The free press. (Southern Pines, N.C.) 1898-19??, 1904-02-12
Fist RAGi.D f0RIl.EiUHI HOURS
Cne Ey One the Great Business
Houses WenI DowH-The Heroic
Work of the firemen-- Serious
Property Losses.


Property Losses.
Baltimore, Special. -The most de-
structiye conhagration III the history
OF Baltimore occurred here Sunday III
the Wholesale dry goods business as
tlict. raging practically unchecked
during many hours, completely oe-
stroying scores of the largest buSl-
ness houses in the Wholesale district,
involving losses which cannot be estl-
mated, as the fire was still burning
tfercely when night fell. Owing TO the
wide extent of the calamity it will be
tomorrow before even an approximate
estimate can be made, though it is
certain that it has already exceeded
s25, 600 coo. The fire was still burning
at nightfall, but was under control
No loss of life was reported at this
hour.
BROKE OUT ON HOPKINS PLACE.
The fire broke out shortly before IL
o'clock this morning in the wholesale
dry goods store OF John I. Hurst Il
Co.. on Hopkins place. in the heart
of the business district, with q series
Of loud explosions, which were heard
in remote parts of the city, and spread
with fearful rapidity. In half an hour
there were q dozen big warehouses in
the Wholesale dry goods and notions
district burning fiercely. The entire
fire department was called out, but was
utterly pOwerless to check the spread
of the flames, which We're aided b!
the high winds, and by noon there
were savage fires in at least 80 big
warehouses, and the contlagration was
steadily eating its way into successive
blocks, east, north, west and south
On Baltimore street. the blocks be
tween Liberty and Sharp streets was
soon ablaZe, then came the next blocf
east to Hanover and after that the
block on the south side to Charles
street broke out into flames, the Con
soldated Gas Companys building ant
Ochms Acme Hall burning fercely.
Meanwhile there We're stores nOrtt
of Baltimore street being similarly
consumed. Mullins Hotel caught an,
other buildings near it caught. Wes'
of Liberty street, on the south side
of Baltimore street the block was
doomed, and the big bargain house al
SO caught Down in Hopkins place
where the conf1agrati0n started
Hurst's building ana other wholesale
houses on both sides Of the street
rrumbled and fell.
The big dry goods houses OF DAME
Miller & Sons and r. M. Sutton x
Co. were soon afame, and along Ger
man street-eaSt and west, from the
Hurst building--there were a dozen
buildings burning.
Mass & Kemper's big wholesale
store on Baltimore street, quickly
succumbed TO the flames. On Hop
kins' place the Hopkins Savings Bank
and the National Exchange Bank
were Quilted By the flames. Across
the street were the ruins Of John E
Hurst {: Co.. and next to it Hechl Jr.
& Sons, were in flames.
THE BLOCK A CAULDRON.
All these buildings were swept away
by the flames, and the whole block
was nothing but cauldron of fire.
At 1880 o'clock Mullins Hotel, q
seven story structure, at Liberty and
Baltimore streets, was in flames from
garrett to cellar and it's great height
and narrowness acted as torch, All
the guests had been ordered out, and
none. consequently. was injured.
Though every bit Of fire-fighting ap-
paratus in the city was called into
reuuisition as the flames continued to