The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-02-13

their canteens asd laid them in heap
on top and around The explosive u
made some of the officials nervous foi
while. and the explanation Of what
was necessary to ignite the gun cotton
failed 10 dissipate their nervousness.
The military grip on the ruins has
been frightened to the limit and for tn
present II will b. impossible tor ans
one 70 pass the line OF soldiers around
the burned territory unless on 4 pass
personally issued by Brigadier Genera.
Riggs for official business This wa
decided upon at conference At which
were present the governor. Genera.
Riggs and Mayor AlcLane II wat
found that 50 many persons had se'
cured possession Of passes or otherwii'
gained admission that II was though.
advisable to prohibit everybody In IN
safes and vaults buried under the ruin
are hundreds Of millions Of dollar
worth OF securities. negotiable paper
and cash. which the authorities feel
they cannot leave exposed 10 even
those who were granted passes Til"
burned area. II will be remembered IN
cludes the whole financial district oil
the city. the entire wholesale territory
and many Office buildings
All the military and police passes
heretofore issued were revoked and
troops were sent into the desolatod
territory TO clear It Of every one found.
SO rlgidly was the no pass order en-
forced that a physician, who has two
patients just within the roped-off sec
ton on the eastern side of the fire area
was refused a pass. but was accom-
panied by an officer to the homes Of tin
sick persons.
Work Of Clearing Up Started.
The ruins Of the FIRE territory having
cooled sufficiently to permit the hand
ling Of debris. the work of clearins
some portions of the burnt district has
been begun Hundreds of laborers on
gagged by the department Of stree
cleaning were put 10 work at tho west
crn end of the ruins clearing the
streets The task before them is a
difficult one, and the work OF removing
the great mass will necessarily be slo"
Many weeks will clapse before All tne
streets within the fire territory Will ba
open 10 traffic Bricks to the depth Of
four feet. largo marble and granite
blocks. great sirdcrs. bent or broken
and networks of telegraph. telephone
and electric light wires cover the
streets. on both sides OF the thorough
fares in many places are towering walls
that will have 10 come down before an
attempt can be made 10 clear the streets
at those points.
Besides the work OF the street cieail-
ers there was much activity shown in
other directions. Here and there wee
small groups OF anxious citizens watch
Ing safe experts opening vaults Al
other places bank officials stood near
Rremen while the latter poured water
on hot safes 10 cool them on sufficiently
10 be opened All the experts in ths
field reported last evening that WITH
very few exceptions vaults and safes
stood the fire test. There were some
scorched papers and books found. bit
they were not damaged enough 10
make them worthless
In all cases the contents of the safes
were removed 70 the temporary Offices
Of the burned-ont firms.
In tho heart OF the desOlate area op.
posite the new custom house. which SIS
in course Of erection. there stood row
of wholesale liquor houses. Every one
has been levelled to the ground. From
these ruins. at whose bottom are hun
dreds OF barrels Of alcohol and liquor.
great sheets Of flames shoot up. light
ing the blackened walls with lurid
blue Mufied reports ensue as the
heated barrels Of spirits explode at in
tervals.
All of the o t-Of-tOwn fire companies
that came to Baltimore and rendered
such valuable service in stopping the
progress of the Are. have returned To-
their homes.
Praise For Out-of-Town Firemen.
Chief Engineer Horton. Of the local
department in speaking OF the work Of
the visitors, said:
THE services Of the visiting hremen
we're greatly appreciated not only by
myself. but by all the citizens Of Balu-
more. The work was extremely val
liable. audit is partly due 10 their ef-
fciency that The fire was stopped whore
IL was. The visitors aid anything !
asked them 10 do. and went wherever
they we're ordered feel that | cannot
say too much IN praise Of their good
work"
A special meeting of the members OF
the Baltimore stock exchange was neld
al the Hotel Stafford 10 consider ,he
question Of rebuilding the exchange. II
was decided to erect another building
IN the old site as soon as the debris Il
feared away. A temporary board
room will be opened I'm the Builders
Exchange. and trading in securities
listed on the Baltimore exchange Will
be resumed next week All the mem
Ders expressed themselves as confident
hat. the financial community will soon
recover from the effects Of the fire. and
hat out of the, ruins would arise a
greater Baltimore"
A resolution was passed offering the
mayor and the finance commissioners
III the money the city may need.
LOSS PLACED AT s125,000,00o
I Is Emphatically Denied That Case
line Explosion Started Fire.
Baltimore, Md. Feb. 1O.-As yet no
s...-o. -. lee ond fncnranco fhot fot, /