The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1904-02-11
FIRE RAGtD F0RTY.EIGHT HOURS
One By One the Great Business
Houses Went Down-The Heroic
Work of the Firemen-Seri0us
Property Losses

property Losses
Baltimore, Special.-The most de-
suUctive confiagration in the history
oY Baltimore occurred here Sunday IL
the wholesale dry goods business dis
i-lct, raging practically unchecked
during many hours, completely de-
stroying scores of the largest busi-
ness houses in the wholesale district
Involving losses which cannot be esti-
mated, rs the fire was still burning
fiercely when night fell Owing to the
vide extent Of the calamity il will be
tomorrow before even an approximate
estimate can be made, though it is
certain that it has already exceeded
So, ,0po. 900. The fire was still burning
at nightfall, but was under control.
No loss Of life was reported az this
hour.
BROKE OUT ON HOPKINS PLACE
The fire broke out shortly before II
o'clock this morning in the wholesale
Co, on Hopkins place, in the heart
Cf tho business district, with a series
q; loud explosions, which were heard
III remote parts of the city, and spread
With fearful rapidity. in half an hour
there were a dozen big warehouses in
the wholesale dry goods and notions
district burning f1ercely. The entire
fire department was called out, but was
utterly pOwerless to check the spread
of the flames. which were aided by
The high winds, and by noon there
were saya g fires in at least 80 big
warehouses. and the conflagratiOn was
steadily eating its way into successive
blocks. east, north. west aud south.
On Baltimore street, the blocks be
tween Liberty and Sharp streets was
-oOn ahldZe, then came the next hlOch
east 20 Hanover and after that the
3sicCk on the south side to Charles
rect broke out into flames, the Con-
NOlidated Gas Company's building anu
ochm's Acme Hall burning fiercely.
Meanwhile there were stores north
- Baltimore street beiEg similarly
consumed. Mullins Hotel caught ant
other buildings near it caught. West
~ Liberty street, on the south side
cf Baltimore street, the block was
doomed. and the big bargain house al
50 caught. Down In Hopkins place
where the confagration started
liuTsJ's building and other wholesale
houses on both sides Of the street
rrumbied and fell
The big dry goods houses of Daniel
Miller & Sons and r. NJ. Sutton &
Co. were soon afiame. and along Ger
man street-east and west, from the
Hurst building-there were a dozen
buildings burning.
Mass & Kemper's big wholesale
store, on Baltimore street. quickly
euccumbed TO the flames. On Hop
kiDs' place the Hopkins Savings Bank
and the National Exchange Bank
we're gutted by the flames. Across
the street were the ruins of John E.
Hurst & Co.. and next to it Hechl, Jr.,
& Sons, were in flames.
THE BLOCK A CAULDRON.
All these buildings were swept away
by the flames. and the whole book
was nothing but cauldron of fire.
At 1:30 o'clock Mullins Hotel. g
Seven-stOry structure, at Liberty and
baltimore streets, was in flames from
garret 10 cellar and its great height
and narrOwness acted as q torch. All
The guests had been ordered out, and
HtIlS, consequently. was
Though every bit of fire-fghting ap
paratus in the city was called into
requisition as the flames continued to
spread, at 10 o'clock six engines ar
rived from Washington and four from
Philadelphia. It is roughly estimated
that there were $50 hose playing on
different parts Of the conf1agratiOn at
the same time.
FINE RUN FOR THEIR LIVES.
Wall after wall toppled into the
streets. and firemen ran for their lives
al kinds of wires had to be cut tc
clear the way for the fire fighters. The
block bounded by German, Liberty
Baltimore and Sharp streets was
early found to be doomed, and the
firemen turned their attention to saw
ing the buildings on Baltimore street
east of Sharp. but the fire was beyond
their control.
Red hot cinders ignited the roof oi
Front Street Theatre at least half g
mile from the main confederation
which shows to what distance the
fiery rain fell. The blaze was ex.
tinguished by the fremen. assisted b,
citizens
For a time considerable alarm was
felt at the City Hospital. The Sister.
Of Mercy in charge of the institution
were all at their posts, and an effor
was made to keep the fact Of the con
few cinders fell on the roof of the hos
hagration a secret from the patients. 4
pital. but were extinguished by the
physicians Of the house staff.
Eighteen women, two babies anC
seven nurses were taken from the
Maternity Hospital, on West Lombard
street. in police ambulances and giver