The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-02-12

charred wooden poles. which strangely
are left standing In a section wnere
buildings supposed to have been nre-
proof did not car and some hang
from the side walls of corners of
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 so
| dense that even the black smoke was
obscured for the moment. Flying glass.
dust and gravel, sparks and embers
filled the air. In that fearful district
men prominent in the commercial life
were found. Many with heat-bltstered
and smoke-begrimed faces had been
UP all night. n as the morning broke
were taking the first inventory of loss
es. And that was only the trail Of
the fire fend. The heat and the flames
We're then raging beyond. extending
square by square until the very wa
ters' edge was reached.
THE FINAL STAND.
At 1880 o'clock the northern limits
of the fire had Travelled from Fayette
street to Eastern avenue. At his point
half a dozen fire companies We're fight
ing from the rear, while other compa-
MES were thanking on the Jones falls
and the Liberty street borders. Sand
witches n coffee were served from
drays to the men, many of whom were
almost famished from their long and
dangerous detail. T.
Every bridge over Jones Falls had a
score of fismen, 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. n the
piles on one side were blazing constantly
and on the other throwing off 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 a spray of rain like drops of water
from across the falls.
When the advance 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
vans, push carts and vehicles Of all kinds
fill the streets. carting household effects
and valuables to safer positions.
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 were 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 We're on the
roof and directing their efforts to an ad-
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
a 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 q 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.
All 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
a score of companies were here from New
York, Philadelphia, Wilmington, Wash
ington and small towns within a radius
of fifty miles of Baltimore. Their duty
was 10 CHECK IuS lldIueS Ill llGlI OuWdlG
march southwark. This was a rather DIFF
flcult task, as both sides Of Jones falls
are lined with lumber yards and old build.
ings, which proved to be no better thar
tinderboxes.
The lumber yards on the eastern side OF
the creek were saved by the out OF towr
companies stationed in them throwing
great quantities Of water on the piles Of
lumber, while the companies on the west
side OF tho narrow creek poured water into
the big buildings. The engines on the
bridges also rendered valuable aid.
NEW WORKERS. GALLANT FIGHT
The New York iremen, 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 burp itself out in the coal yart
Of the American Ice company seven O
their steamers were backed up against {
bulkhead Of the Patasco river.
The burned district. comprising 140 acre.
OF a roughly drawn right angle triangle
is piled with heaps and masses Of brick
stone and twisted iron, while occasiona
walls of the more substantial structure
tower seemingly ready to fall at any in
slant. Others retain the semblance o
entire and unframed buildings until close
inspection, which reveals the fire swep
Interiors. Flames still rising from man,
Of the ruined buildings and the burning
gas from the broken mains give light 70
the fremen, who are pressing steadily in
ward from the borders Of the burned re
gion.
The cordons of guards completely en-
~circling the fire area ave restricted tn
number Of spectators within to a mini
mum.
GOT LITTLE SLEEP.
Baltimore. Feb. 8.-There was littl
sleep for the zoo. 600 residents Of Balti
more last night because Of the terrih
conflagration which started Sunda
afternoon. While there were no live
lost, the monetary loss will probabl
reach $2eO, 000, 900.
. Acres of the most valuable propert
in the wholesale dry goods. produce
lumber, shipping, railroad and fnancis
district have been destroyed, notwith
standing heroic efforts on the part {
! the local fire department, reinforced b
almost numberiess fremen from Wash
ington. Philadelphia. Wilmington
t Newark, N. j.. Newark, Del, Harris
burg and New York city.
ORIGIN NOT CERTAIN.
! The origin of the fire is said to hay
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