The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-02-11
LAST STAND TO CHECK FLAMES
Firemen Won Desperate Fight at the
River Front.

r " "IlNU NNbll GNollNi nAN '-iiN 90 N'f~
River Front.
As the day wore on the forefront OF
The FIRE neared Jones Falls a small
stream that trends north and south
and divides Baltimore from that por-
ion of the city known as East Balti-
more This little stream was the last
stand II the conhagration leaped it,
4 by dying embers or a rush Of flamh
he fire could cross and gain a foot
lOid IT'S extent could not be foretold
Tremendous efforts We're made 10 block
O. Dynamite was used freely. The
ire apparatus was ceniered and all Tho
skill of the fire fighters called into play
TO defeat the element that had eaten
I'D millions Of dollars worth OF prop
rty And human skill and pluck and
-rit and unfaltering courage won. The
fire was checked But behind it lay q
great Quilted waste OF more than $40
acres in extent
Every street that led 10 the fire area
was crowded with awe-stricken spec
tators. Down the narrow gulch-like
streets the black smoke hung densely.
split now and then by red glare Of
flame. The crash Of falling buildin2s
was lost in the roar OF exploding dyna-
mite as it was used to demolish struc-
lures as yet untouched by fire.
The city was under the strictest mil
itary control All around the burned
area was stretched a Gordon OF soldiers.
who held mp all corners at the point OF
the bayonet. Police brought from the
neighboring cities patrolled the dis
trict. and on every street near the linz
its of the fire area paced armed scnti-
nels.
Scene Of Complete Devastation.
The burned area is a scene Of COM
plete devastation. Numberless build
ings that were the pride Of Baltimore
costly and stately, and occupied tor
divers purposes. were Quilted, and only
smoulderine debris or walls or rem
nants of walls remain 10 mark the
sites. The Baltimore American build
ing one of the finest. is now but mass
Of smOuldering debris. save for rem
nants and front and side walls Across
South street. where stood the Balti-
more sun building. only the pillars
that marked the front remain. Entire
blocks just below there are wiped ont
without in some cases, wall ieti
standing. From Fayette street down
Holiday street. as far as German
street there is no building left save
the Corn and Flour Exchange. at The
corner of German street That build
ing. whose walls tower above tho
crumbling debris Of what We're adioin-
ing structures was Quilted. and the
standing walls formed caudrOn. the
flames Of which burst at times through
the windows, but could cause no further
damage. In numerous other wrecked
buildings the flames played about the
debris and threatened to weaken the
foundations Of the few walls that were
left standing.
Like a grim tower in the ruins stands
the walls Of the l5-story Continental
Trust company's building. The walls OF
the Baltimore and Ohio building are
also standing, but the Pennsylvania
railroad building, directly across Cal
vert street. is raZed. Only the walls
remain of the once stately Equitable
building. Only remnants of one wall
are left of what was the National no.
tel at Holiday and Fayette STREETS. No
buildings are left standing as far as
the eye can see down Baltimore street
from this point All along South Gay
street there is the same picture of COM
plete destruction. A broken sign anc
a .tottering front wall show where the
MARYLAND w. c. T. L. building once
stood. Adjoining this was the build