THE FIRE IN BALTIMORE.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIII, Issue 1661, 1 December 1873, Page 4

THE FIRE IN BALTIMORE.

The following particulars of tho recent fire at Baltimore are given in a communication to " The Timeß",from its American correspbndent, dated July 25 :— ' An extensive fire began to-day in a large steam saw-mill in Baltimore, standing in the centre of the city. The combustible nature of the building and its contents soon wrapped them in flames, and a strong south-west wind which was blowing extended the fire to the anjoining houses. The day was very hot, and the fire got a great headway ; so that in les& than two hours, so rapidly did it spread, it had extended over a section bounded on the west by Howard street, south by Lexington street, oast by Liberty and 4 Charles streets, and north by Mulberry street. This region, was occupied by a number 01 shops, mills, and dwellings on the western side, while fine residences, ' churches, and numerous imposing edifices were on the Charles .street side. At noon, over one hundred buildings in this section, covering portions of four blocks, were burning, and the flames had passed beyond the control ot the Baltimore fire department, so that aid was summoned from Washington and other places. Great consternation and excitemeut reigned, and there was a general moving out from the buildings north and east of the fire, over which passed showers of sparks borne by the high wind. The fire-engines labored chiefly to prevent the flames from extending in this direction, where the roofs were constantly igniting. The streets all around the fire were crammed with people, greatly impeding the operations of the tiremien. The firemen, by strenuous labors, aided by two ; steam fire-engines from Washington and others from elsewhere, managed during the time between noon and 3 p.m. to prevent the fire crossing the boundaries set, and at the latter hour it was believed to be under control, although still raging fiercely throughout the burning district. The water supply, notwithstanding the drain upon i v , remained good, and this Avas of great importance. At 3 o'clock this afternoon the Central Presbyterian Church had been entirely consumed. It stood at the corner of Liberty and Saratoga streets, and the walls and steeple have fallen. The Lutheran Church in Lexington utreet has also been burnt. St. Alphonsus (German) Catholic Ohnrch has "been seriously injured, and is in imminent danger of total destruction. St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Charles street has been partially burnt. The Maryland Club House has been several times on fire, and the rows of residences in Charles, Franklyn, Mulberry, and adjoining streets are more or less injured. The dwelling 6f Mr A. S. Abell, proprietor of the " Baltimore Sun," has been on fire several times. At 3 p.m., as far east as Calvert street, the shower of sparks^ were setting fire to the roofs of dwellings ; but they were all extinguished, and throughout that section a close watch was being kept ; to .prevent uew tires appearing. The falling walls are reported ;tp have killed a number of persons, but ' nothing is accurately known, on the subject at present.' Later telegrams confirm the announcement tl'at the. fire i 3 under control^ and commend" the good service done by the firemen, 'and- especially those from Wash-. ..ington. Maryland College, in Mulberry street^s-seriously damaged, and also the building, in. :thev same street, of the Maryland Academy of Art. The Roman 'Catholic Cathedral, an imposing edifice^ with a large .wooden dome, was for hours in imminent danger, but has been saved, the dome .being ...covered with, blankets which were kept constantly saturated with water. This evening the firemen are still playing on the burning ruins, which will probably smoulder for Beven days ; but I all danger is regarded as past. The losses are roughly estimated at 1,500,000d01, though they cannot be accurately determined for some time. The Maryland Insurance Companies suffer severely, but | their officers say they will be able to meet ' all their losses,