The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-02-12

there were a dozen big warehouses In
the wholesale dry goods and notions
district burning fiercely. The entire
fire department was called out, but
was utterly powerless TO check
spread of the flames, which were aided
by the high winds, and by Dor there
were savage fires in at least 80 big
warehouses and the confiagration was
steadily eating its way into successive
blocks. east, north, west and south
On Baltimore street, the block be-
tween Liberty and Sharp streets was
soon ablaZe then came the next block
east to Hanover and after that the
block on the south side to Charles
street broke into flames. the Consolica-
ted Gas Company's building II
Oehm's Acme Hall fiercely.
Meanwhile there were stores north
Of Baltimore street being similarly
consumed. Mullins hotel caught n
other buildings near it caught. west
of Liberty street, on the south side or
Baltimore street. the block was DOOM
ed and the big bargain house also
caught. Down in Hopkins place. where
the confagration started. Hursts
building and other wholesale houses on
both sides Of the street crumbled n
fell.
The big dry goods houses of Daniel
Miller & Sons and R M. Sutton & Co.,
were soon afiame. and along German
and west from h Hurst
building-there were a dozen buildings
burning.
Mass & Kemper's big wholesale store,
on Baltimore street, quickly succumbed
to the flames. On Hopkins place the
Hopkins Savings Bank and the Ma
tionaI Exchange Bank were Quilted by
the flames. Across the street were the
ruins of John E. Hurst & CO. n next
to 1t Hecht. Jr, & Sons were in
flames.
The Block q Cauldron.
All these buildings were swept away
by the flames. and the whole block was
nothing but a cauldron of fire.
At $50 o'clock Mullins Hotel, a
seven-story structure, at Liberty and
Baltimore streets. was in DANES from
garnet to cellar and it's great height
and narrowness acted as a torch. All
the guests a been ordered out. and
none. consequently, was injured.
Though every bit of ire-fghting Up
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 1t is roughly estimated
that there were $50 hose playing on
different parts of h confiagration at
h same time.
Firemen Run for Their Lives.
Wall after wall toppled into tn
streets and firemen ran for their lives.
All kinds of wires a to be cut to
clear the way for the fire fighters. The
lock bounded by German. Liberty,
Baltimore and Sharp streets was early
found to be doomed, and the firemen
turned their attention to saving the
hrilIinpS ON Raltirnro otroot oaSf nr
Sharp, but the fire was beyond their
control.
Red hot cinders ignited the ROOF of
Front Street Theatre at least half a
mile from the main c~onflagration,
which shows to what distance the
fiery rain fell. The blaze was extin-
guished by h tiremen, assisted by
citizens.
For a time considerable alarm was
felt at h city hospital. The Sisters
of Mercy in charge of the institution
were at their posts, and an effort
was made to keep the fact of the con-
f1agration a secret from the patients
A few cinders fell on the roof Of the
hospital. but were extinguished by the
physicians of the house staff.
Eighteen women. two babies and
seven nurses were taken from the
Maternity hospital. on West Lombard
street. in police ambulances and given
quarters al the city hospital. A wo
man who was i'll in bed with typhoid
fever was taken to the city hospital.
City Terrified by Explosion.
Ats o'clock a tremendous explosion
of about $50 barrels of whiskey stored
in the upper floors of No. "a Hanover
street hurled tons of burning mater
across the street onto the roofs of the
buildings opposite which the firemeD
were drenching with water in a VAN
hope to make Hanover street. the east
ern boundary line of the confederation.
Here an engine was burned by a fall
ing wall. the f1remen fleeing for their
lives.
The whole city was notified of the
conf1agration by a terrific explosion,
which occurred some minutes after Il
O'Clock A sharp. splitting roar went
up with reverberating thunder. This
was followed by a peculiar whistling
noise like that made bv a shrill wind.
The churches in the central part of
the city were filled with worshippers,
many OF whom became frightened.
and, while no panics ensued. hundreds
of men and women went outside to sec
what had happened. In a few mo-
ments the streets and pavements all
over the city were crowded with ex-
cited people. Another deafening crash
occurred. and dense columns Of cinders
and smoke shot up over the central
section of he city. and in a huge
brown column moved rapidly toward
the northeast. Borne on the strony
southeast wind the column of smoke
blazing cinders and even pieces of tin
roofing spread over the centre of the
city, and a rain of cinders fell. conf
Delling pedestrians to dodge red hot
pieces of wood.
People Dodging Fire Brands.
Two more explosions followed. and
thousands of people hurried to the scene
or the fire. OF all the spectators. com
paratively few saw the fire itself. Th. '
could not get whiting half q block OF IT.