Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1904-02-11

I
buildings supposed to have been fire.
PROOF did not escape, and some hang
from the side walls OF corners of what
had once been Office buildings.
These ruins could be seen swaying
back and forth. apparently ready every
minute to collapse. Many did fall dur
ing the morning, carrying upwards
clouds Of brick and mortar dust SC
dense that even the black smoke was
obscured for the moment Flying glass
dust and gravel. sparks and embers
I filled the air. In that fearful district
men prominent in the commercial life
We're found. Many with heat blistered
and smoke begrimed faces had been
up all night, and as the morning broke
We're taking the first inventory Of loss
( es. And that was only the trail OF
the fire fend. The heat and the flames
I were then raging beyond, extending
/ square by square until the very wa
I tiers edge was reached.
THE FINAL STAND.
At 1890 o'clock the northern limits
OF the fire had travelled from Fayette
street to Eastern avenue. AT this point
half a dozen fire companies were fight
ing from the rear, while other compa-
MES We're thanking on the Jones falls
and the Liberty street borders. Sand
wiches and coffee We're served from
j
almost famished from their long and
dangerous detail.
Every bridge over Jones Falls had a
score of fremen, and not infrequently
they were compelled to turn their atten-
ton from towering pyres to put out
flames on the floor between them and
deep water Both banks of Jones falls
were lined with lumber yards. and the
piles on one side were blazing constantly
and on the other throwing of clouds OF
steam caused by the water turned on
wood heated almost to the point of igni-
ton.
In that district no one knew whether
! the sun shone, except those who had come
from the northern district The clouds of
binding, choking smoke totally obscured
the sun and the wind from the northwest
carried spray OF rain like drops OF water
from across the falls.
When the advarS>s of flames had been
checked the fire companies started back
over the course of the disaster, attempt
ing to extinguish the flaming ruins and
prevent another outbreak.
Residents and business men of the east
side are not yet fully assured OF their
safety. and through every window may
be seen anxious affrighted, faces. Moving
vans, push carts and vehicles of all kinds
fill the streets, carting household effects
NO KNOWN LOSS OF LIFE.
While there were no casualties to speak
of. the great army of fire fighters per-
formed many daring feats In the desper-
ate attempt to stay the flames. Many
times they We're driven out of close and
hot places just as walls came topping
down. The last large building to fall a
prey to the flames down along Jones falls
nearly caught five men. They were on the
al
joining structure when a warning shout
was sent UP that the interior of the build
ing on which they were standing was a
mass of flames. They found their way to
tin gutter where one by one they hung
on, stretched out their arms and grasped
a telegraph pole which was planted close
/ to the structure. They slid down and had
not reached the ground when the roof fell
in with roar This was only one OF the
instances that could be written of hair
breadth escapes made during the twenty
seven-hour battle with the flames.
ALI of the out of town fire companies,
because Of the exhaustion of the local
men, were given a free hand during the
morning and early afternoon. More than
d score of companies were here from New
York, Philadelphia, Wilmington, Wash
ington and small towns within radius
of fifty miles of Baltimore. Their duty
was to check the flames in their onward
march southwark. This was a rather diff
hcult task, as both sides of Jones falls
are lined with lumber yards and old build
ings. which proved to be no better than
tinderboxes.
The lumber yards on the eastern side OF
the creek were saved by the out of town
companies stationed in them throwing
great quantities of water on the piles of
lumber, while the companies on the west
side of the narrow creek poured water into
the big buildings The engines on the
bridges also rendered valuable aid.
NEW Workers. GALLANT FIGHT,
The New York fremen, who were the
last to arrive, owing to the long distance
they Travelled, were the last to stand the
brunt of the flames, and when the fire
began to burn itself out In the coal yard
of the American Ice company seven of
their steamers were backed up against a
bulkhead OF the Patasco river
The burned district, comprising 140 acres
Of a roughly drawn right angle triangle,
is piled with heaps and masses of brick,
stone and twisted iron, while occasional
walls OF the more substantial structures
! tower seemingly ready to fall at any in
staEt Others retain the semblance of
entire and unframed buildings until closer
inspection, which reveals the fire swept
of the ruined buildings and the burning
gas from the broken mains give light for
the firemen. who are pressing steadily In
ward from the borders OF the burned re-
gion.
The cordons Of guards completely en-
eircling the fire area have restricted the
number Of spectators within to mimi
mum.