The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1904-02-16
THE GREAT FIRE
Graphic Description by
Miss lura Correll.


Following are extracts of letters
written by Miss Lura Correll. Of Can
ton, who is attending the Woman's
cottage at Baltimore, Md, describing
the great fire. Miss Correll is the
daughter Of Mr.. and Mrs. S. l.. Correll,
who live just north of the city on Mar
ket street. The letters were not writ
ten for publication, but were to her
parents. There are three letters and
extracts are taken from each:
Baltimore, Feb. g. 1904.
Dear Parents: l suppose that you
have heard OF our fire. Oh, of all the
awful sights never saw the like
before. | went down to the telegraph
Office today and tried to wire you, but
the wires are all down.
Let me tell you of 1t. Yesterday
morning 1t was cloudy and sort of driz-
zling and so sloppy that we decided
not to go to church. ! was sitting
talking to some Of the girls when we
heard what we thought was
CLAP OF THUNDER.
1t was an explosion. About half an
hour later one of the girls from the
fourth floor came down and asked us
If we had seen the fire. We all rushed
to the fifth story and got upon the
roof. We decided to go to the fire.
Jennie Wsmmemaker and Ethel were
with me. We went within a square of
the fire. 1t did not seem so awful. II
finally got too hot for us and chunks
of burning wood and cinders were
first car we could get and went home.
The car was so charged with electric
ity that we could not step upon the
step to get in, but had to jump. We
got home in time for dinner. After
dinner we fed down town again.
BY that time the flames had got such
a start that the firemen did not try
ito save the burning buildings, but
played the streams upon the adjoining
structures. The heat was SO intense
that we stayed about three blocks
away, and there we stood from until
5 and watched these awful tongues Of
flames leaping from the windows.
Men were hurrying to and fro on
top of the burning buildings and on all
sides we could see
BUILDINGS CRUMBLING
to the ground as though constructed
with the softest kind of material. 1t
was the most beautiful and most ter
rible sight that have ever seen and
never want to see another. The
nrn do tn, nj hot ha
lice could not keep them back and
finally they had to take one of the am
balances and drive round and round.
This kept them back. Three compan-
les of militia are here and more are ex-
pected. Washington, Wilmington New
York, and all the places around which
could, sent aid.
Last night few Of the girls slept at
all Neither Ethel or | went to bed
never saw such flames. 1t seemed as
though they were but six blocks away,
but OF course they were much further
Finally the fire broke out In the street
car barns about two blocks away. They
were burned and there is not a car
running in the city The fire in the
barns was put out. II It had not been.
Iit would have taken us. About %
blocks have been wiped away. It's
awful Will write as soon as I get
more particulars.
Monday night.
The fire is still raging. The town is
under martial law. We went down to-
day to see the ruins. We could get
close enough to see the awful havoc
wrought. II simply took the wealth.
lest part of the city There are thous-
snds of men out Of employment and
their employers are ruined. The water
supply is getting low Several boats
which were being loader with exports
burned and sank before they could be
gotten away This afternoon the fire
was raging in the lumber yards and
among the grain elevators
Ethel just came In and asked me to
so up on the flfth floor and see the
FIRE. | will finish the letter when I
! come back.
Z Well, 1t is as bad II not worse than
last night. The flames are leaping up
into the sky and the sky Is as red az
though the sun were up Another fire
north of us and the wind from the
ncrth. shall not go to bed tonight,
for don't know what minnte shall