Columbia courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1902-1905, 1904-02-12
$75,0O0,0OO BALTIMORE FIRE
BUSINESS SECTION ENTIRELY
SWEPT AWAY BY FLAMES
Conflagration RACES, With Fire Department
Unable to Resist It--City is Doomed.
No Fatalities as Yet Reported.

/ building occupied by the Associated
Press took fire and the employees were
compelled to vacate, though they had
time to take away with them their
telegraph instruments, typewriters
and other valuable equipment.
The city hospital, corner of Calvert
and Pleasant streets, Is removing to
other hospitals as rapidly as possible
the "a patients in that institution.
No Fatality Reported.
Seventeen injured we're brought to
this hospital, most of them tiremen.
They were suffering from burns,
scalds and decorations. Nearly every
physician in the city is in the fire dis
trict. So far as known at this hour
no one has been killed.
Detachments of the Fourth and
Fifth regiments have been called out
and are patrolling the streets in the
vicinity of the fire, guarding property
and keeping order.
Residence Streets In Danger.
Fortunately. thus far, the confagra.
tiol has not reached the residence
portion of the city, but fires are break
ing out in East Baltimore and the indi-
cations are that the residence streets
are doomed to be invaded.
The Baltimore C Ohio railroad office
building has been destroyed and so
has the Maryland Institute of Art
building.
At 11:45 O'Clock the temporary Gus
toms house. adjoining the postoftice,
caught fire. One hundred and fifty
policemen from Philadelphia have ar.
rived to assist the Baltimore police.
Later Reports.
Washington, Feb. S.-A dispatch
received from Baltimore at a. M
says the fire is still raging fiercely.
The postoffice building is burning, also
the courthouse. The Holiday street
theater has been blown up with dyna-
mite and the United States Express
company's offices and the general Of
ices Of the Baltimore G Ohio railroad
burned.
A telephone message received from
Baltimore at 2:2O says that when the
fire reached Jones Falls. the wind
changed. driving the fire south, and
that it had reached the wharves,
where much inflammable matter is
stored. There have been many
changes in the course of the IRE since
it started.
At 3 o'clock this morning the fire
was raging flercely. So far as known
at this hour no serious casualties have
been reported to the police. Tele
graph. telephone and electric wires of
all kinds are Frustrated. Express wa
CONS have been kept busy all night
removing furniture and fixtures from
the counting rooms and warehouses
in the threatened district. The fire
has now covered an area Of three
quarters Of mile In length by nearly
quarter Of mile wide, taking in
many of the most important buildings
in the city. No one will venture an
estimate Of the monetary loss.
At 8 o'clock the Mount Vernon Tele-
phone exchange is burning and the
st. Paul Telephone exchange has been
burned out. The Mount Vernon ex-
change is about eight blocks from the
rnion station.
The temporary quarters secured by
he Associated Press for their opera
tors, after first being burned. were
n ", hny
Delled to seek new quarters on a mo-
ment's notice. They were located in
l building in advance Of the fire, but
we're again driven out.
New York Sends Engines.
New York. Feb. S.-A request for
assistance from the fire department
of New York was received last night
from Baltimore. Chief Croker order
ed force to be made ready, and ar
ranged with the railroads to send en-
gines and men on special train.
The New Jersey Central railroad
sent out special train at O'Clock
this (Monday) morning with five en-
gines and companies for Baltimore
and Philadelphia sent five more en-.
gines at 1 o'clock. Baltimore has
been shut off from the outside world
by telegraph since midnight.
Engines Sent From Philadelphia.
Philadelphia, Feb. Tn response to
IN appeal from Baltimore. Mayor
Weaver tonight sent six fire com.
rnnics and $50 policemen to that city
on special trains. The six fire COM
Ugnies. each Of which took along a
steamer ard hose wagon, were aug.
mented by extra men from other com,
panies.