Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-02-08
WORST FIRE IN
HISTORY OF AMERICA
More Than $2OO,OOO,OOO Worth Of Damage
Already Done in City Of Baltimore
WHOLE BUSINESS PORTION ENDANGERED
WHOLE BUSINESS PORTION ENDANG
Fremen and Apparatus Rushed From Great Cities poWeress
Cope With DeYouring Flames Scene Reyond Description


great volumes and rolls away over the
rest Of the city. From Lombard
street looking westward is scene of
utter destruction. Where were once
large substantial structures is now
a mass of smouldering ruins. Fire
men are dynamiting buildings In the
burned area and intonations Of eg-
ploslons and the shrill whistles of fire
engines add to indescrible horror of
the scene. The fire is sweeping along
the harbor and river men are taking
the vessels out Of the stream.
Thirty-five Injured, one Dead
Al lis d. tnl, the fire Is still sweep
ing along with unabated fury 1T is
now raging in the harbor section and
bids fair To roll up a property loss far
in excess of all previous estimates. A
fierce northerly wind adds to the ter-
rife odds against the fire fighters.
Loss estimates vary, ranging between
two hundred ana three hundred mil
lions. With fierce wind blowing
nothing could stem the tide of flames
till all the property of that section was
burned to the waters edge. Governor
Warfield telegraphed to the secretary
Of the navy Immediately TO dispatch
dynamite experts to work in the gut
ted buildings where the walls are tot
ltering and threaten To endanger life
at any moment. The city government
is entirely suspended and the city Is
under complete military control. VI
to this hour but one fatality is report
ed. Thirty-five are injured.
Fireman Killed.
The burned district is two miles
square. 1t Is the common remark o.
citizens that Baltimore has received
blow from which she cannot recover
| in years. Twenty thousand persons
are without work and it is anticipat
ed much suffering and desolation vii
follow. The governor has called an
extra session of the legislature fol
this evening to empower him to de
clare the city under martial law an,
suspend business for ten days. The
blackened remains Of Fireman lgin
fritz were found in the gutted Equit-
able building. At 10. 80 deput,
marshall announced the fire practical
Inv under control. Jones Falls having
checked 1t.
Roosevelt to Rescue.
WASHINGTON, d. G., Feb. 81
President Roosevelt has come 20 th'
assistance Of Baltimore. He has ord
cred the United States engineers Z
| 60 to Baltimore to assist In checkini
the spread OF flames. The engineers
! 100 strong, were drawn from Wash
lington barracks.
Fire Controlled.
BALTIMORE, Md, Feb. Isl, t2:4l
lp. m.-The progress OF the fire hal
now been checked
Beg nnins Of the Fire.
The fire broke ont shortly before
IN o'clock yesterday morning 10 tn
wholesale dry goods store OF John =
Hurst & Gu. and Hopkins place, II
the heart Of the business district, Will
series Of loud explosions which wer'
heard in remote parts Of the city.
Tho fire spread with fearful rap
idity.
In half hour dozen big ware
houses were burning fiercely tn
entire city fire department was call
ed out, but was utterly powerless .
check the spread Of the flames, which
was aided by high winds, and by moor
there we're savage fires In az leas
thirty big warehouses, and the famei
were steadily eating their way int
successive blocks east, north. wes
and SOUTH