The Daily Dispatch: December 14, 1860., [Electronic resource]

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Destructive fire in Baltimore

--Less $200,000.--A destructive fire occurred in Baltimore Wednesday evening, destroying property to the value of $200,000. It originated in the china warehouse of Marston & Bro.'s. The heaviest losses are summed up as follows: Marston & Bros., $50,000; Merryfield & Stinchcomb, dry goods, $20,000; E. Rosenwily & Co., caps, $6,000; Jas. S. Waters, books, $15,000; B. F. Voss, hardware, $35,000, and Warner & Co., shoes and hats, $10,000. The buildings destroyed were valuable and extensive warehouses. The American says:

‘ Efficiency, system, and the powerful agency of the steam engines proved fully equal to subdue a conflagration that seemed at first to have an irrepressible power. The steady deluge of water poured in by the untiring engines soon changed the aspect of affairs. The flames were beaten back steadily, perseveringly, and at last successfully. Property that seemed doomed escaped with a mere scorching, and houses deemed in imminent danger were protected with volumes of water that put ignition at defiance. Large as the loss is by the fire, nothing but a fire department like that Baltimore possesses could have prevented it from being doubled. The fire, whilst at its height, presented a grand sight. Such roaring volumes of flame have been seen but on few occasions. They swept across Baltimore street at one time with such force as to endanger all the surrounding property, whilst the heavy wind carried them high in the air, and swept across the city a cloud of burning cinders, but fortunately without causing another fire.

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