Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1904-02-10

the tottering walls which threatened
TO collapse. The result was almost a
constant cannonading and the detona-
tions were heard in all parts of the
city.
AS the day wore on, the forefront of
the fire neared Jones Falls, a small
stream which trends north and south
and divides Baltimore from that por-
ton of the city known as East Balti-
more. This little stream was the last
stand. II the con~flagration leaped 1t,
If by the flying embers of a rush OF
flame. the fire could cross and gain
a foothold its extent could not be fore
told.
Tremendous efforts were made to
block II. Dynamite was used freely.
Fire apparatus was centered and all
the skill of the fire fighters called into
play to defeat the element that had
eaten up millions of dollars worth OF
property. And human skill and pluck
and grit and unfaltering courage won.
The fire was checked. But behind II
lay a great Quilted waste Of more than
l4O acres in extent.
At 49, 20 o'clock the northern limits
of the fire had travelled from Fayette
street TO Easton avenue. At that
point half a dozen fire companies were
fighting from the rear, while the 9th
er companies were thanking on the
| Jones Falls and Liberty street Dor
ders.
Sandwiches and hot coffee were
served from drays. Many Of the mel
were almost famished from their long
and dangerous work, and food was
therefore. a god-send.
The burned is a scene CT complete
devastation. Numberless buildings
that we're the pride of Baltimore, cost
ly and stately, and occupied for di
verse purposes, were Quilted I'M on
ly the smouldering debris or walls o
remnants of the walls remain to mari
their sites. The Baltimore American
building. one of the finest, is now bu
smoulderlng debris. save for rem
nants of the front and side walls
Across South street. where stood thu
Baltimore Sun building only the Pill
lars that marked the front remain
Entire blocks just below there ar
wiped out, without, in some cases,
wall left standing. From Fayett'
street down Holiday street as far a.
German street, there Is no building
left save the Corn and Flour eN
change at the corner of German
street. That building. whose wall
tower above the crumbling debris o
what were adjoining structures. wa
Quilted and the standing walls forme'
a cauldron OF flames which burst a
times through the windows, but coul,
cause no further damage. In numel
Gus other wrecked buildings tn
flames played about the debris an
threatened to weaken the founda
tions of the few walls that were lefl
Like a grim tower in the ruin
stands the ~ffteen-story Continents
Trust company's building. The wall
of the Baltimore & Ohio building ar
also standing, but the Pennsylvani
railway building, directly across Ca
vert street. Is razed. Only the wall
remain of the once stately Equitabl
building. Only remnants OF n wa
are left of what was once the N;
tional hotel at Holiday and Fayett
streets. No buildings are left as ia
as the eye can see down Baltimor
street, from this point. All alon
south Gay street there is the sam
picture of complete destruction.
broken sign and a tottering front wa
show where the Maryland w. c.
U. building once stood.
Adjoining this was the building o
cupied by the Iron Ship company, an
by the British consulate. whose Duil
ing is a complete loss. The buildin
used by the German consulate, on tn
: square. is also in ruins.
@ The costly United States custom
house, In the course of constructio
: and occupying the triangular blot
between Lombard and water stree
|. and Exchange Place, is said to
g ruined. The marble blocks are bad
4 damaged. the ~cornices IN the nor
r side are destroyed and the marble
4 cracked in a number of places. III
@ only other federal building damage
;. was the United States storehouse N
i ], diagonally opposite. Here the
terror sustained serious damage D,
the outer walls are intact, tne IN
building in that section who's OUT
n structure was preserved. Westwal
e along Pratt street Is only debris FRO
e which flames leap and play.
Col. ]. Frank supple, a competel
O authority an Factory statistics, esI