Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1904-02-10
Baltim0rG'S Big Blaze.

Sunday morning and raging contin-
luously for thirty-eight hours. Bal
timore has suffered the most dis
astrous fire since the Chicago fire
of 1871.
The area of ground swept by
the flames is more than 40 acres.
and number of business blocks is
about eighty.
Beginning from an explosion of
gasoline in the big dry goods house
of John f. Hurst < Co.. and
spreading in the face of wind
blowing at the rate OF forty miles
an hour, the entire fire department
of Baltimore, assisted by engines
and men from New York, Phila-
delphia, Wilmington, York and
Washington. was unable even To
delay the progress of the blaze.
Among the first houses to 90 was
the establishment of Armstrong.
Gator < Co., wholesale dealers in
millinery and notions.
The above houses are two of the
largest supply dry goods. milli-
merry and notions in the South, and
practically all of the trade in the
three lines was handled by these
two firms.
This will work very great
hardship on the small merchants in
this section. whose trade has been
for years given to them.
One of the most remarkable
things about this immense fire was
the fact that not single life was
lost. nor were there any very ser
iouS injuries to firemcn and others.
The most serious injury of the fire
was broken lee sustained by one
OF the firemcn from York, Pa.
Because of the immense area
covered by the flames. and the
great insurance values repre-
scented, it l. possible that some of
the smaller insurance companies
will not bc able To withstand the
shock of such a demand upon their
treasury and will collapse.
The fire was confined entirely To
the business section of Baltimore.
Not residence was destroyed.
\ dozen banks were burned out.
but 1t Is believed that the freproof
vaults and safes will preserve their
money and records in such condi-
ton that they will be redeemable.
The Governor of Maryland has
proclaimed a legal holiday of ten
days. and all paper and notes has
been extended thirty days.
Men who wokeup Sunday morn
ing millionaircs. went to bed that
night pcnnileSS.
Fortunes were swept away in
the twinkling of an eve. and the
flames remorSeleSSly went on 10
the next.
The city of Baltimore at present
Is in the hands of United States
troops and State militia. under
command of General II. {. Cor
bin, who came from New York to
take charge of the burned district
and maintain order.
The, losses are estimated by ex-
pertS To range from 800. 900, 600
TO Sl50.00O,0O0.
\ number OF people in this sec
tion are interested i'm real estate
and business property, and they
may lose all. Among the largest
holders of Baltimore property is
Mr.. Owen Allen, of Summit Point.
1t Is now impossible to tell whether
he will lose all, or whether he will
be protected by insurance.
Every English newspaper in Bal
timore-the sun, American. Her
aid and News were burned out.
BY the assistance of the Wash
ington newspaper plants, the Bal
timorc papers are now being tenn
orarilY issued.
Late Monday afternoon the fire
was under control. and the fremen
from outside cities began To return
home.
All of the telegraph offices were
destroyed.
All of the electric lighting and
street railway power houses were
also destroyed.
Baltimore at present is without
StreetcarS or lights.
1t will be many weeks before
the losses are adjusted and esti-
mated, but i'm the meanwhile the
the citizens of Baltimore are con-
ducting themselves with great cool
ness and Dcrfrct order