The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-02-12
WRECK n DEBRIS.
Graphic Description of he Burned
Notwithstanding Walls and Piles OF
Brick Mark the Places Where
Buildings Stood

baItlflOre. No. feDTuary o-IHc
cheering 4ewS tina the confiagraton
had been checked spread rapidly over
the city and the great Grove that all
day had surged against the tightly
drawn fire lines began to turn home
ward. Unless the wind. which now
blows briskly from the northwest
should change, it is believed that
there IS no further danger. But the
tired firemen are taking no chances.
All over the burned district they are
tonight fighting the fierce flames that
still live in large piles of ruins. These
fires are no menace. however. for
they have nothing to feed upon out
side their present limits.
During the afternoon the wall OF
fame made its way southerly and
westerly direction toward the water.
Sporadic fires sprang into existence
and caused the withdrawal or appa-
ratus and men from the line Of bat
tie. Buildings. old and new. large
and small stores. shops. every i'm
aginabfe class of business vanished
ao the fire swept onward.
The Stand at Jones Falls.
As the day wore on. the forefront
OF the fire neared Jones Fall, q small
stream that trends north and south
and divides Baltimore from that por-
ton OF the city known as East Balti-
more. This little stream was the last
stand. If the confiagration leaped
1t, If by flying embers or q rush of
fame the fire could cross and gain
a foothold, its extent could not be
foretold. Tremendous efforts were
made to block Il. Dynamite was used
freely. The fire apparatus was ZEN
tered and all the skill of the fire
hghters called into play to defeat the
elemen that had eaten up millions
Of dollars worth of property. And
human skill and pluck and grit and
unfaltering courage won. The fire
was checked. But behind It Law a
great Quilted waste of more than I4e
acres in extent.
Awe-Stricken Spectators.
Every street that led to the fire
area was crowded with awe-stricken
spectators. Down the narrow pulch
IKE sheets the black smoke hung
densely. split now and then by a red
glare of flame. The crash of falling
buildings was lost in the roar of ex-
pioding dynamite as Ii was used to
demolish structures as yet untouched
by fire.
The city was Under the s~trfctest
or military control All around the
burned area was stretched a Gordon
or soldiers. who held up all corners
az the point Of the b~ayonet. Police
brought from the neighboring cities
patrolled the district and on every
street, near the limits Of the fire araa
paced armed sentineIs. In the carly
hours this morning the army of fire
I4nters COPIED against overwhelming
odds and when dawn broke the flames
were raging fercely along the
Wharves and focused about the great
power house of the United Railways
company, which furnished the mower
LOT al the street railways Of the CITY.
mn tne names ate their way with
uholmlnlshed force fol-
rowing the lines Of Jones Falls. and
were finally checked near the water
cage at West Falls yer I'm ,he
southeast section of the CITY. There
me names continued through tonight
put only an spots and d!mfnishIna
nerceness. A dark gloom served to
aSslst the watching thousands o. spec-
Iaiors' held behind the lines MANY
squares away. to locate the flames.
Devastation is Complete.
Inc burned area Is a scene OF COM
pIete devastation. Numberless build
-. mat were n pride of Baltimore.
costiy and stately and for
oiVers purposes, were Quilted and only
smouidering debris or walls or rem
hdhls or walls remain to mark the
SITES The Baltimore American build
ing' one of the finest, Is now b,t
smouldering debris save for remnants
ana front and side walls. Across
south street where stood the BaIti-
more sun building, only the pillars
mat marked the front. remain. En-
tre blocks just below there are wiped
out without. in some cases A wall
ieIL From Fayette street
u""h hoiiday street as far as Ger
~ street. there Is no building left.
the corner of German straet Tbat
ouiioing whose walls tower above she
crumoiing debris of what were adj
joining structures was Quilted and the
S1anaing wallis formed a hauIdron.
the names Of which burst ar times
lnrougn the windows, but could cause
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