davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-02-09
EyeWitneSSeS Tell
OF the CONFEDERATION
Quaker City Physician Graphically Describes
Scenes in the Stricken CiN-PerfeCt Order
Prevailed at All Times.

BALTIMORE. Feb. Swords fail to
describe the confiagration that has de-
vastated the city, yet some have tried to
tell what they could of what little they
could see. AMI their stories are graphic
II not complete.
4 Philadelphia physician who went to
give aid to the wounded said:
Il never saw anything like it. When
we reached Baltimore three-fourths of
the city was i'm darkness, while for the
distance Of q mile from the fire a heavy
pail of smoke hung over the city 1t
was so dense that objects could be dis
tinguished only with the greatest diff
Guilty. Through IT all there was per-
feet rain o; burning wood and great
sheets of red-hot ashes. It resembled
nothing so much as a shower OF me-
teors. 1t was accompanied by a series
Of terrifying explosions the explosions
occurring at intervals of about five min
utes. The flames shot up 10 a distance
Of $50 feet. and bathed everyone in the
radius OF half nlile Of the heart OF the
connagration in their lurid glow.
THE people were almost panic-strick-
en-. hut despite this the most perfect or
do was preserved and the police did no
BILE work"
member OF the Baltimore Sun"
staff who reached Washington last
night said that the fury of the fire was
beyond description.
You cannot imagine Il; you cannot
imagine it," he kent repeating
The scenes Of gigantic destruction he
had witnessed seemed to have impressed
themselves upon his memory 10 the OBJ
liberation Of every other idea.
''I have seen big fires in New York and
Chicago he said. when block after
block would fan before the sweep Of
the flames. but nothing that approached
In terrible fury the catastrophe that fell
upon Baltimore Sunday. The flames
swept down the streets with the onward
rush and fury Of a tidal wave Great
pillows Of fire 200 feet In height would
iii the space between the buildings. and.
sweeping from side to side. would blot
out OF existence a skyscraper as though
1t were a box of matches"
Another man saidS They may talk
about fireproOf structures, but there Is
no such thing. When heat will melt
iron. what can you expect. I saw mod
ern, so-called fireproof buildings burn
up yesterday as rapidly as II they were
made OF papier mache. From the start
the firemen seemed powerless to stay
the outbreak. and the wind carried the
1gIitng brands before IT,
Panic followed. and block after
BLOCK Of fine structures were soon
seen ablaze. After spreading in one
direction for several hours the wind
changed without losing its force and
carried the fire into another quarter Of
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-02-09
Chicago FIRE
LOSSES UNPAID
But 80 Per Cent of Risks
Realized.
SUPERIaTENDENT'S REPORT
RumOrs Were Rife Concerning solvency
Of Companies Before the Confa-
grafton Was Over.

ALBANY. Feb. 9.-The comment OF The
State superintendent OF insurance IN his
annual report at the time of the Chica-
go fire.. I'm October. 1871. Is interesting
as concerns the insurance companies'
losses
That fire swept over a territot,, about
four miles in length by one mile IN
width. The number Of buildings de-
stroyed was 5000 and the number 81
persons VINO were rendered homeless
nearly 100000. or a little less than one
-ht-d the population Of the city. Tho
total value Of the properts DESTROYED
was variously estimated at from $50.
O0o. 900 to 500 OO0. 900.
In his report Superintendent Of Insu--
ance Miller called attention 10 the fart
that before the fire had ceased burning
rumors were rife concerning the SOL
vency Of almost every fire insurance
company In the country He called q
meeting Of the underwriters Of this
state. at which the fire and TIE losses
were the subject Of the conference. On
october IS. which was as soon as the
superintendent thought 1t possible FOR
the companies 70 give reliable infOrma-
ton, he called upon every compan. do
Ing business in this State to render !.
VI l4AtAI gross assets and la
Dlilties and particularly and separately
1neir losses by the Chicago fire
Ne superintendent was permitted IN
puDllsn the results OF the stat. -uents
rendered on November H. SistS-four
NeW YORK companies sustained losses
amounting IN the aggregate - 80 If0 :
-. Of these twenty companies failed
Inelr losses having aggregated sls 500 on
ne other companies paid.
ne amount Of the losses of TIE com
panles or other States and cour tries v-as
IS tlnated at 100000 OF that amount
s6OJ0O0 fell upon the companies Of
Great Britain. The companiest OF mi
nols sustained greater amount OF los
than any other State, and paid tie
smallest percentage. But four Illinois
companies were doing business i'm This
stare al the time, and but one 7srnain-
ed after the FIRE Nearly every IllIr0Is
JOINT stock FIRE company was wiped ot;f
and II was estimated that che corn,
panies OF that State would not paw 10
per cent Of their losses.
Mr. Miller said in conclusion ..F,stf-
l1dllnS the total losses by the fire 10 -la
Ssa,vJe,uO0, which is believed 10 be nearly
correct, and judging from actual re-
turns and the best information attain
able. II Is believed that 80 per cent. or
S4s,|e-VeO IS as reliable an estimate az
can be made Of the amount which will
pc realized by the policy holders VINO
sustained loss by this great fire'
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-02-09

In the history Of Baltimore as city
since the war there has never been a
calamity approa ching in seriousness the
present one. Baltimore's record of great
losses Of life and property begins on
July %. 1868. when there. was a great
food caused by the sudden rising Of the
waters In Jones Falls. a small stream
that curves through the city. Hundreds
of stores were submerged and many
buildings were carried away on the
food. Many lives We're lost and the
damage 10 property was s.. 10000
A great fire. which destroyed 100
houses took place on Friday. July Is.
1873. THE Central Presbyterian Church
and the First Lutheran Church were
burned. and only the shifting Of the
wind saved St Alphonsus Church from
destruction. The Maryland Academy Of
Art was burned and the district af-
fected by the flames included the ten
blocks bounded by Mulberry. Liberty.
Lexington. and Howard Streets
Plunged in Mourning.
The city was plunged into mourning
as the result Of the giving way on July
"a 1888 of an excursion pier at North
Point Tivoli. fourteen miles north. AMI
the drowning OF seventy persons. who
were about TO take the boat ~on the
homeward trip to Baltimore.
great storm. accompanied by a food.
came on June IS. 1856, and drove per-
sons TO the second stories Of their
houses. The entire police and fire de-
partments were called out to rescue
them in boats. Great damage was done
To property.
BY the burning of a group Of ware
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-02-09

the city All the fremen of the coun-
try, had they been IN the grounds
stances. have STOPPED the s1t5reak
Those that were or. the ground were
beaten back. and somf Of them had TO
abandon their appa-atus.''s
Still another said: Had the huge
buildings been filled with oil, they
could not have burned faster. Crash
after crash In quick order told of the
falling buildings, and when the large
dynamited. the scene vas frightful.'
DIR. w. II Blakeslee. medical exami-
ner of the Pennsylvania Railroad, said:
Smoke hangs over Baltimore like a
pail Of death. The people of the city
are frantic and everything is in a
chaotic state. II is appalling. The
streets are literally packed with fear
stricken mob. through which only the
constantly arriving fire engines could
make Roadway"
William a. Swain, a policeman, said:
AS we were leaving the First and
Fifth Regiments OF the Maryland Ma
tionaI Guard had been ordered out and.
with bayoncts drawn, the soldiers were
driving the excited crowds of citizens
back so as to facilitate the work OF
the firemen.
''The confusion on the crowded streets
was indCscribable. and residents along
Hanover Street were hurriedly moving
their household effects and fleeing for
their lives
James Thompson. a travelling sales
man. said:
Il was at the Carrollton House when
the fire started. There was veritable
gale blowing and the flames made quick
work OF the wholesale houses, many of
which were filed with cotton and
whisky and similar infammable stuff
When I left Baltimore at o'clock in
the afternoon the flames were spreading
rapidly toward the retail section.
looked up Hanover Street on my way
to the Baltimore and Ohio station and |
shall never forget the spectacle. wall
of fame and smoke rose hundreds Of
feet into the air. The heat b, at agaiDSt
my face as though i were cooking into
q furnace. Now AID the the wind
would sweep the srioke abide and an
twisted iron girders. fiame-liCked blild-
ings and firemen forced bacE b. the
heat met ones eye. The heat w1s so
great and the air so thickly f led with
showers Of cinders, pieces OF Burning
wood and hot tin that several timCg ne
block by block until the thousands Of
spectators We're unable to get within
half a mile of the fire
brakeman. IN speaking Of the fire.
said:
Nobody who has not seen the fire
or its magnitude The heat from the
flames was so intense that il could be
felt many squares away. and the fire.
men working near the flames had their
eyebrows and hair burned off. One fire
man in particular that I saw had the
flesh burned from his hands but would
not stop work 10 have them attended
10. All the firemen and policemen were
working like Trojans and many were
carried away TO be revived. Some were
so fatigued that they were sent to hos
pitfalls and nearby Places Of shelter"
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-02-09
RUM0RS FLEW AS FAST
AS THE SPEED OF FLAME
Excitement Caused by Report That
Firemen Were Killed.

BALTIMORE. Feb. a.-The spectacle
Of blazing buildings. extending along
the watt' front 10 Concord Street. was
a sad one. Federal Hill. whence an un-
rivaled view was obtainable. was pack
ed and jammed with sightseers.
In the melancholy stiffness which
prevailed some one set afioat a canard
about sixteen f1remen being buried by a
falling wall along Pratt Street. The
rumor spread with the rapidity of the
IRE. Everyone seemed to imagine that
some relative of his was a victim. WO-
men began 20 lament. wiring their hands
and become hysterical The widest pam
demonium followed before the lie was
killed. 1t waS difficult to kin lies. too.
one had TO travel over the city on foot
The truth later prevailed and the canard
was not repeated.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-02-09
SurpaSSeS
Baltimore Disasters
There's Never Been a Calamity of Such Mao.
nitude in City Which Is Famed as Scene
of Many CataStrophes.

houses in Hopkins Place on Septembe~
?, 1855, seven f1remen We're Killed and
six injured. A dozen buildings were
destroyed and the loss was 81, 500 OOO
combination OF tempest. food. and
Hre made the night of June IL. 1898. one
OF terror The warehouses along the
water front were flooded. A fire in the
Brush Electric Light Works destroyed
the building and extingulshed all the
nights In the city.
Crossed the Street.
The sparks from the Burning building
crossed the street TO the iafl and threw
the. 500 prisoners into a frenzy Of panic
and terror. A panic was narrowly
averted at the Holiday Street Thcater
when the lights went out during the
last act Of a melOdrama.
Twenty-Five persons were KILLED and
fifty injured in a panic in the Front
Street Theater on the evening of De-
cember q, 1895. A tip fell from burn
ing gas JET. some one shouted ''Firev'
ana before the police had arrived the
dead and injured were piled UP in tho
aisles and the lobby. They had tram
pied on one another in their frantic eff
fire and no danger.
The whole city was shocked on Feb
Tuary -. 1886. when the residence e
Henry Armiger burned and Mr.. Armi-
ger, Horace Manuel. a New York brok-
or, and nve others, members OF the Ar
niger family, were burned 10 death.
A cyclone which swept the city on
september 70, 1886, flooded the streets
with the waters of the bay. There was
a large property loss The street cars
were stopTed and telegraph and tele-
phone communication was DESTROYED.
The last great Storm that visited the
city was or July y last Fifty houses
were destroyed within -Four blocks and
zoo persons were mace homeless. The
wind and rain swept the city and caused
much damage.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-02-09
OUTSIDE BANKS
TO AVERT PANIC
Hundreds of Thousands in
Buried Vaults.
NEW YORK OFFERS ITS AID
Clearing House Extends Unlimited
Credit and Funds to Baltimore
Business Interests.
NEW YORK OFFERS ITS AID

BALTIMORE. Feb. 9.-Buoyancy was
supplied to the situation among the
bankers and the moneyed interests OF
the city today by the zeal and readiness
displayed by banks and financial in
sututions in other cities to lend aid in
any sum.
An offset to the temporary paralysis
l,roduoed by the destruction of fourteen
banks and the temporary withdrawal
from circulation Of hundreds Of thou
sands Of dollars which is in vaults that
are buried in the debris, came when the
clearing. house net this mornings
Unlimited Credit.
A dispatch received from the New
York clearing house was read. The New
York institution offered 10 give the Bal
timore banks unlimited credit and funds.
Following this. Craig Colgate. repre-
senting Halsev & Co and the First
National Bank of New York. arrived
in the city Mr.. Colgate Immediately
sought Mayor McLane and said 70
him:
Mr. Mayor. / am empowered to lend
to the city any sum you need up to ST.
100000 You may have il on demand. and
keep it as long as you like
Mayor McLane expressed his appre-
citation Of the proffer and promised to
avail himself of ii IL necessary.
The Banks Burned.
Among the banks which were burned
are the National Exchange, National
Marine Mechanics National. Mer-
chants. First National. Third National
Farmers and Merchants. and the Union
National
Plans are being laid to begin the work
OF resurrecting the bank vaults and re-
covering the treasures within them.
This task can hardly be begun before
tomorrow. BY that time the ruins prob
ably viii be sufficiently cooled TO permit
or excavation operations.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-02-09
Overhead wirea.

One element Of peril. and a serious
obstacle to the efforts of the firemen
70 check the confag grafton in Baltimore
yesterday we have not in this city
and should not permit 10 enter here
that is, the overhead trolley wires.
The dispatches from Baltimore say that
IN several streets the network OF fall
len wires. all 1--we" and dangerous,
proved a serious and dangerous obsta-
Gle to the work Of the hremen. That
has been one of the most Obvious dan
gers that the overhead trolley carries
with il wherever 81 goes. and It should
never be allowed to enter the streets
of a great city.-New York Globe.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-02-09
HISTORICAL SOCIETY
ELECTS ITS OFFICERS

The Columbia Hists~ical Society has
chosen the following officers sot the
current year, President. John aA3Ias-
son; first vice president. Aiusugerth n
Spohorc; second vice president judge
Hagner; treasurer, W. a. Mear.ts, re-
coroing secretary, Mrs. NJ s Bea-I. cor
responding secretary, NJ J. Miller cura-
tor, j. Z. Hood, chronicler. w. z. Bryan
and managers. Hugh Taggart, J. B. Lar
ner. and Dr. J. u. MORGAN
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-02-09
Cannot Withstand Flames.

Included I'm the loss are n number OF
alleged fireprUOf buildings The fact re-
cnfOrces the lesson that no building.
though OF the most approved construc-
ton, is cafe when surrounded by in
flammable structures. With the flames
OF old rookeries sweeping about IL. that
mass OF steel and brick which makes
UP modern Office building meets the
fate Of a birdcage IN a furnace.
The financial section of Baltimore sur
rounding Baltimore and Charles Streets
was eminently fitted 10 demonstrate
that principle; tinderboxes a century cid
pressed upon more modern buildings
quite as inhammable, and amid this
area OF potential fuel a number of new
steel buildings had been put up. New
York Posi-.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-02-09
No Loss of Life.

Lamentable as is this event from
many points of view, one may yet find
There was no loss of life. except among
the firemen. The dwellings OF rich and
poor escaped. On any day but Sun
day the factories which were destroyed
would have been filed with scores, If
not hundreds. Of employees.
Again. never did firemen conduct so
brave a battle Baltimore never will
forget their daring and persistence,
futile as their labors seemed 10 be.
The promDtness with which the legisla-
ture was convened to offer succor TO
such as might be made homeless, Is
another BEAUTIFUL feature OF yesterday s
history. York Tribune.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-02-09
NOTED BUILDINGS
PREY OF FLAMES
Banks and Business Places
of Historic Interest
OLD LANDMARKS DESTROYED
Church of the Messiah and Maryland
Institute Among the Struc-
lures Burned.

BALTIMORE. Feb. 9.-In their re
morseless onset the flames wrought
havoc upon some OF the most notable
edifices in the city. Great business
houses AMI structures Of historical value
shared in the general destruction. and
when the list of burned buildings SHAH
be completed 1t will be found TO in
clude many places Of enormous hnan-
cial Importance and scores of others r.
markable for their association with
events of national concern.
Some of the Buildings
To nasse only a few of the great hnan-
eial and commercial Institutions that
despite their alleged ffeproOf constrUc-
ton, fell easy prey in the early stages
of the confiagration. the roster includes
the buildings of Alexander Brown *
Sous. the Consolidated Trust Company.
the Union Trust Company. the Attain
tic Trust Company, the Offices Of the
Baltimore and Ohio and the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad companies. the Western
Maryland and the Southern and Chesa-
peal1e Railroad companies. the Law and
Equitable buildings. the Baltimore and
Ohio Central Building. the international
Merchants Exchange
Scores n cthor establishments num-
bcred arorg the greatest business en-
tszsrlSes OF the stricken city might be
adCeG an the list still be left far
from complete
Ancient Church Destroyed.
Al old landmark swept away was
the Protestant Episcopal church of the
Messiah, at the southwest corner OF
Fayette and Cay streets. Soon after
a.
fell in and the huge pillars toppled
across the Gay Street pavement De
struction of the edifice followed almost
i'm a twinkling. This church was one of
the most historic ecclesiastical
struct Ires in Baltimore 1t was
built in 1928. and was for
merly Christ Church. before the
congregation moved to it's present loca-
ton at Chase and St Paul Streets,
in 1872 Bishop Dudley who recently
died was its pastor at the time Thu
Church Of the Messiah was the second
Episcopal church built in Baltimore.
Maryland Institute Gone.
Perhaps no more interesting landmark
was consumed than the Maryland Insti-
tute This old building. which stood
above Center Market. was built in 1913
by the Maryland Institute Association Of
Mechanical Arts. For many years IL
was used as headquarters for Nthe as
ISOLATION. and semi-annual exhibitions |
wee held. II was also used as an as
seEibly hall by two Democratic national !
conventions. those OF 1856 and 1860 In 1
the Iast-named year occurred the mo- 1
mentous split that wrecked the party I
and resulted in the withdrawal Of the
Southern element, unwilling to abide by |
the nomination of Stephen A Douglas |
for the Presidency.
Later the building was used as a the I.
ter and Sol Smith Russell. made his first
appearance in this city. thirty years
ago. in this, hall. This building was
also the center of the famous Harrison
Street flood OF 1855
Another famous building attacked by
the flames was the President Street Sta
tion Of the Pennsylvania Railroad. said
TO be the oldest passenger railroad sta
ton in the world.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-02-09
No Building FireproOf
Within a Modern City
Editorial Comment on Catastrophe in BaIti-
more Agrees That No Construction Can
Stand Against Great ConfIagration.

city than ever before. But such an out
come facing the ash heaps. which are
all that Is left OF hundreds OF homes Of
thriving trade. seems incredible.
Communities. inspired by the despera-
ton Of calamiteus circumstances. have
many times ere now worked out a self.
salvation little short of the miraculous
1t may Well be that Baltimore Will do as
much But. in any event months of
privatiOn and years of grinding labor
confront her citizens. = Philadalphia
North American
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-02-09
You CAN'T BE
ATTRACTIVE

An Offensive Breath and Disgusting Dis.
charges, Due 70 catarrh, Blight Millions
Of lives Yssfly-1r. Asnsw's Catarrhal
Powder Relieves In 80 MIsufss.
Eminent rose and throat specialists in
daily practice highly recommended DIR
Agnew's Catarrhal Powder as sure. per-
manent, painless in all cases OF Cold In
The Head. Tonsiiitis Headache and
Catarrh. II gives relief in ten min
Ates and banishes the disease ike
magic Is
Use Dr.. Asnew's Pulls. 40 Doses, 10 Cents
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-02-09
Should Study Causes.

The indomitabIe pluck and endurance
or the average American community
may be relied on 10 undertake with the
utmost prompuess the rebuilding Of the
burned district and She repair of the
money losses. 1t is TO be hoped also tina [
practical investigation will be made
OF the conditions permitting so rapid
and destructive a confederation and thar
every possible means will be provided 10
prevent the recurrence OF a like disas-
ter.-New York Times
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-02-09
Clean of Comfort.

The single CLEAN of comfort in the
tidings OF disaster IS afforded by tHse in
telligence that there has been such a
small accompanying sacrifice OF human
lte- Property loss is reparable The
men who made Baltimore what III was
will reconstruct IL, and they have been
left TO do the work.-Philadelphia Rec
ord
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-02-09
viii Rise Again.

coniagrations is 10 be repeated, Balti-
more will arise from her ashes a greater
New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1904-05-21
An Open Letter TO the Public
FROM A WELl-KNOWN DRUGGIST

To Whom 1t May Concern:
Of late there has been q good deal
OF discussion in regard to advertised
medicines and their value. We want
to say to every man, woman and child
In this vicinity that the most valuable
preparation Of cod liver L. the best
tonic Reconstruction, health restorer and
strength-creator we have ever sold in
our store is Vinol
Vinol is not a patent medicine; it
contains no injurious drugs, and it act
ually does contain all of the medicinal
curative elements of cod liver oil, taken
from fresh Gods livers, but without a
drop of oil, and is delicious to the
taste.
Vinol is recognized throughout the
world as the greatest strength-creator
for old people, weak, sickly women,
children. nursing mothers, and after
o severe sickness.
Vinol cures hacking coughs, chronic
colds, bronchitis and all throat and
lung troubles. Unequalled to create
IN appetite, and make those who are
too thin, Fat, rosy and healthy.
Vinol is sold on positive guarantee.
Call and get a vinol booklet.
TaylOr's Drug Store.
New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1904-05-21

Five days are to be occupied in The
trip of the Liberty Bell from Phila-
delphia to The Exposition Grounds
in st. Louis. The route will he
by way Of New York State, Ohio.
Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Min
ucsota, Iowa and Missouri. Re
turning in December next, the bell
will pass through Southern and
Southwestern States that were part
of the Louisiana purchase. The
start for the Exposition will be
made in the second week in June.