Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-02-09

Baltimore, Feb. S.-Whcn darkness
| fell, tonight, the people of this stricken
city knew the worst was over and
| turned homeward and at midnight the
streets were deserted save for the pO-
lice and militia VINO guarded the burned
area. To the south Il red glow marks
| the 40 acres of devastation-I5 squares
| of property that, yesterday, represented
| values to the extent Of from $4,000 900
| to $123, 600, 600. There is not even Il close
! approximation of the loss and no fig
| ures can be made on the loss.
The building inspector estimates the
| less in buildings alone at $15C,oC0O00. On
| the other hand, it is said that insurance
| estimates DO not place the total at q
greater figure.
One factor that will figure largely in
| the final estimates consists of the secu-
| rites in the banks and trust COM
panies whose buildings were destroyed
Experts express the belief that the con-
tents are safe.
On the correctness or falsity of this
| belief depends several millions of dol
lars, greater or less of the grand total
| No. single life has been lost and
not human being has been even
dangerously injured. The hospital list
| consists OF minor burns with the eX-
ception OF Jacob Inglefritz, q fireman
| from York, Pa. He has fractured leg
| and is badly burned.
Save for its physical aspects, the
story OF the past "a hours is negative
| in all that, usually attends so vast a
calamity. There has been little or no
| excitement. There has been no hystc-
| ria. There has been no disorder and
| to the credit Of the city OF Baltimore
| it should be said there has been no
| footing or attempt at looting
Baltimore, tonight. is as orderly as
: village, and only the throb Of the
Ia boring fire engines and the reverbrat-
| ing boom of dynamite as it brings dam
yerous walls to the ground disturbs on
its wonted quiet. Men who have lost
Ill. who We're merchant princes. yes
terday, and practically beggared, to-
night. view their great losses with IL
calm that either is the apathy OF daz-
ed senses Oh quiet resignation to the
inevitable. This constitutes the most
remarkable phase Of the calamity that
has befallen the monumental city.
so far there has been no call for aid.
Profftrs of assistance have come from
many quarters, from sister cities, from
corporations. and from private citi-
zens, but Baltimore, tonight. cannot
say whether or not it will be needed
or accepted. That will be decided, to-
morrow
There is talk Of a scarcity of food,
but at most this can be temporary, "a
hours should suffice to bring provis-
ions in linl!ticss quantities.
When the tired citizens of Baltimore,
tonight. went to needed rest. over and
losses, was the knowledge that their
city had risen nobly in its hour of
stress and met a great catastrophe
with GOODNESS and precision.
Baltimore, Md, Feb. S.-Baltimore is
staggering. tonight. under a fire loss
which no one has the temerity to put
in figures. The important commercial
district is blackened ruins, laid bare by
a conflagration which ragged without
even a momentary check from 1915 A.
NJ. yesterday, until late in the after
noon, today. At o'clock, this after
noon. it was agreed the flames were
under control. They had ragged nearly
% hours, in spite of almost super
human efforts put forth by the best
fighting forces of more than half L
dozen cities were able to muster.
The city is overcast with gloom. The
only lights in the burned district are
those from the smouldering ruins. APP
parently there is but one cause for
gladness and that is that there are no