Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-08

uation. Cheerfully they greeted one an
other about-the IRE lines and chatted upon
the , events Ct the night; They were happy IA
race OF such a blow from fate.
AT Early Dawn.
The changing scenes from night to morn
Ing viii ever be remembered BY the thou
sands Of people who remained fascinated
on the edge Of the nre-swept blocks until
the church bells had pea1ed forth the hour
OF o'clock. * The first faint streaks OF
dawn crept up from the east, in the very
teeth Of the gale that swept flames and
smoke toward the birthplace Of the sun.
Fro had selected a pathway through the
neart OF the business section for this nery
blast, and its progress on its mission OF
devastation was not to be denied. The
wind blew from the northwest. It guided
the career of the devouring flames with un-
point of starting to the waters edge. where
they burned themselves out. In the center
OF this pathway not q building was left IN
tact Here and there hreproof Struc-
ture was standing, mere she'll OF It's for
mer self. Along the edges were ctarred
ana bfackened walls. Only goodly space
OF street area saved the city from wider
pathway Of destruction. The burning dis
raging battle between nature and human
agencies-a battle so infinitely unequal
Futihty Of the Fight.
The futility of the fight against the
flames when they were in the center of the
business section. running eastwardly on
Baltimore street, was indehbly stamped
upon the memories of the onlookers. The
firemen would take up station at an APP
parently safe distance from the fire. The
engine wheels would hardly begin to re-
volve. however. when another move be-
came necessary. There were more buildings
afire at one time than there were streams
of water available. In the face Of such
overwhelming odds. the combined efforts
OF the Baltimore department as whole.
and picked details from Washington. Will
mington, Philadelphia and New York
were miserably inadequate. There was no
way Of reaching the fire. no way to match
Its wondrous and ever-increasing strength.
The Patapsco river rained from the clouds
over the burning area would hardly have
sufi1cied to stay the progress of such a flu
rious and Unsuitable enemy.
The Fire-swept District.
A trip through the fire-swept district in
the early hours of this morning was suffi-
cient to awe the most hooking critic of the
works of nature. At O'Clock the center Of
the confiagration was in the neighborhood
OF Fayette and Holiday streets. Looking
to the south from the city hall steps as far
as the eye could reach the street was lined
with fire. On either side buildings were
burning. In the street the air was alive
with flying embers. AS sand falling through
q sieve they poured upon the deserted
pavements for where the fire ragged fercest
no living soul dared approach. Just across
Fayette street from the city hall the fire
was eating It's way northward on the east
| side of the street. In the very face OF the
gale it crept its way up to the building at
the corner of Fayette street.
At this point only one tiny stream OF
wobbly water was available as a Quenchlng
agency. 1t was as inadequate as would
have been a settler bottle at college bon
fire on the occasion OF some great viGsGry
| in the field of sports. The corner building
| smoked from windows, cornices and crew
| ices. tired little fire engine puffed IA
| boriously away at a water plug WITHIN the
shadow of the walls. Suddenly there was
| a burst of flames through the roof and Win
dows. The piiffing ceased. Dancing horses
were soon; at hand and away flew the en-
| CINE to a point of safety In a minute II
turned up at the corner of Holllday ana
| Saratoga streetsr and from that point an
other line or hose was quickly laid out
The breeze, freshening all the while, held
| the fire in Idheek1ht this point and prevented
| its crossing Fayette street. Had there been
| a change of wind direction or even a pro-
| longed period of1caim the narrow width OF
Fayette street would have ill-suff1ced to
meet the situation.
| What was true at Holiday street was true
| at a dozen more of the thoroughfares run
ming from north to south. These streets
| penetrated the burning SectlOu, anu
| them the extent and progress of the con-
| fagration Gould be watched as from re-
viewing stand. The overpowering might of
the fire was brought to mind by the fact
| that, despite the engines already in Balti-
more and those brought from other cities.
the fire-fghting apparatus was to be found
| posted only at great intervals. One stream
| for two or three blocks of burning buildings
could hardly cope with the innumerabe
| tentacles of the fiery octopus.
| AS for spectacular and exciting episodes,
| the crowds soon became satiated with
| them. A falling mass of wall with thun-
| derous report called forth but mild rip
| pie of comment The tumbling of a giant
| church steeple, carrying its cross proudly
| at the pinnacle, was calmly viewed as one
| of the inevitable results of the flames.
A raucus-voiced man hurrying through
| the crowds with the cry of Ham sand
wiches' was the cause of more concern
| than the collapse of a magnificent structure
costing thousands of dollars to build.
The sandwich man and the coffee man
were each pounced upon and their wares
eagerly devoured. Many of those in the
late crowds were Washingtonians, who had
been attracted to the monumental city by
the stories of the work of destruction that
was in progress. There were Washington
people, Washington firemen, Washington
policemen. Washington detectives; every
thing, almost. except, fortunately, a Wash
ington locale.
Progression of the Fire.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. arriving at the Camden
station were given an excellent idea Of TIE
fire IN the manner Of its progression
Walking up Howard street. they were
stopped by sentries At the intersection of
Lombard street they could look eastward
ly on the latter and see a mass of steam
ing ruins. some portions Of walls standing
to the height of seven and eight stories
above the sidewalk. Continuing up How
ard street, and not being allowed to pene-
trate to the eastern district the sight
seers at German street could look to the
east and see at Liberty and German streets
the blackened remnants of the Hurst
building, where the fire originated in Sc
ries of mysterious explosions that shook
the entire city.
These explosions spread the fire through
out the great dry goods establishment, and
before all the fire apparatus of the city
could be got upon the scene the flames had
the Hurst structure at their mercy and
were relentlessly beginning their historic
campaign through the heart of business
Baltimore The fire began shortly before
II o'clock, just when the morning services
at the churches were being opened. In
less time than 1t takes to tell 1t thirty or
more buildings in the wholesale district
were aflre.
From Liberty and German streets the fire