dry goods
business district, raging practically
unchecked for hours, destroying scores
Of the largest business houses IN the
wholesale district, involving losses
which cannot be estimated, as the hre
was still burning fercely when night
fell. Owing to the wide extent OF the
calamity it will be some time before
even an approximate estimate can be
made, though it is certain that it has
already exceeded s25, 100000.
The FIRE broke out shortly before II
O'Clock Sunday morning in the whole
sale Cry goods store Of John E. Hurst
Il Co., on Hopkins Place, in the heart
Of the business district, with a series
1t loud explosions which were heard
10 remote parts Of the city, and spread
with fearful rapidity.
In half an hour there were dozen
big warehouses in the wholesale Cry
goods and notions district burning
fiercely. The entire city fire depart
ment was called out but was utterly
powerleSS to check the spread of the
flames, which were aided by high
winds, and by moor there were savage
fires in at least 81 big warehouses and
the contlagraticn was steadily eating
its way into successive blocks east,
north, west and south.
On Baltimore street the block be-
tween Liberty and Sharp was soon
ablaze, then came the next block east
to Hanover, and after that the block on
the south side to Charles street broke
out into flames. The Consolidated
Gas company's building and Oehm's
Acme hall burning 6ercely.
Meanwhile there were stores north
Of baltimore street being similarly
consumed. Mullins hotel caught and
other buildings near it. West of Lib
erty street on the south side of Balti-
more the block was doomed, and the
big Baltimore Bargain House also
caught. Down in Hopkins Place,
where the confagration started,
Hurst's building and the other whole
sale houses on both sides Of the street
crumbled and fell.
Though every bit Of FIRE fighting
apparatus in the city was called into
,equiSition as the flames continued to
spread at 10 O'Clock six engines ar
rived from Washington and four from
Philadelphia. Engines from stations
in Baltimore, Howard, Anne Arundel
and Hartford counties also joined in
fighting the flames. 1t is roughly eS-
timated that there were $50 hose all
playing at one time upon different
parts of the confagration. With loud
roars wall after wall toppled into the
streets and fremen ran for their lives.
All kinds OF wires had to be cut tC
clear the way for the fighters. The
block bounded by German, Liberty,
Sharp and Baltimore streets was early
found to be doomed and the fremen
turned their attention to saving the
buildings on Baltimore street, east OF
Sharp, but the fire was beyond their
control. Red hot cindeFs ignited the
roof Of Front Street theatre at least
half a mile from the main confagra-
tion, which shows to what distance
the frey rain fell. The blaze was ex-
tinguished by the fremen, assisted by
citizens.
At 8 o'clock a tremendous explosion
OF about $50 barrels Of whiskey stored
10 the upper floors Of "a Hanover
street hurled tons Of burning matter
across the street on the roofs Of the
buildings opposite, which the hremen
were drenching with water in a vain
hope to make Hanover street the
eastern boundary line Of the con-
fagration. Here an engine was buried
by a falling wall, the fremen fleeing
for their lives.
The whole city was notified Of the
conhagration by terrific explosion
which occurred some minutes after II
O'Clock. A sharp, splitting roal
went up with reverberating thunder.
This was followed by peculiar
whistling noise, like that made by a
shriu wind.
At three O'Clock Monday morning
the fire was still raging. The post.
Office building is burning, also the
$4,000, 700 court house. The Holli
day street theatre has been blown ~
with dynamite and the United State:
Express offices and central offices O.
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad art
burned.
Bicycles and automobiles.
After some discussion on Wednes
day the House Of Representatives pass