Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-08
The Burning of Baltimore.

washir gton has never itself experienced
such fire horror as that which has for
the past thirty hours been devastating the
city of Baltimore, and is still raging. Yet
despite this lack of immediate individual
suffering in the past every citizen of the
capital today feels a boundess sympathy
for the people of the neighboring commu-
nifty, so greatly stricken.
1t is gratifying to reflect that In her first
hour of need Baltimore turned promptly to
Washington for aid, and that without the
least hesitation and in record time that
aid was furnished in the form of two of
this city's small number of fire companies,
later supplemented by two more. Not even
the possibility of a great fire here. gather
ing unwonted Roadway in the absence of
an important part of the capitals fire.
fighting force. permitted to delay by
a moment the response to this call for
help. Yet not even with this assistance,
and that which a few hours later was sum-
moned and received from other cities, even
as far distant as New York sufficed to
stay the flames. Eye witnesses of the ter
ror declare that it passes the limits of
verbal description. No words can do jus
tice to the completeness, the rapidity, the
voracity of the devouring element.
At this writing Baltimores loss Is APP
parently more than SiO0, 900 600 1t will
mark one of the greatest fires in the his
=. tory of the world for destructiveness. Chi
Cages terrible visitation destroyed proper
ty to the extent, 1t is conservatively esti-
mated. of S19OOO0.O 900. some records stating
it as high as $500 900 600, and others as
low as S1O6,O0OOoO The Chicago fire. how
ever Is especially notable in that it caused
fha
and the progress Of the flames was at
tended by fierce rioting and the ruthless
pillaging of residences and stores by the
mob. for long time beyond control.
As the case stands now Baltimore's fire
loss is to be expressed practically in dollars
alone. only one life having been lost thus
far. This Is a remarkable fact and one
upon which the stricken city is to be heart
lily congratulated. The fact that the fire
occurred on Sunday doubtless alone saved
the city from heavy loss of life in addi-
ton to the paralyzng destruction of values
or the future of Baltimore 1t Is too early
now to venture any opinion beyond that of
perfect confidence in it's ability To rise
from the ashes of its destruction greater
and finer and more prosperous than ever
The example set the world by Chicago III
1871 shows what can be done under crc,lm-
stances which might otherwise seem to pro-
hibit recuperation. 1t is now conceded thai
IN many respects Chicago benefited by the
IRE Its reconstruction gave 1t new foun-
dation. Boston. too the next year, rose
from the flames which had licked up $50
100000 worth of property materially i'm
proved in appearance and in a few years it
felt the impulse of the regeneration. 1t is
not TO be doubted that Baltimore Will score
as high in the scale of achievements as
have Chicago, Boston. Paterson. .iacxson-
Vile and other cities. great anil small
which have suffered from fire AMI have
proved themselves superior to all afliction
Meanwhile all Baltimore's neighbors stand
ready with such aid as may be required
even as In the hour of the bun ming she has
their heartfelt sympathy. Instant response
to the least suggestion of need has always
marked the intercourse between the cities
of this country and in the face of this grea=
calamity there will be no exception to the
rule