Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-12-03
WORST FIRE SINCE 1904
$500, 900 BLAZE IN BALTIMORE
WHOLESALE DISTRICT.
Ten Firemen Hurt at Confagration,
Which Burns Four Buildings or
Hopkins Place.

BALTIMORE. December "A fire
which caused about $500. 900 damage to
buildings and stock in the heart of the
| city drygoods district was discovered at
5:43 o'clock yesterday afternoon on the
third floor of the Spear building, 104
Hopkins place. occupied by the Royal
Cap Manufacturing Company.
1t spread rapidly because of the in
| fiammability of the stock. Before 1t
could be checked it burned out the 7op
| floors of four buildings, slightly burned
| another and caused water damage N
| two others Ten firemen were injured
/ and a number of employees are thrown
out of work. The fire has crippled sew
eral firms in the midst of their busy
season.
A 'confagration alarm was turned
in. bringing out nearly all of the fire
department and attracting immense
crowds Being short block from
where the fire of 1904 started, it was
watched with apprehension.
Damaged by Fire.
The following buildings were damaged
by fire:
Second and fourth floors. occupied by
c. J. Peed. wholesale shoes, stock q
complete loss of about $4,000. fully
covered by insurance.
First, fifth and sixth floors, by Spear
Bros. wholesale shoes.
Third floor twhere fire started), Royal
Cap Manufacturing Company, controlled
by Lewis Miller and l. Brook Company,
stock entirely destroyed; loss. 100000,
covered by insurance.
Building owned by Abraham Spear,
loss $4,000, covered by insurance.
McCaddn Il McElwee, PICTURES and
frames: William C. Smith. Isaac Lobe
StrauS and William Mines Maloy. re-
ceivers. Stock completely destroyed; loss,
Sl25OOO, covered by insurance. Building
damage about ssO.O00. covered by insur-
ance
Baker Bros & Co Charles E. and
Charles J. Baker. jr.), glass, paints and
oils--Whole stock destroyed or damaged
by water; aggregate loss Of stock, $780,
600. covered by insurance. Building own
ed by Abraham Spear: valued at $4,000;
loss estimated at $4,000; covered by in
surance.
The MARYLAND building. owned by the
Maryland National Bank and occupied
by seventy firms. all of which suffered
losses-Bulding valued at 100000 and
damaged about $4,000. Two top floors
burned out; the remaining damaged by
water. Losses are covered by insurance.
The combined losses of the tenants in
the building are estimated at $4,000.
Other buildings were damaged by
water
Firemen Suffer.
Ten fremen were injured, but none
seriously.
August Wolf of No. l salvage corps
was probably the worst hurt. He was
badly cut on the scalp and side of the
face by falling glass. After an effort to
treat him in the ambulance he was taken
to Mercy Hospital, where he was treated,
it 'being feared that glass was farther
Under the skin than could he
Every piece of apparatus in the depart
ment, save the fireboat, was in commits
sion. All We're called by the confiagra-
ton call. three nine-a call established
after the conf1agration of 1904 for use in
case the entire department should be
wanted. 1t was the first time the cali
had been used. Deputy Chief Enrich
turned 1t in after he saw that the fire
was raging and all the neighboring prop
erty was In great danger. At that time
the flames were shooting from the rear
of the building. The paint on the storm
shutters on the r. NJ Sutton building
| had begun to burn and the metal cover
ing was slowly melting. The roof was
beginning to curl at an end, and the fly
Ing sparks easily worked their way into
the building on the upper floor. This was
| extinguished. however. by the sprinkler
system before any great damage had
been done.
The first alarm of the fire was turned
in from an automatic box on the third
floor of the building. These alarms were
set off by the heat Of the fire. and five
minutes later, at 5:4S. the same alarm
was again registered from the floor
above.
Flames Gain Roadway.
The flames were nearing their highest
at that time. The fourth, fifth and sixth
floors of the building were entirely en-
veloped in flames, making a lurid spec
tacle. 1t was early in the fire and from
the fury of the flames it was deemed ad-
visable to press into service both of the
water towers. They were placed in po-
sition, and the flames in front of the
building were driven back. as it were, to
the rear. Again they broke out from the
rear windows and began their havoc at
the rear of the r. NJ. Sutton building The
fire slowly spread to the adjoining build
ings. and although they were being
fought energetically by the firemen, they
slowly but surely gained Roadway.
Thousands of feet of hose were pressed
into service. The fight continued until
shortly after O'Clock, when the fire was
got under control At that time streams
were being poured on 1t from the roofs
of all the adjoining buildings, as well as
In front, where the water towers were
still working. The new Baker lines re-
Gently obtained by the department were
pressed into service These lines throw
the heaviest stream of water that can
be thrown from a hose Two lines lead
| to the nozzle, which rests upon the
ground.