Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1904-02-08
Great Fire i'm Baltimore.

Burned = Newspaper Plants De-
stroyed.
The news of the terrible fire which
started in Baltimore yesterday morning
reached this city about noon, and 1t
formed tue main theme of conversation
throughout the remainder of the day and
late into the night. The glare from the
confagration could be plainly discerned
in the northeastern heavens, while boys
were crying extra papers through the
streets After dark the papers stated
that the fire was under control, but that
fifteen millions Of dollars worth Of prop
erty had been destroyed. The flames,
however, at that time were raging fur
iously, the fire having broken out in
other sections, and the high northwest
winds which had famed the flames
during the day changed to another quar-
ter of the heavens, and the roaring sea
of flames was carrying destruction before
it, and dynamite was being used to
check the devastation.
The fire broke out shortly before /
o'clock in the morning in the wholesal'
dry goods store of John z. Hurst & Co.,
on Hopkins place, in the heart of the
business district, with series of loud
explosions, which were heard in remote
parts of the city, and spread with fearful
rapidity. -is
In half hour there were dozen big
warehouses in the Wholesale dry goods
and notions district burning fiercely. The
entire city fire department was called
out, but was utterly powerless to check
the spread of the flames, which were aid
ed by high winds, and by noon there
were savage fires in at least thirty ware
houses, and the confagration was stead
lily eating its way into successive blocks,
east, north, west and south. Building
after building fell prey to the flames,
and apparently there was no check to
the onward sweep of destruction.
On Baltimore street the block between
Liberty and Sharp was soon ablaze; then
came the next block east to Hanover,
and after that the block on the south
side to Charles broke into flames, the
Consolidated Gas Company's building
and Oehm's Acme Hall burned 6ercely.
Meanwhile there we're stores north of
Baltimore street being similarly con-
sumed. Mullins Hotel caught and
other buildings near it. West of Liber-
ty street on the south side of Baltimore.
the block was doomed, and the big Bal
limore Bargain House also caught.
Down in Hopkins place, where the con-
hagration started, Hurst's building and
the other wholesale houses on both sides
Of the street crumbled and fell.
The big dry goods houses of Daniel
Miller & Sons and r. NJ. Sutton & Co.
were sooD aAame, and along German,
east and west, from the Hurst Building,
there we're dozen buildings burning and
sores more threatened. The spectacle of
ruin and destruction from any point in
these doomed blocks was something ap-
palling.
Mass Il Kemper's big wholesale store
on Baltimore street quickly sncccumbed
to the flames, and the walls fell with a
crash that was heard for squares. The
Hurst Building was utterly destroyed, not
even a wall ten feet high being eft
standing, and was apparently the center
of the caldron, from whence the flames
radiated over the doomed neighborhood.
Embers were carried through the air for
distance of half a mile.
While the fire was raging tremendous
explosions ever aud anon shook the city
and the scenes and terror depicted in the
countenances of people were terrible to
behold.
At 9:20 p. M, the fire was still raging
with undated fury. The fire depart
ment was helpless, with the flames
steadily travelling eastward on Balti-
more and Fayette streets.
At 9:5S p. M, the fire had reached
the Continental Trust Company Build
ing, a sixteen-story structure, in which
is located the main Office of the Postal !,
Telegraph Company, and the employ ees
were leaving the building. Those in
the Sun building were also leaving.
At 1920 p. m. the fire, sweeping east
on Fayette street, was within a short !
distance of the courthouse, which occu.
pies the block bounded by Fayette, st. |
Paul, Lexington, and Calvert streets.
Opposite is the postoffice, and adjoining
this is the temporary custom-house, and |
opposite to this is the city hall. The
Calvert Office building, at Fayette and st.
Paul, was a6re, and the Equitable
Building, which adjoinsit, was threaten
ed. The main Office of the Western
Union Telegraph Company is located
in the Equitable Building, and the force
was leaving for branch Office. A num-
Der of buildings we're being dynamited
in an effort to stop the spread of the FIRE.
At ll:45 p. m. the fire was still eat
ing its way eastward on Baltimore street
and on South and German streets, in
GLIDING the financial district
At o'clock this morning the fire was
still beyond control. The entire down
town business section has practically
been wiped out. 1t was then feared that
the flames would reach adjacent resident
sections. The army of fremen was en-
gagged in whatseemed hopeless battle to
check the fires progress
A request for assistance was tele,
yraphed the fire department of New
York. Chief Croker of that city ordered
4 force to be got ready, and made ar
with the Pennsylvania Rail-
road to send engines and men on a spe-
,ial train. Engines were also sent from ,