The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-02-11
FIRE RACED ALL DAY SUNDAY
Toward Midnight the Fire Began
Eating Its Way Into the Financial
DIstrict-r1ayor ncLean Says the
Loss Cannot Be Estimated.

Baltimore. Special.-The most de-
structive conAaSration in the history
of baltimore occurred here Sunday IN
the wholesale dry goods business dls-
trict, raging practically unchecked
during many hours, completely de-
stroying scores of the largest busi-
ness houses in the wholesale district
involving losses which cannot be esu-
mated as the fire was still burning
fercely when night fell. Owing to the
wide extent Of the calamity it Will De
tomorrow before even an approximate
estimate can be made, though II Is
certain that it has already exceeded
s25 900, 900. 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 fise broke out shortly before II
o'clock this morning in the wholesale
dry goods store OF John T. Hurst &
Co.. on Hopkins place, in the neart
Of the business district, with series
Of loud explosions, which We're heard
in remote parts of the city. and spread
with fearful rapidity. In half an hour
there were a dozen big warehouses in
the wholesale dry goods AMI notions
district burning fiercely. The entire
fire department was called out. but was
utterly powerless to check the spread
of the flames, which were aided by
the high winds, and by noon there
were saya,e fires in at least 80 b!g
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 block
east to Hanover and after that the
block on the south side to Charles
street broke out into flames, the Con-
soHdated Gas Company's building ana
Ochm's Acme Hall burning fiercely.
Meanwhile there were stores north
of Baltimore street being similarly
consumed. Mullins Hotel caught an
other buildings near it caught. west
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 confagration started.
Hrrsts building and other wholesale
houses on both sides of the street
crumbled and fell.
The big dry goods houses of Daniel
Miller & Sons and R. NJ. Sutton &
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 gutted by the flames. Across
the street were the ruins of John Z.
Hurst G. Co., and next to it Hechl, Jr.,
G. Sons, were in flames.
THE BLOCK A CAULDRON.
All these buildings were swept away
bv the flames, and the whole biock
was nothing bit cauldron of fire.
At 1:3O O'Clock Mullins Hotel. a
seven story structure, at Liberty and
Baltimore streets, was in flames from
garret to cellar and its great height
and narrowness acted as torch. All
the guests had been ordered out, and
none. consequently. was injured.
Though every bit of fire-fghting ap-
paratus in the city was called into
reuuisition as the flames continued to
spread, at 10 o'clock six engines ar
rived from Washington and four from
philadelphia. 1t is roughly estimated
that there were $50 lose playing on
different parts of the confiagration at
the same time.
FINE RUN FOR THEIR LIVES.
Wall after wall toppled into the
streets. and firemen ran for their lives.
All kinds of wires had to be cut to
clear the way for the fire fighters. The
block bounded by German. Liberty
Baltimore and Sharp streets was
early found to be doomed, and the
fremen turned their attention to saw
ing the buildings on Baltimore street.
east of Sharp. but the fire was beyond
their control.
Red hot cinders ignited the roof Of