The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-03-02
Martial Law is Declared to Prevent Pags Of the Structures
Untouched BY the FIanss-A Ten Days Holiday Dee'eed
in Order 10 Straighten Out the Financial Stu
atien:-Fity Thousand People Idle.
Loss ROUGHLY ESTIMATED At NEARLY $60,0OO,0OO

odlIluOfe, Mu.-SmOke euSurOuueu,
this stricken city lies stunned and
silent under the weight Of the worst
disaster in its history. The great fire
which began shortly before monday on
Sunday burned itself out at the waters
edge just as evening fell the next day,
having swept, giant all-conquering
wave of fame, up from the heart Of
the business centre of the city, through
its financial district. and then, reced-
ing, back among the wharves and
warehouses.
A territory twelve full city blocks by
nine, and extending beyond over mile
of waterfront, is left in smoking, hid
eous ruins. Where at Saturdays close
Of business stood stately Office fstruc-
lures, substantial buildingSof business.
and docks teeming with the shipping
trade Of the world, there are now piles
Of broken brick and stone and tottering
walls which the sappers are fast level
ing with dynamite.
The business streets are deserted.
not because it is the days end and the
workers are gone till morning, but be-
cause there can be no work until the
restored city rises from the ashes.
AS for the loss-that Is all q matter
of reckoning now. The authorities
here put it at $50, ,0O0, 900, but such an
estimate takes into account only what
can be figured as the direct and imme-
diate damage. Indirectly the losses
are quite beyond computation, and 1t
will take the days necessary to over
haul vaults and deposit chambers in
order to make any accurate apprecia-
::tion Of the-3ajury done to all interests
affected.
A conservative estimate is from $780,
100000 to S1O0, 100000. While the FIRE
was at its height there were many ru-
mors Of loss Of life, but these fortu-
nately proved erroneous. More than
1000 buildings have been destroyed in
the district bounded by Howard, Gay.
Fayette and Pratt streets. Controller
Ridgeley declared legal holiday for
the banks in order to protect them in
paper coming due.
After travelling to the water front
the flames about 2 o'clock Monday af-
ternoon were got under control. The
progress Of the fire was stopped at the
foot Of Union dock and kept from leap
ing to the Canton side Of Jones Falls.
From Pratt street down, on the west
side, the flames destroyed the 7. J.
Meyer Packing Company and the Boy
er Fruit and Packing Company plants,
the latter facing West Falls avenue
and running back to Union dock. The
fire then continued until 1t reached the
Maryland Ice Company's plant, which
was quickly swept away. This plant
included a huge frame building, ad-
joining the Union dock, the depot Of
the American Ice Company. This lat
ter, with a large lumber yard to the
south, was the last to burn.
The fireboat Cataract did splendid
service in checking the fire, and was
well aided by numerous tugboats and
launches. On West Falls avenue two
Of the New York engines, backed up
against the wharf, played on the
American Ice Company's plant to pre-
vent the fire spreading to Denmeade's
Malt House. This is one Of the largest
of the kind in the country, and was
stacked with matt. Had it caught fire
the last barrier would have gone and
nothing could have saved East Balti.
more.
At 4.30 o'clock a. m. there was ter
rible crash in the neighborhood Of
Pratt street, near Jones Falls, and
huge bolts Of iron and sheets of metal
were sent flying. 1t was the tremen-
dous power house Of the United Rail-
way Company and United Electric
Light and Power Company. In fifteen
minutes the gigantic structure was q
mass Of ruins, and the expensive ma
chinery, recently installed, was total
wreck. This was the largest and one
of the most expensive plants for gen.
Grating electricity in the country.
All night guard of men were work
ing guarding the gas main across