The Oskaloosa herald., 1904-02-11
FIRE IS CHECKED
Baltimore's Awful Confa-
grafton Is at Last Got
ten Under Control.
Danger Of Further Spreading Is
Now Believed to Have
Been Passed.
Burned District Comprises rs Blocks
Nearly $500 Buildings
Destroyed.
The Casualties Are Remarkably Few
Only One Death--Injured Are
Not More Than Fifty.
Figures OF Losses Are Merely Guess
Work Believed to Be More
Than 100000, 900.

N -
Baltimore. Feb. Sit is now positive
that the progress Of the fire was
checked when it reached the Union
docks, which are situated at the juno
ture Of Jones Falls and the harbor.
six fire companies are now WORKING
from that point back over the burned
district in an effort to extinguish the
brisk fires that dot it. The mayor con-
firms the statement that the fire has
been checked. In the burned district
great blazes continue, but they are no
menace, being islands Of fire In a desc
late waste. A few small and quickly
conquered fires were set by flying en-
bers in the district beyond the falls
late in the afternoon. The city is quiet
and splendid order is maintained.
The Burned District.
The burned district is within the ter-
ritory bounded on the west by Liberty
street, on the north by Lexington
street, on the east by Jones Falls and
on the south by the Basin. Within this
district were the big structures on Fay
cite, Gay, Lombard, Charles, Balder-
son, ElIicot, Hollingsworth and Cheap
side streets. Passing southeast along
the Basin the following large docks
were destroyed: McClures', Patter-
sons, Smiths, Frederick, Long and
Union. Small thoroughfares do not ex-
tend as far north as Lexington street
and which were in the path OF the
als - y re ComneFcS s9sTEssserick and
Mil sEeets. 49, -
The district thus swept by the fire
comprised rs blocks and nearly $500
buildings.
1t will be weeks before an accurate
estimate of the losses can be made.
All present estimates fix the sum at
upwards Of $100,D00,O00
Few Casualties.
The fire was most remarkable in
many ways, but more so in the lack OF
casualties. 1t can safely be said that
no great fire in this country can show
a smaller dead or injured list. Up to
tonight only one person was reported
killed and the number treated in the
hospitals will be not more than so.
The dead man was fireman from
York, Pa, who was crushed by a fall
Ing wall. In the city hospital 35 per-
sons were treated during the progress
Of the fire and only one was compelled
TO remain in the Institution and he
was suffering from exposure. The
Maryland general hospital treated
about dnznn Hrnnnap and
Many Big Firms Are Losers.
Included in the burned territory were
number of financial establishments
OF national repute, including the build
ings Of Alexander Brown & Sons. the
Continental Trust company, the Union
Trust company, the Atlantic Trust
company, the offices of the Baltimore
& Ohio, the Pennsylvania Railway
company, the Maryland, Southern &
Chesapeake Railroad company, several
steamship companies and number of
leading hatters, haberdashers. etc.
The main Offices of the Western Union
and Postal Telegraph companies were
deserted long before midnight and the
buildings which they occupied are
practically destroyed.
All the Baltimore newspapers are
burned out and they were issued Mon
day morning from Washington.
What once were large substantial
structures are now mass of smolder-
ing debris, few walls here and there
standing like sentinels over the ruins.
Huge piles of smoldering bricks, tan
gled networks Of electric wires, Few
remnants of walls and here and there
telegraph poles burned and smoIdering
are all that remain to mark the prog
ress Of the confiagration in that sec
ton
Mach Suffering Expected.
II 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 discuss
ing the most ready means of relief. 1t
Is estimated that as many as 10000
persons will be thrown out OF employ
ment, and many of those and their
families will be without resources.
Brig Gen. Rags. commanding the
state national guard. who has charge
Of the street patrol. has issued strict
instructions to guard against any pos
sible looting OF partially destroyed or
abandoned houses. So far there have
been no instances OF looting reported
Calls Extra session Of Legislatures.
Coy. WaTfeld has called an extra
session Of the legislature TO meet Mon
day evening at eight o'clock 10 em-
power him 10 declare the city under
martial law and suspend ali business
Eor ten days Tie action was taken