Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-02-08

Baltimore. Feb S.-A north wind is blowing, adding to the terrific opposi- ton being met by the fire fighters. There are various estimates on the losses ranging from $200,o0o,0OO to I $500. .OO0,OOO. The most marvellous feature of the great catastrophe is that only two lives have thus far been lost. The residential section of the city has not been affected as yet and the fight CTS are hopeful the flames will not shift in that direction
 Shortly before o'clock the fire crossed Jones Falls, though at that time the fire fighters seemed to be at lacking the flames with success. The Baltimore Chrome works on Black street are now blazing.
 Governor Wakefield to-day issued ' proclamation declaring the day a legal holiday. This practically closes all banks and other financial institutions W f H and defers payment of commercial pa- per. This action of the governor sus- pends operations of various business contracts and greatly relieves the con 4 ditions.
 Out on all the streets leading to the # northern annex procession consisting of body of Russians and Poles with iheir household possessions loaded upon their backs, are leaving the neigh borhood and seeking shelter on the outskirts of the city
 At 2.4O this afternoon the associated < press was, able to announce that the < progress of the fire has been checked and it is burning itself out. The last & places to go were the ice houses and coad yard of the American Ice com pany. The coal yard was spread out two hundred yards south of the ice & house and was the means of staying the work of the flames on the north and Jones' Falls on the east did the work there. 1t took twenty seven hours to stop the progress of the fire and when 1t was seen that the flames had been checked Baltimore drew a deep sigh of relief.
 Baltimore, Md, Feb. S.-The News in it's early edition to-day will say:
 -Acrcs of buildings, covering terri tory more than half mile in length and from three to six blocks in width, were destroyed in Baltimores great fire, which started yesterday morning. The fire is still burning and the streets in the burned and burning district present scene at once thrilling, pa thedc and narrowing. This district Is fully two miles square and it is two miles square of utter ruin and des- olation. Scores and scores of which were palatial, modern and so-called fire proof buildings yesterday are to- : day so many shapeless piles of grimy and blackened debris, a smouldering and smoking ruin, a ghastly mockery of their vanished splendor.
 
 the disaster. which now has reached proportions far in excess of the Chi cago fire of 1871, hitherto the greatest fire in the United States. No one can be seen at the present writing, and to : estimate the total loss is the merest folIy.
 The devastated portion of the city IS closely patrolled by the police of lhsi city, assisted by policemen from Philadelphia and Washington, state militiamen and from companies of regulars from Fort McIenry and no one Is allowed to enter the prohibited lines except by special permission. Outsids of this line tens of thousands of eager and anxious people are con- gregated and in directions there arc moving multitudes of men and women
 looking curiously on or vainly seeking for more and definite information about the great con1agration.
 Everywhere there is in evidence a feeling of awe and terror over what has happened and of solemn appre- hension of what may follow The rommon remark of citizens is that Baltimore has received a blow from which it cannot recover for years. Mayor McLane is among those who are optimistic and to-day while ex- pressing his sorrow and horror over 2 The calamity which has befalien this
 ity expressed the hopeful conviction