The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1904-02-24
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, D. c. Feb. u, 1904

WASHINGTON, d. c. Feb. -, 1901,
History is ever recurrent,-hre, war and
disaster puncture its pages. Events are
transpiring during these days which shock
even this notwithstanding age. On last
Sunday afternoon, the newsboys suddenly
appeared on the streets shouting Extra
| Post all about the big hre' and we soon
lear ned that big fire was raging in Balt-
more, about forty miles northeast OF here.
On Monday morning the fire Still reveled
in the heart of that city, and not until
Monday afternoon, after New York, Phila-
delphia and Washington had sent men and
appliances to fight the flames was ii final
ly brought under control. The last grand
fight was made at Jones Falls, where the
fire was checked, and since that time it
has: hlazed within the ruined district. One
hundred and forty acres of modern sky
scrapers and business blocks have been
turned into blackened, smouldering,
desolate waste of shapeless brick heaps,
twisted iron girders, and towering walls.
tottering and wavering threatenngly in
the breeze On Monday afternoon, in
company with hundreds of others | Went
to Baltimore to view the tield OF devasta-
ton. The fire was even then burning
with terrific force. and dozens of polished
and glistening fire engines were employed
about, and scopes of smoke begrimed.
drenched, and all but exhausted tiremen
still. struggled to control the flames. Sol
dier- and policemen patrolled the out
skirts of the burned district, and kept out
the curious and the criminal to prevent
the former from being injured by the fall
ing walls, and to keep the latter from loot
ing. BY dint of pursuasion and strategy
a few persons with reportrial aspirations
eluded the guard or cajoled them into
grant ng special privileges to minions OF
the press, and SO came into closer contact
With the real catastrophy. Standing on
the wharf at Basin Harbor we witnessed
the advance of whitening wall of fame
as it swallowed up the mills and ware
houses on the opposite side Of. the basin,
| and as the fire consumed the wood work
and contents of the buildings massive
| wall, would tower above the surroundings
for moment and gaining impetus from
the mind would slowly lean over, and then
gathering speed as they approached the
earth or water, would come down with a
|
stand with only their walls. intact-roofs,
floors and contents smoulderins heap OF
debris within these mammoth caldrons,
and their blackened. paneless windows
4 staring into space like the hollow spectral
eyes of skeleton. Baltimore is the sixth
city in the United States in point OF popu-
la,ion, and commercially it takes still
higher rank. 1t is what Washington is not.
commercial city, and an export town,
and one of the great trade centers of the
!. world. The loss is estimated at about
one hundred millions Tie fire rivals, if
/. does not exceed the Chicago fire of 1871.
Following in the wake of this calamity
Genes the report of wax IL the O-ient, and
the news of a japanese victory of Port
Arthur. The State Department has been
officially apprised that state of war ex-
lists between Japan and Russia. and the
president has announced all attitude Of
neutrality on the part of be United State:
The sypathy of the public is quite general
u ~, he h,
American spirit of gallan,ty which prompt:
it to take the side of the under dog, and i
may be the result of disgust with the
avaricious policy of Russia, and the evas
siveness and insslence Which has character
lied her conduct in this dispute. Step
are being taken by the United States gov
l eminent and those of other countries Il
contine the hostiities within the snalles
possible territory and to preserve the in
tegrity and unity of the Chinese Empire
The following prominent Iowans Wer
Finch, the able ex-senator from Humboldt
Paul Stillman. editor of the Jefferson Bee
AMI brother of the we'll known Washing
ton correspondent, Frank Stillman, Q
the Register and Leader.
Ellhu Root. recent secretary of war. ha
> retired from that Office. and VIM J. Tai,
, former governor general ofthe Philippines
5 has accepted the portfolio Of war. Th
later is exceedingly populer. although tn
country will probably not soon have sec
, retary of war more brilliant and able tina
the retiring secretary.
The work in congress is OF a routine ma
) ture att present, and no unusual feature
have developed Of late. Contested elee
{ ion cases lhave been considered by tn
: House. and the Panama canal question ha
occupied the Senate. The trial of tn
, post office officials for fraud and corruptio
still attracts much attention There are
consid rable number of indictments re
. turned in this connection. ard the conclu
sion in one trial in no wise terminates tn
Il