Annapolis, Maryland, USA
1883 - A LARGE FIRE AT ANNAPOLIS. TEN HOUSES BURNED, TWO LIVES LOST, AND SEVERAL PERSONS INJURED.

ANNAPOLIS, Md., Oct. 22. - By the bursting of a lighted coal-oil lamp in the store of Louis S. Clayton, on Market-space here, about 4 o'clock this morning, a fire was started which caused the destruction of over $60,000 worth of property, the loss of two lives, and the injury of several other persons. Three loud explosions, which shook the houses for two squares on either side of Clayton's establishment, aroused the sleeping citizens of that portion of the city, and was the first intimation of the fire. The next instant flames leaped from the windows of the building. It was either a keg of powder or a barrel of coal-oil that caused the loud explosive reports. Although Annapolis is a large town, with the State-house and other valuable buildings in it, there is only one hand fire-engine in the town, and that was no good. The fire-engine from the United States Naval Academy did good service, and an engine was sent from Baltimore, but arrived too late to render service. A block of the best stone houses in the city was destroyed. All the marines and sailors at the Naval Academy worked with the citizens in subduing the fire.

So rapidly did the flames spread that the people in the burning houses had to leave in their nightclothes. One young woman leaped from a second-story window, but was caught in the arms of a stalwart sailor. Mr. Charles Legg tried to save Miss Lizzie Watkins, his aged aunt. Her house was on fire when he entered, and five minutes later the floor fell in. Nothing has been seen since of the young man or his maiden aunt, and it is supposed that they perished in the flames. James Brown was caught under a falling roof and seriously injured. James Sands and Charles Golden were also hurt. Several times the State-house and naval buildings were in danger, but they were closely watched. Ten houses were burned to the ground and others damaged. The heaviest losers are Joseph S. Basil, $20,000, and Louis Clayton, John G. Taylor, Julius Hall, William T. Inglehart, the Misses Sands, Lewis H. Rehn, and John Linderborn each lose from $3,000 to $6,000. There is but $20,000 insurance on the whole lot of property.

The New York Times
New York, New York
October 23, 1883

Visit Annapolis, Maryland, USA
Discover the people who lived there, the places they visited and the stories they shared.