The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-08
MIDNIGHT SITUATION;
LOSS THEN 100000


BALTIMORE. Md. Feb. Z, Midnight
Fire which broke out at few minutes be-
fore IL o'clock this morning in the whole
sale dry goods house of John Z. Hurst &
Co, has ragged with unrestrained fury con-
tinuously ever since. and at midnight il is
still unchecked. but is steadily eating its
consuming way eastward on Baltimore
street after having destroyed almost all
of the large stores and warehouses in the
wholesale district around Hopkins place
and all the buildings on both sides of Balti-
more street. from Howard TO Holiday
street, from Charles and Baltimore TO
Charles and Lexington. and on Fayette
street from Charles to Holiday, including
total of about twenty blocks of the most
modern and substantial buildings in Balti-
more, involving a losss which cannot now be
estimated but which has already reached
about $4OO0o,OO0.
Ever since about o'clock. when darkness
came the fire department. although aided
by engines from Washington, Philadelphia,
Wilmington and the surrounding suburbs.
has been utterly powerless TO make any ef-
fective resistance to the consuming element.
though for hours as many 400 streams
of water were thrown into the flames. In
deed so terrific has been the heat ever since
the fire started and so dense and suffocating
the volume of flying sparks and burning
cinders that it was difficult for the fire.
men to stand long within fighting distance
of the flames. while early in the afternoon
several trucks and engines were hopelessly
disabled by timbers.
DYNAMITE Used.
At o'clock the situation was so desperate
that Chief Horton decided that the only
thing left to do was 10 dynamite buildings
at threatened points and thus prevent, as
far as possible. further spread of the
flames. In pursuance Of this plan a num-
Der of buildings on South Charles street,
between German and Lombard. were blown
up. Subsequently the splendid structure OF
J. w. Puts & Co. notion dealers. at
Charles and Fayette streets, was dyna-
mited, and then the Daily Record building.
Ross's drug store and others But this
heroic remedy merely delayed but did not
seriously impede the onward march of the
cOnflagratiOn, and for two hours or more
the fire department stopped work. practical
ly helpless and resourceless in the face OF
the roaring furnaces which sent their fierce
tongues 200 feet into the air. and which
filled the heavens first with pail OF black
! funereaI smoke and then with livid sheets
of sparks and lurid cinders.
Following the rapid destruction OF the
palatial commercial buildings in the whole
sale district the cyclone OF roaring flames
burst into Baltimore street. licking within
few minutes the seven-story Mullins Ho-
tel like some insatiate monster and rapidly
rolling with irresistible force both east
ward and westward. cutting down Wholesale
and retail houses, manufactures shops.
jewelry stores furniture empOriums and
| restaurants At Charles street the remorse-
less tide swept on down Baltimore street,
| but also turned into Charles street, where
il quickly engulfed the eleven-story Union
| Trust building. starting eastward on Fay
| ette street.
BY s o'clock the occupants OF the Daily
| Herald building at Fayette and st. Paul
streets and of the Record building oppo-
site were compelled to vacate by the on
| flying flames, as were the occupants OF the
| Calvert and Equitable structures, two OF
| the most massive office buildings i'm Balti-
more.
PARALLEL WAVES OF FIRE.
Down Baltimore street a parallel wave OF
| roaring, cracking flames swept. consuming
everything in its course speedily reaching
the Evening News building. from which
the employees had to hastily fee. though
not until valuable records had been re-
moved Shortly thereafter the Continental
Trust Company, fcurteen-story building.
took fire A block below the American
newspaper building was enveloped in clouds
OF sparks and burning spInters and the
employees were ordered out. So at this hour
it is certain that the Herald and American
will not get out issues tomorrow. Mean
while the Sun has been arranging 70 print
its to-morrow's issue in its job office. which
is situated at distant point from the path
OF the fire.
The financial district. including the chief
banking and brokerage firms on South and
German streets. seems to be now doomed
and scores Of the citys leading fnanciers
and business men are seurrying in and
out of their offices bearing packages or
placing valuables in conveyances.
During all these hours the pyrotechnic
display has been magnificent and imposing
beyond the power OF painter 20 depict At
this hour vast columns OF seething flame
are snOoiuB ShHWaiu al N"tA lhs p'iuts OF
the compass. and the armament Is one vast
prismatic ocean OF golden and silver-hued
sparks. Great multitudes OF people line
the streets. awe-struck with the panorama
which is being enacted before their eyes.
ASSOCIATED PRESS ROUTED.
At 1910 o'clock the roof OF the building
occupied by the Associated Press took fire
and the employees were compelled 20 vacate.
though they had time 10 take away With
them thsir telegraph instruments. type
writer's and other valuable equipment. They
found. refuge In a branch Office OF the West
dcoNTINUED on PAGE ,. col. %