SHOWING THE MOST PROMINENT POINTS OF THE RUINS DURING /.Ht'lMMEDIATELY AFTER THE FIRE # Baltimore's Gbeat f ires JULY 25,1873 - FEB.7*"°8, 1904 JONES'- GROENINGER ^ PUBLISHERS ^ BALTIMORE, MD JTiBRmTcONGRESSJ Two Copies Received APR 8 1904 Coiiyrlehl Entry I CLASS "^ XXC. No. ■ I £- 1. C COPY B - 1873 - Baltimore s Great Fire - 1904 - ^^ELIKVING that tlie uorld at large does not realize that the Baltimore fire of February 7 and S, 1904, was in many respects the greatest in the world's history; and after looking over tile numerous books and pamphlets of illustrations, and in many instances inaccurate descriptions that have been pub- lished, we decided to publish " Groeninger's" Views of Baltimore's Great Fire, taken during and immediately after the fire; showing the ruins as they have not been shown in any other publication, and cannot be, as many of the walls were torn down a few hours after our |)ictures were taken. We will give but a brief review of the cause, loss, etc., and let our pictures tell the story. History records the fact that nearly all the large cities of the world have had their great fires. Dating back to the bvirning of Rome, A. D , 64, when five-sevenths of the city was destroyed; in 1086, London; again in 1212, London; and in 1666, London, when 436 acres were burned over, loss J53, 750,000; in 1794, London; in 1S12, Mo.scow burned, loss |i5o,ooo,oco; in 1842, Hamburg, loss 135,000,000; in 1861, London, less |;io,ooo,ooo; in 1871, Paris Communist outrages, loss f 160,000,000; in 18S2, London, IJecember S to 10, loss $5,000,000; in 1900, Ottawa-Hale, Canada, 463 builjings destroyed, loss *i2,ooo,ooo. Greatest Fires in this Country. In 1820, .Savannah, Ga., 463 buildings destroyed, loss I3, 000,000; in 1835, New York, 530 buildings destroyed, loss |i5,ooo,ooo; in 183S, Charlestown, Mass., 1,158 buildings destroyed, loss $6,000,000; in 1845, New York, 300 acr'.-s destroyed, loss $3,000,000; in 1845, Pittsburg, too buildings destroyed, |i, 000,000; in 1849, St. Louis, 15 buildings de- stroyed, loss 13,000,000; in 1850, Philadelphia, 400 buildings destroyed, loss $5,000,000; in 1S51, St. Louis, (loss unknown); in i'5i, San Fran- cisco, 250 buildings destroyed, loss $10,000,000; in i860, Portland, Me., 1,743 buildings destroyed, 'lo.ss $[0,000,000; in 1S71, Chicago, 111., 17,4.50 buildings destroyed, 2,124 acres burned over, and several hundred lives lost, loss $195,000,000; in 1872, Boston, Mass. 776 buildings destroyed, loss $75,000,000; in 1889. Boston, Mass.,, 25 buildings destroyed, loss $4,000,000; in 1S97, Pittsburg, loss $3,000,000; in 1900, Hoboken, N. ]., water front and shipping, loss $5,350,000; in 1901, Jacksonville, Fla., city almost destroyed, loss, $11,000,000; in 1901, Waterbury, Conn., city almost destroyed, loss $3,000,000; in 1902, Paterson, N. ]., 400 buildings destroyed, loss $7,000,000; in 1902, Waterbury, Conn., loss $2,000,000; in 1902, Atlantic City, loss $1,500,000. Baltimore, our beautiful Monumental City has also had what would seem more than her share of large fires in the past, dating back to December 4th, 1796, when a number of stores on Light street, opposite what was then known as the Fountain Inn (where the Carrollton Hotel stood at the last fire) were burned; in 1835, large fire on Calvert street; same year, riots and fires growin,g out of the failure of the bank of Maryland, iiroke out in different parts of the City; 1838 was known as the "Reign of Terror," when m.iny prominent buildings were burned, including the Court House, at that time one of the finest buildings in the country; in 1842, explosion of steamer Medora, forty to fifty persons killed; in 1854, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Charles and .Saratoga streets, loss $140,000; same year, large fire on Baltimore street, loss $200,000; 1857, April 14, number of stores on Charles street near Lombard burned and 14 persons killed; 1858, Hanover and Lombard streets; 1869, McClellans street, assistant engineer Ross and two firemen killed; 1873, Clay street fire, see descriptions and illustrations in back of book; in 1876 several large fires; 1877, July 20, the railro.id riots, were the cause of many fires; 1878, the shot tower' was burned; 1879, large fire on Baltimore street, also on Buchannan's Wharf, 5,000 bales of cotton and other merchandise burned, number of fireiuen injured; 18S6, November 17, Burrough Bros., chem- ical works burned and sever.il firemen killed by the overturning of a ladder; another large fire same year; in 1887, Jas. D. Mason & Co.'s and other buildings burned; same year. Darby binldiiig, Howard and Balti- more streets; in 1888 the Sharp street fire occurred; large loss of prop- erty and seven firemen killed; 1S90, Masonic Temple burned; same year, Concordia Opera House, Kutaw and German streets; 1892, two large fires at the same time on Concord street; 1S93, large phosphate works liurned, when 2000 feet of hose were destroyed by sulphuric acid running through the streets; 1894, McShane Brass Works and steamer Ida burned; 1895, December 27, the Front street Theatre panic, caused by false alarm of fire; 23 persons killed, 40 injured; 1897, fire on Pratt street, w;here ladderman Daley and other members of truck No. 2 made the thrilling rescue of Mr. Stahl; 1903, the Kiik fire, loss, $125,000; 1904, January 14, the Darby building, corner Baltimore and Howard streets was again burned, and on January 27th, the New York Clothing House, loss, $200,000, and eight firemen injured. But it was on Simday morning, February 7th, 1904, at 10.48 o'clock that automatic box No. 854 in John E. Hurst & Co.'s si.x-story wholesale dry goods store, corner Hopkins Place, German and Liberty streets, sounded the alarm of what proved to be the greate.st fire (in many re- spects) in the world's history; it burned unchecked until Monday, Feb- ruary Sth, 3 P. M., when Chief Engineer, Geo. W. Horton, declared it under control. There were 68 fire companies in service at the fire; 28 of Baltimore and 40 from other places, representing 13 cities and towns, in- cluding Baltimore, 3 States, near-by towns and cities, Roland Park, Re- lay, Annapolis and Sparrows Point, Md., Washington, D. C, New York, Philadelphia, Wilmington, Del., York, Pa., Harrisburg, Pa., Chester, Pa., Altoona, Pa ; 1000 enrolled officers and members of the companies and 200 unattached volunteers were on duty. There were 91,350 feet of hose used and 31,550 feet were destroyed. One first-class engine and one truck of Baltimore department destrojed. While many of the firemen suffered greatly with sore eyes, due to the intense heat, but few were injured and none killed. Engineman Mark Kelly, of engine No. 16, New York, died February 25th of pneumonia, caused by "his lieroic work during the fire. (The citizens of Baltimore presented his widow with a purse of several thousand dollars. ) It is impossible, for want of space, to tell of the many heroic deeds performed and the great service rendered by both the firemen and citizens ; there is, however, one incident that we feel should be named whenever the opportnnity is offered— that of Chief Judge Henry D. Harlan, of the Supreme Bench, who, with his coat off, worked all Smiday night to save our new and beautiful |2, 000, 000 marble Court House, with its valuable records. He was assisted by Supt. of Public Buildings, Miller and Assistant Supt. I-eonard and members of the Bar and officials of the Courts. Chief Horton received several severe electric shocks from live wires on the first day of the fire, after which District Chief August Emerich took charge as acting chief and did efficient service. The fire burned over an area of about 150 acres, covered by 70 to So city blocks, of 2,500 liuildings occupied by about 5,000 firms, throwing out of employment about 50,000 persons, some of these only temporarily, but many had to seek employment at less renumerative salaries, the total loss estimated ^125,000,000, insurance estimated I75, 000,000. Every daily newspaper (e.xcept one), nearly all weekly and monthly publications, all type foundries, all electrotypers and photo-engravers, eighty job printing establishments, all wholesale paper and card dealers (except one), many bookbinders and paper rulers, ten or twelve national banks (including some of the largest), several large savings banks, six or seven of the large trust companies' buildings, nearly all bankers and stock brokers, includ- ing stock e.xchange building, all large office buildings (e.xcept two), B. & O. R. R. Co.'s general office building, ticket office and several annexes, Penna. R. R. and W. Md. R. R. ticket offices, steamship offices, W. U. Telegraph main office, C. & P. Telephone exchange and general offices, Adams and U. S. Express offices. United Railway and Electric Light and Power Co.'s general offices and Pratt street power house (in part), ten well equipped hotels, including the Carrollton, large number of small ones, nearly all the principal restaurants and quick junch rooms, all life, fire and marine insurance companies, buildings and agencies, with one or two exceptions; nearly all wholesale dry goods, dry goods com- mission, notion, millinery, boot and shoe, rubber, drug, paint,'oil, hardware. cloth, book and stationery, toy, house furnishing, leather, stoves, seed, iron, candy factories, baking powder factories, machinist supplies, scales, ship chandlers, whiskey, tea, coffee, tobacco, cigars, harness, umbrella factories, flour (one large flour mill), grocers, foreign fruits, fish, oyster, general commission merchants, grain commission merchants, including their building chamber of commerce, many clothing, shirt and neckwear manufacturers, merchants and manufacturers' association, tin can fac- tories, canning factories and millions of cans of canned goods, box factories, grain and feed stores, cord wood, kindling wood mills, many produce dealers, nearly all manufacturers of silver ware, all wholesale jewelers, all the principal retail jewelers, all the large retail clothing stores (except one), nearly all men's shoe stores, gents' furnishing goods, hats, tailors, two of the largest retail drug stores, retail cigar stores, two of the largest retail furniture and carpet stores, publishing houses, piano and organ maruifacturers and dealers, all business colleges, all typewrit- ing machine agencies, several sewing machine agencies, music stores, opticians, three-fifths of the lawyers, real estate dealers, hundreds of saloons, merchants' club building on German street; in fact we question if any department of manufacturing or wholesale or retail busine.ss carried on in the city escaped, thus tnaking it the greatest fire in the world's history. Supposed cause of fire, lighted cigar, cigarette or match blown through broken "dead eye" in vault under sidewalk. The in- surance companies (with the exception of a few of the local ones, who went into receivers' hands) are paying the losses in full as fast as adjustments are made. The building on the corner of Baltimore and Sharp streets was on the spot w here the Old Hall stood that the Continental Congress met in when it fled from Philadelphia in 1779. The Church of the Messiah (the only church burned) was one of the historical ecclesiastical buildings in Baltimore. It was built in 1828 and was formerly Christ Church until that congregation built its present church at the corner of Chase and St. Paul streets. Our photographs were taken by W'm. ]. Groeninger, whose reputation for out-door photography is known as being "always the best." The half tones were made by one of the best photo-engravers in the country, and the printing done by a firm that has a national reputation for this class of work; the paper the very best, making a book that you will always be pleased with yourself and send to your friends or customers, knowing that it is the best. Our book is fully protected by copyright, covering all pictures shown, and all rights are reserved. Price fifty cents single copy, of any newsdealer in the United States, or mailed to any part of the country by publishers. Special prices to dealers or firms for larger quantities. JONES & GROENINGER, Publishers, 404 N. Paca St.. or 816 Harlem Ave. Baltimore, Md. Entered according to act of Congress in the year 1904, by Jones & Groeninger, in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. All rights reserved. BALTIMORE BEFORE THE FIRE FROM FEDERAL HILL, LOOKING NORTH. THIRD NATIONAL BANK VAULTS, CONTENTS PERFECT AFTER FIRE. GERMAN AND LIBERTY STREETS, LOOKING EAST ON GERMAN, JOHN E. HURST & CO.'S BUILDING ON RIGHT, WHERE FIRE STARTED, NATIONAL EXCHANGE BANK BUILDING ON LEFT. BALTIMORE STREET. LOOKi.^u h,-\oT FROM SOUTH STREET. SUN BUILDIiNo UiN klGHT CORNER. SHOT TOWER IN DISTANCE. BALTIMORE STREET. LOOKING EAST FROM LIBERTY. SHOWING THE TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF THIS STREET TO JONES FALLS. 10 BLOCKS. CALVERT AND GERMAN STREETS. MARYLAND TRUST AND B. & O. BUILDING IN THE DISTANCE. SOUTH AND LOMBARD STS., REMOVING CONTENTS OF VAULTS FROM FARMERS AND MERCHANTS BANK AFTER FIRE. HOPKINS PLACE. LOOKING NORTH FROM THE JOHN E HURST & CO.'S BUILDING. SHOWING HOPKINS PLACE SAVINGS BANK, FIRE ENGINE CAUGHT BY FALLING WALLS AND PUT OUT OF SERVICE. SOLD BY CITY FOR $75.00. SOUTH STREET. SHOWING CHIEF HORTON AND VISITING CHIEFS. WRECKERS THROWING WALLS. j H^^^Hi 1 LOOKING SOUTHWEST ON FAYETTE STREET FROM HOLLIDAY. LOOKING NORTHEAST FROM LIGHT AND WATER STREETS. BALTIMORE STREET. LOOKING EAST FROM INTERNATIONAL TRUST BUILDING. WITH BANK OF BALTIMORE AND B. & O. BUILDINGS ON LEFT. AND CONTINENTAL TRUST BUILDING IN CENTRE. BALTIMORE STREET. LOOKING EAST FROM SHARP. COMMENCING AT RIGHT. SHOWING CONTINENTAL TRUST. B. & O. BANK OF BALTIMORE. C. & P. TELEPHONE BUILDING. CALVERT. HERALD AND UNION TRUST BUILDINGS. PRATT STREET. LOOKING; EAST FROM CONCORD. SHOWING HAVOC DONE IN THIS LOCALITY. UNITED RAILWAY AND ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER .COMPANY'S POWER HOUSE ON LEFT. Oi ^ b. . O W J 2 O o -I Z Q o *■ X J < Z is 5 « O : ° ^ h" <" S X M S < H. U O S !« ofe BALTIMORE STREET. LOOKING WEST NKAR THE F.ASTERN LIMIT UF FIKE LINE ON BALTIMORE STREET. MARYLAND INSTITUTE IN FOREGROUND. LIGHT AND BALTIMORh STREETS. LOOKING SOUTHEAST. SHOWING CARROLLTON HOTEL, MARYLAND TRUST AND CONTINENTAL TRUST BUILDINGS. PRATT..STREET. LOOKING' EAST FROM MALTBY HOUSE TO JONES FALLS. 10 BLOCKS. PRATT AND LIGHT STREETS, SHOWING BUILDING CONTAINING LARGE AMOUNT OF GUN POWDER. FLOODED WITH WATER. WIRES AND FRONT COVERED WITH ICE. THE OLD HISTORICAL MARSH MARKET SPACE. LOOKING NORTH FROM PRATT. THIS STREET ONCE THE CHIEF RETAIL STREET OF THE CITY. AT TIME OF FIRE ONE OF THE WORST .SLUMS. FAYETTE AND GAY STREETS, LOOKING SOUTH ON GAY STREET. SHOWING CHURCH OF MESSIAH IN FOREGROUND. BALTIMORE AND LIBERTY STREETS. LOOKING SOUTHEAST. HOPKINS PLACE SAVINGS BANK IN CENTRE. EXCHANGE PLACE, LOOKING EAST ON LOMBARD STREET. SHOWING MERCHANTS NATIONAL BANK. CONTINENTAL TRUST, MARYLAND TRUST AND FARMERS AND MERCHANTS BANK BUILDINGS. GERMAN STREET. LOOKING WEST FROM SOUTH STREET. SHOWING STOCK EXCHANGE. MERCHANTS' CLUB, MERCANTILE TRUST COMPANY'S BUILDING. THIS BUILDING ONLY SLIGHTLY DAMAGED. BUSINESS RESUMED AS SOON AS STREETS WERE CLEARED. MARYLAND TRUST BUILDING. SOUTH STREET. LOOKING NORTH FROM GERyvLAN STREET. SHOWING FIRST NATIONAL BANK. COMMERCIAL AND FARMERS BANK BUILDING. THE SAFE DEPOSIT AND TRUST COMPANY OF BALTIMORE. THIS BUILDING ESCAPED WITH VERY SLIGHT DAMAGE AND OPENED FOR BUSINESS AS SOON AS STREETS WERE CLEARED. VEST FALLS AND CANTON AVENUES. LOOKING NORTHWEST. SHOWING LARGE CANNING FACTORIES, ETC.. DESTROYED, WITH MILLIONS OF CANS OF CANNED GOODS. LOMBARD AND LIBERTY STREETS. LOOKING NORTHEAST. GERMAN AND CALVERT STREETS. BALTIMORE AND LIGHT STS.. LOOKING WEST. LOOKING NORTHEAST FROM GERMAN AND CHARLES STS. LOOKING THROUGH WATER ST. FROM SOUTH ST. WATER STREET, LOOKING WEST FROM GAY STREET. SHOWING MARYLAND FIRE INSURANCE BUILDING, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND FIREMAN'S INSURANCE BUILDING. DOME OF CITY HALL SHOWING THROUGH RUINS- CONCORD STREET. LOOKING NORTH ABOVE EASTER.^ BALTIMORE STREET, LOOKING WEST FROM HOLLIDAY. SHOWING B. & O. AND EQUITABLE BUILDINGS ON RIGHT. CONTINENTAL TRUST. AMERICAN AND SUN BUILDINGS ON LEFT. SOUTH STREET (WALL STREET OF BALTIMORE). LOOKING SOUTH. MORNING AFTER FlkL. orti n bhh\_,o. , ^,^L> TRUST COMPANY OF BALTIMORE FRONTING ON SOUTH STREET, SOUTH OF SUN OFFICE. THIS BUILDING WAS ONLY SLIGHTLY DAMAGED AND OPENED FOR BUSINESS AS SOON AS STREETS WERE CLEARED. THOMAS' FACTORY WHERE FIRE STARTED. RUINS LOOKING NORTHEAST FROM FIRST ENGLISH LUTHERAN CHURCH. LEXINGTON ST.. ETC. The Clay street fire, of which we show si.\ illustrations, believed to be the only ones in existence, took place July 25, 1873, and was the most destructive one Baltimore ever had until the one of February 7th and 8th, 1904. It started in a box of shavings in the factory of Joseph Thomas & Sons, Park avenue and Clay street. The fire burned from 10.15 A. M. to 4 P. M. During that time four blocks were consumed, and the official report of Fire Inspector HoUoway stated that the losses included two churches, three two-stcry-and-attic brick houses, sixty-four three-story brick houses, eighteen four-story brick houses, one two-story frame house, one three- story frame house and one one-story brick house. The loss was estimated at $750,000, of which one-third was covered by insurance. The property burned covered nearly the entire area between Saratoga and Lexington streets, from Liberty street east on a line midway between Park avenue and Howard street on the west. Two engines were sent over from Washington, making the run from that city to Baltimore in thirty-nine minutes. Sparks ignited buildings several blocks distant. Excitement was intense. There were numerous accidents, one girl died from fright and many persons were arrested for stealing property that had been taken from the burning buildings. LOMBARD STREET, LOOKING WEST FROM FREDERICK, SHOWING NEW UNITED STATES CUSTOM HOUSE IN COURSE OF CONSTRUCTION, DAMAGED $200,000. UNITED STATES STOREHOUSE SLIGHTLY DAMAGED. AKU 5 r □ \ J/l/W///7\ ]a^:3 M ... 1 V£^-A-?r Street, baaOk PATTEHSON'i iS> WHARF ^V 014 368 508 1 nan d DOOfflOQ 12. Lombard JB. Pratt , Gougn "' ia ^ Bank p DO ghe's Quay Hatbl 1 WoiTf.l aao gsQD rf n n DQ an" Lan caste ■3h.ak.sptiajL ^ Shinner's c°" R «■?>* B- I — im S H f t . d ■ I-.Lf oTZh^E TTufstTcf LaTaTol'Jns w.h.n He.vv b.ac. Unes show space .ached bv f.e. BUC M.CU -;-^— ^:-— ^- *- leaped L. sou.HeasU. po.n. of .a. f.e .o«„da..