New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-10

oan be regarded as o1fctal are obtainaole. A
careful canvass Of insurance experts. builders
end business men places the loss In round figures
at s125.OO0oOo. and the insurance at from $780,
100000 TO S9ocooooo It is probable that these
estimates VIII stand with slight change when
the final figures are written. Much valuable
property that lay IN yesterdays fire path was
saved by the prompt efforts OF merchants and
In that section the stock losses Will be lighter
than elsewhere
BLOW ARoUsEs CIVIC PRIDE
N declining eid prorered. the city officials
have taken pains 90 define their position. The
blow that has befallen Baltimore has aroused
an intense civic pride in an effort to fight out
fits own salvation. but Mayor MeLane ex-
pressed Il, the city viii not hesitate three
minutes 20 ask assistance If 81 becomes neces-
cary"
To-day gave opportunity for a careful invesc-
cation as 10 the cause Of the original fire IN the
Hurst building. IL was first reported that the
blaze started from the explosion OF a gasolene
engine IN the cellar, but this Is tonight denied
emphaticaliy.
Henry s. Burst. OF the frn Of John z. Hurst
& Co. said that there was no gasolene in the
building, and that the FIRE ala not have its origin
in an explosion OF this liquid IN the Hurst build
ing. This statement was subsequently, corrobo-
q
Hopper & Sons. insurance agents and brokers.
who said that, after careful inspections by depu-
ties OF their firm and OF the Fire Underwriters
Association. they were satisfied that there was
no gasolene IN the building.
Mr. Hurst said that he and Charles George. a
trusted employee. were the last persons 20 leave
the building at $50 O'Clock p m. Saturday. and
that all the electric lights were turned of by
switch. II is not denied that the fire originated
In the Hurst building. but how It started Is yet
TO be learned.
CROWDS SURROUND FIRE DISTRICT.
Outside the fire area this afternoon and to-
night the streets were filed with tremping thou
sands Multitudes OF people. residents as well
as the out OF town folk who hocking TO the
city on every train. spent the early hours Of the
night in the section Just back from the fire lines
gazing at the wrecked buildings. Solid lines Of
spectators stretched almost the whole length Of
the borders OF the are-swept district. and back
from them for many blocks surged such crowds
Baltimore has seldom seen. Along Charles
ST. back from the postofflce. traffic during the
day frequently became badly congested. and
that thoroughfare. which has 10 handle the
travel that ordinarily Is distributed among half
a dozen streets now impossible as busy a
street as Broadway. New-York. in the height OF
the business hours.
But Il was an orderly crowd. ana gave no
trouble to police soldiers. At TIE banks ad-
,ecent TO the FIRE section guards were stationed
in the broad plaza between the courthouse and
the city postofnce the crowd was roped OF. and
in the square thus formed the LIST Regiment OF
the Maryland National Guard was stationed.
frequently being put through the manual OF
arms 20 warm up the half frozen militiamen.
The President-st. station OF the Pennsylvania
Railroad was used by some OF the troops as
headquarters This building. which stands near
where the FIRE Epent itself. is said TO be the old
est passenger station in the country.
One OF the most remarkable freaks OF the fire
was the escape OF the big government buildings.
The flames wrought destruction on all sides OF
this group OF structures. except on the north.
These buildings are the City Hail. the United
States Courthouse. used as the temporary head
quarters Of the sub-Treasury. pending the cree
ton OF the new building. and by the customs
Office. the postoface. which also contained the
United States Marshsrs Office. and the Office o;
the Collector OF Internal Revenue. All south OF
this group is complete destruction. but these
buildings escaped without a scratch.
GUN COTTON N THE sUB-TREAsURY.
During the FIRE great quantity OF gun cotton
was brought into the Sub-Treasury for safety.
and placed directly across tho door OF the great
vault while the officials were taking steps 20
safeguard the dangerous pile some OF the SOL
diers patroliing the building unstrapped their
canteens and laid them IN a heap on top and
around the explosive. 1t made some OF the gov
eminent officials nervous for a while. and the
explanation OF what was necessary TO ignite the
gun cotton failed 20 dissipate their nervousness.
At the city postofice the usual routine has
no eS N a n re-
valuable mails from the sub-ststions. where
they were removed Sunday. and taking packages
from vaults. Firms In the burned district are
served by the various carriers IN charge OF that
section at new addresses. which are being regis
tered In this way nearly all the mail which
accumulated IN the two days OF the fire has
been delivered When the IRE threatened the