The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-08

Il 4
police ambulances and given quarters
II the city hospital A woman VINO was
III in bed with typhoid fever was taken
10 the city hospital.
WHISKY BLOWS UP.
At 8 o'clock a tremendous explosion
of about $50 barrels of whisky stored
In the upper floors of "a Hanover street
hurled tons of burning matter across
the street onto the roofs of the puhu-
Ings opposite, which the hre1neh WEE
drenching with water in a VAIN nope
70 make Hanover street the eastern
boundary line of the confagratlon. Inc
flames ouivered for a few moments I'M
der the water but soon ate INTO 'ne
buildings on the east SIDE.
Two truck wagons caught ire ana
were consumed~and an engine was bur-
led by a falling wall, the hremen fiee-
ing for their lives.
The whole city was notihed OF the
confederation by a terrific explosion
which occurred some minutes after II
o'clock A sharp, splitting roar went
up with reverberating thunder. rms
was followed by peculiar WnlstllHS
noise like that made by the shrtll WIND
The churches in the central section OF
the city were filled with Worshlpers'
many of whom became frightened ana.
while no panics ensued, hundreds OF
men and women left their seats anu
went outside to see what had happen
ed. In a few moments the streets ana
movements all over the city were
crowded with excited people
RAIN OF CIEDERS.
Another deafening crash occurred and
dense columns of cinders and smoke
shot up over the central section of the
CITY and in a huge brown column
move rapidly toward the northeast
Borne on the strong. southwest WIND,
the column of smoke, blazing cinders
and even pieces of tin roofing spread
over the center of the city and rain OF
cfnders fell compelling pedestrians to
dodge redhot pieces of wood
Two more explosions followed ana
thousands of people hurried to the
scene of the fire. OF all the spectators.
comparatively few saw the fire itself
They could not get within half olocA
of it.. Even the policemen guarding the
approaches to the fire had to repeated
ly shift their positions and dodge fall-
ing cinders. Pieces of tin six by eight
feet square were lifted into the air by
the terrific heat, sailed upwards llhe
paper kites, and when they reached
point beyond the zone of the most III
tense heat, fell Gathering to the street
The fifemen and police who were 90
liged to stick to their dangerous posts
lodged into doorways for shelter from
the rain of hot missiles. Crash after
crash could be heard within the burn
ing district. but even the tremen coulo
not tell from what building they pro-
ceeded. In the seethlng furnace Oh
fame all sense of the direction OF the
burning building was lost. Walls ana
flooring fell in thunderous roars that
echoed for blocks away.
A RUSH TO SAVE BOOKS.
Hundreds of merchants and business
men with offices in the threatened dis
trict were notified by Watchmen ana
police. Nearly all took steps to nave
their books removed to a place OF safe
ty. Hundreds of men and boys We're
engaged to move the books. The Ad-
ans Express company sent hurry call
for its men and wagons to come to the
Office at once. The books, desks ana
files were all placed into wagons Ior
removal to places of safety.
NEWSPAPERS BURNED QUIZ
At 8 o'clock occupants of the Dany
Herald building, at Fayette ana Sl-
Paul streets, and of the RECORD puilI-
ing. opposite, were compelled to Vacate
nv the flames, as were the occupants
of the Calvert and Equitable structures
two of the most massive Office oullu-
ings in Baltimore. Down Ballllilo4e
street a parallel wave of roaring,
cracking flames swept, consuming eV-
ervthing in its course, speedily reach-
ing the Evening News, from which the
employees had hastily to flee, thouSh
not until valuable records had been re-
Shortly thereafter the Continental trust
company, a fourteen story building. TOOK
fire A block below, the American News
paper building was enveloped in such
clouds of sparks and burning spilhlefs
During all these hours the pyrotechThc
display was magnificent and imposing pc
vond the mower of painter to depict vast
columns Of fame shot skyWard at vary
ing points of the compass and the nfnla..
ment was one vast priSmatic ocean OF
golden and silver-hued sparks Great
multitudes of people lined the streets,
awestruck with the panorama which was
being enacted before their eyes.
ASSOCIATED PRESS DRIVEN ODI-
At 1910 o'clock the roof of the bulldlng
occupied by the Associated Press TOOK
fire and the employees were compelled 70
vacate though they had time TO take
away with them their telegraph 1nstfu-
ments typewriters and other VaIuaole
eouipments They found refuge IN a
branch office of the Western Union COM
pany on Gay street.
MANY FIRENIEN INJURED
Seventeen injured were sent to hospitals,
most of them dremen. They We're SufIeflng
from burns, scaldS and laceratlons.
Nearly every physician in the city IS IN
the fire district .s.,
Detachments of the Fourth and Fifth
regiments have been called out and are
patroliing the streets in the vicinity OF
the fire, guarding property and keeping
order. .,, ee,
building have been destroyed and so has
the MARYLAND Institute of Art building
At 1915 o'clock the temporary customs
bouse adjoining the pOStofflce caught
FIRE One hundred policemen from Phli-
adelDhia arrived to assist the Baltimore