Fremont weekly freeman. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1850-1853, 1850-07-20
From the Philadelphia Ledger Of the loth,
Terrible Fire in PHILADELPHIA.

nfe 50 terrible and destructive IN Its Chafac-
ter. and covering 50 large space Of the busi-
ness part Of the city, as that which broke out
yesterday afternoon. about half past o'clnck
II the store Of Gordon & Berger, No ls9, on
tho east side Of Water street a few doors be-
low Vine Street
The fire at first did not give much apprehen-
sion though i burnt rapidly in consequence
Of the pressed hay in the building, The
fireman had hurried to the spot with their
usual alacrity, and had succeeded in partially
arrcstne the flames when terrific explosion
occurred, caused, it is said. by salpetre stored
in the building BY the owner, Mr.. John Brock.
The consequence of this explosion we're most
disastrous, causing destruction Of both pro-
perty and life. and giving an impetus to the
flames by temporarily paTalyzing the efforts
of the fireman, to which all the subsequent
destruction Of property, invoking an unprece-
dented number Of houses and stores, is to be
attributed
At the timeof the explosion the narrow way
Water street and the wharf in front of the
store we're crowded with persons. Theexplo-
sion burst out the walls Of the building and
hurled the fragments with. violence into the
houses on the West side of Water street gen
orally occupied by poor families It killed and
manned several persons there and caused the
death and injury Of many other fremen.-
Some were alss believed to be drowned.
A number Of person fell and jumped into
the river when the explosion took place, caused
partly by the rush of those nearest the scene
Of danger and partly BY terror.
The building adjoining Berger's store, oecu
piedby Ridgeway a Budd. and the one on the
other side occupied by the Iehigh Transporta
tion Company. were greatly damaged By the
explosion, and both set on FIRE. The flames
now spread rapidly through to the wharf, and
oYer on the West side Of Water street, through
70 Front street, on both SIDES to Vine, thence
Westward from Front street The heat BY this
time had grown intense, and the efforts efthe
fireuan. who had labored necessarily amid
the perils Of the scene, appeared to be unavail-.
ing The fire rushed up Second street to
Vine, which had already caught, and along.
which the IRE was rapidly extenting, from
Trout Street toward Second.
The whole square, on both sides, was now
one sheet of ffame and as il became evident
that the flames would extend up the entire
block 10 alIowhill street, efforts we're made
10 arrest the FIRE, which was beng carried by
Southeast wind accross most thickly IN
habited part Of the city, which is one entire
range Of valuable stores.
These efforts after severe labor and the
most incredible exertions Of the 6remen, were
happily successful-the Ere was arrested
zsithin SIX stores Of the s. Z. corner of Callow-l
hill and second streets. The construction
ofthe White Horse Hotel, which is built with
palapef walls stayed the progress ofthe flames
inthat quarter the next house Mr.. G. Gil
berf,s stove store above that which was en-
tirely destroved at the time Of writing this
account. when the FIRE IS till raging
On the East at this moment, half past Il
O'Clock p NJ. the ERE had passed along Water
street and the wharf above Vine to Callowhiil
street. and fears are felt that viii cross Cal
lowhill street
The extent burnt over is greater than any.
: fire which has cver occurred here, and the nnul=
Der Of buildings much large than the great
Ere Of Water and Chestnut streets, some ten
or twelve years ago. The number of buildings
burned We are at present unable to estimate.
Some hare said two hundred-ethers higher
Fszin the Philadelphia Inquirer.
About half past four, truly startling explo-I
sion took place, quickly followed by another
spreading havoc IN every direction, Beams
of wood, scantling, bricks, metal roofing and
blazing shingles were thrown into the air and
fell at greatdistance, setting the eroofsof sever
al other houses on fire This. however, was
the lightest part the calamity for the crowds
in al the neighboring streets and on the wharf
made rush to escape,by which some persons
were forced into the river, many thrown down
and trampled on, while other suffered from the
falling buildings
The lives lost cannot at present be ascer-I
tanned, but number were carried of in al
nanqled conditioned, and several utterly life
less The FIRE now spread with the utmost
fuTY-and By six O'Clock, upward Of fifty build
ings were IN flames. and tho eonfagTation still
spreading The alarm Of woman and children
was quite distressing while the rapid removal
of furniture and goods on all sides, added
10 the confusion. The fremen, in several
Instances, had TO panse in their perilous labors.
for they knew not at what moment another
explosion might take place
As night approached the scene became still
more fearful, for the heavens presented a lu-
nd appeagnee-yolumes of smoke were borne
along by the wind--the alarm bells were rung
In every quarter.aHd the word was passed from
Iip to lip that the furious element Res sweeping
every thing before it Store after store,
dwelling after dwelling was earapped IN flames.
Falling walls blazing buildings were seen on
all sides Alleys and streets were crossed by
the fire, which, for time seemed to bid de-.
fiances to all human efforts
The alarm At this moment was great
Philadelphia has not within the memory of
the oldest inhabitant witnessed such a scene
and the tinid and apprebensiy- felt their
hearts failin their bosoms. Still the gallant
firemen worked on Difficulty and danger ap-
peared but to stimulate their courage--and
many Of them encountered risks and perils FAR
greater than those connected with an ordinary
battle field. By 9 o'clock the inhabitants Of
the whole city and county were ID condition
of extraordinary agitation, and most extraya-
giant stories were circulated.
SAIT PETRE.All questions as to whether
this article will explode are put to a final rest
by the late fires in Brooklyn and Philadelphia.