The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1906-06-20
STEAMSHIP BURNED; TWO LIVES LOST.
Shipping and Other Property Destroyed
in Baltimore.

Baltimore (Specia). - One OF the
greatest fires since the big confiagration
of 1904 occurred on the water front carly
Wednesday morning.
The steamer Essex and the Savannah
Wharf of the Merchants and Miners
Transportation Company, as well as
eight barges loaded with cotton and
rcsin, were totally destroyed, with loss
which will probably be over 100000
The fire started about I.3o O'Clock,
but at o'clock it was under control.
A crew of 10 men were aboard the
Essex when the fire broke out, and they
were seen to jump into the harobr to
save themselves Two OF them were
burned to DEATH
On the south side of the harbor the
packing house of Moore & Brady Com
pany was considerably damaged 1t
caught afire from the barges and the
Essex when they floated across the har-
Dor after being cut loose from their
moorngs
The fire was discovered by Charles
Nelson, one of the watchmen. William
League. a watchnan for Filbert's Ce-
mem Company, however, saw the flames
at the same time and he fred two shots
from his revolver. He attracted the
attention of F. A. Courtney another
watchman on the pier who was on his
rounds
Patrolman GARNER, of the Eastern dis
trict, few minutes after the shot was
fired located the fire and sounded ar
alarm from Box 1856. AS soon as the
hremen arrived general alarm was
sounded, and Chief Horton, who came
upon the scene shortly afterwards, took
charge of the fire.
The fire made quick headway, and be.
fore many minutes had elapsed the en-.
tire wharf, which is 600 feet long, was
in solid mass OF flames.
The steamer Essex, which arrived If
port several nights ago, and which wa'
half unloaded, was lying alongside Of
the south end of the wharf, and before
word could be passed she caught fire
and was towed out into the harbor, burn.
ing hercely
Eight scows and barges that were alst
lying alongside of the wharf were ig
nited at once and were soon completely
destroyed A number Of them were
towed out into midstream so as tc
prevent them from setting fire to adj DIN
ing property.
The barges and scows were loaded
with cotton and rosin, and the flames
made beautiful sight, blazing fercely
and the heat from them being intense.
They were towed with extreme dit
fculty out into stream, and the tugs that
endeavored to take them away iron
the wharf were slightly singed. The
tugs that did the work volunteered, and
the crews were placed in imminent dan
ger OF losing their lives.
The residents of four houses ON the
north side OF Block Street, facing the
wharf, were panc-stricken, and for
awhile it looked as though their homes
were doomed and that the fire would
sweep Oh toward the north and destroy
the many lumber yards and warehouses
in that section.
The police of the Central and East
ern districts. however, did noble work
and assisted the people to places Of safe.
ty. Two old women. Mrs. O'Neill and
Mrs. Wells. residing at II3o Block
Street, locked themselves in and Ser
geants Bruff and Forrest had TO break
into the house and carry them out.
They were carried on sretchers TO the
Central district ambulance and taken tc
the City Hospital, Mrs Wells being
extremely sick
The other occupants of the houses go
to places of safety along the Falls.