The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-02-08

of THAI mighty agent Of destruction
dynamite-in the basement of a hand
some structure which it cost perhaps
hundreds of thouss nds of dollars to
rear. 30 attach n fuse TO 1t. and then
ignite the same with a glowing coal
from some other structure which had
just fallei!. and which a half hour be-
fore stood as one of the prides OF bust
ness Baltimore. This was what was
done in dozen. perhaps score. of in
stances
Buildings Laid Low.
With terrific roar. then almost in
stantly thereafter an awful upshoot, fol-
lowed Immediately thereafter by the
crash and crumbling of wallis. many an.
imposin- edifice was Sid to waste, and
where a few minutes before had stood
costly office or mercantile building
after the application of dynamite, the
fuse, and ese torch. a monet later lay
In ruins. a heap of brick, mortar, and
stone. But even this heroic course
served only for the time being to stay
( the fury of the flames. In many in
stances the dynamiting of buildings
was done too late. for the reason that
officials hesitate with dread TO raze
buildings which should the wind shift
might possibly be saved Again, at
places the opening created by the raz-
ing of these structures by dynamite was
not sufficiently large to prevent the
flames in their fury from leaping over
! these wrecked structures and reaching
others which had been left standing.
Then IT was necessary to lay others low,
but all apparently had little effect. The
dynamiting Of buildings only served.-to
destroy them before the flames reached
them. and in many instances only a
short time before the flames would have
reached them.
Lull in the Storm.
By the middle of the afternoon the
fire seemed to be under control, hut
that was a false impression. Extra
editions of the newspapers announced
that the fire was probably under control
at 3 o'clock. They then estimated the
total loss between 600 and $50. 600,
900. but later developments have proven
how erroneous was the statement. for
those figures scarce amount to one
tenth OF the damage
When the fire was thought to be un-
der control. the wind arose and the
fame broke forth anew in half a dozen
places and continued for twenty hours
with even greater fury than before.
1t was found necessary to call for
further help from nearby cities, and TO
blast additional structures.
Leaped Over Buildings.
From German Street the fire spread
RAPIDLY to Lombard Street, leaping from
building to building and sometimes
skipping two or three buildings, and in
this way a block would become ig-
time. At Lombard Street the fire paused
for some time and the large building
of Guggenheimer. Well s. Co. stood for
a time apparently unchanged. IT was
evidently doomed. however md all ar
rangements were made for dynamiting
IL in order to save the LloyG l.. Jackson
building. just across Lombard Street.
The Guggenheimer, We'll & Co. build
ing suddenly burst into flame. and in
a very short time the floors began fall
ing in with crash, the heavy ntllo-
graphing machinery, weighing many
tons. causing a detonation that made
many think the place had really been
dynamited The walls quickly followed
the floors. and the Jackson building was
saved after a hard struggle.
A number Of the other buildings on
the south side of Lombard Street be-
came ignited, however. and both sides Of
that street. from Liberty TO Charles,
were practically ruined. the houses on
the north side being complete destroyed.
and those on the south side. with the
exception OF the Jackson building. badly
damaged
Flames Flew East.
Meantime the flames had swept
through the block to the east and quick
ly began the destruction of the build
ings on the west side OF Sharp Street.
With scarcely q pause they jumped over
to the east side of Sharp Street and the
large row of buildings on that side of
the street began TO crackle and burn.
Hardly had a portion OF the fire APP
paratus been shifted TO meet the new
point threatened when the fire was
sweeping madly across, TO the West side
Of Hanover Street. and here the scene
was repeated. Almost before the fire.
men realized the fact the buildings on
the east side OF Hanover Street were
blazing.
A Magnificent Scene.
At this time the isene In this portion
OF the burning district was magnificent
in its spectacular grandeur Looking up
Hanover Street TO Baltimore nothing
but a seething. roaring mass OF flames.
mingled with dense smoke, could b
seen. Baltimore Street was itself roar
ing furnace, and on every side were ny-
ing cinders. The roar of the flames was
broken at frequent intervals by the