The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-02-11
BALTIMORE HAS }50,0O0,0OO FIRE
City Suffers Most Disastrous Blaze in the His
tory of the South


citizens.
For a time considerable alarm was
felt at the City Hospital. The Sisters
of Mercy in charge of the institution
were all at their posts. and an effort
was made 20 keep the fa"' Of the con-
few cinders fell on the roof Of the nos
Gagration a secret from the patients A
pital. but were extinguished by the
physicians of the house staff
Eighteen women, two babies and
seven nurses were taken from the
Maternity Hospital, on West Lombard
street. in police ambulances and given
quarters at the city hospital. A woman
who was i'll in bed with typhoid fever
was taken to the city hospital.
CITY TERRIFIED BY EXPLOSION.
At 3 o'clock tremendous explosion
of about $50 barrels CT whiskey stored
in the upper floors of No. "A Hanover
street hurled tons Of burning matter
across the street cnto the roofs OF the
buildings opposite which the firemen
were drenching with water in vain
hone 10 make Hanover street, the east
ern boundary line of the confagration.
Here an engine was buried by falling
wall. the firemen fleeing for their
lives.
The whole city was notified of the
confagration by a terrific explosion.
which occurred some minutes after IL
o'clock. A sharp. splitting roar went
up with revcrberating thunder. This
was followed by peculiar whistling
noise like that made by shgill wind.
Tie churches in the central part OF
the city were filled with worshippeTs,
many CT whom were frightened. and,
While no panics ensued hundreds OF
men and women went outside to see
what had happened. IN few moments
tie streets and pavements all over the
city we're crowded with excited people.
Another deafening crash occurred. and
dense columns of cinders and smoke
Shot up over the crTtral section OF
the city. and in huge brown column
moved rapidly toward the northeast.
Borne on the strong southeast wind
the column of smoke, blazing cinders
and even pieces of tin roofing spread
over the center of the city. and rain
of cinders fell. compelling pedestrians
to dose red hot pieces Of wood.
PEOPLE DODGING FIRE BRANDS.
Two more explosions followed. and
thousands of people hurried to the
scene of the fire. Of all the specta-
tors. comparatively few saw the fire
itself. They could not get within half
block of it. Even the policemen guard
ing the approaches to the fire had to
Shift their positions repeatedly and
dodge falling cinders. Pieces OF tin
hv 3 feet square were lifted into the
air by the terrific heat, sailed upward
like paper kites, and when the!
reached a point beyond the scene OF
the most intense heat. fell ciatterins
to the streets.
RAGING WITH UNABATED FURY.
500 D. m.-The fire is still raging
with unabated fury. The fire depart
mcnt is helpless with the flames stead
liz travelling eastward on Baltimore
and Fayette streets. The Union Trust
building has fallen in. The Carrollton
Hotel is on fire. The Herald building
is apparently doomed. and the occu-
pants have moved out. The Sun IS
preparing to move. Clouds Of burning
cinders cover the whole city.
FIRE NEAR COURT HOUSE.
1920 D. m.-The fire sweeping east
on Fayetteville street is within a short
distance of the court house. which oc-
cupies the block bounded by Fayette,
Lexington and Calvert streets. Oppo-
Site is the postofrice adjoining this
is the temporary custom house and
opposite to this is the city hall. The
Calvert office building at Fayette and
st. Paul street, is afire. and the Equit-
able building, which adjoins 1t, is now
threatened. The main office Of the
Western Union Telegraph Company is
located in the Equitable building. and
the force is leaving for branch Of
flee. A number of buildings are being
dyaamited in an effort to stop the
fire.
11:45-The fire is still eating its way
eastward on Baltimore street and On
South and German streets, including
the financial district. Mayor McLaAe,
who has been on the scene all day and
night. says it is utterly impossible to
make an estimate Of loss. The fire
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