The Evansville daily journal., 1850-07-16
NOBLE CONDUCT OF FIREMEN !
PHILADELPHIA. Julv 10.

NOBLE CONDUCT OF FIREMEN ! !
PHILADELPHIA, July 10.
One of the most destructive fires ever in
this city occurred yesterday evening. The
fire first broke out at 4 P. NJ. in the fourth
story of the store No. 58, North Delaware
avenue, and occupied for storage When it
was discovered, the fire had made considera-
BILE progress, the flames spreading in every
direction. In a short time it extended West
to Water street, and North and South from
near Race TO Callowhill three terrific ex-
plosi)ns took place, caused, it is supposed.
from about 1000 bags saltpetre in Brooks
warehouse. Delaware avenue was COM
pletely filed with a mass of human beings.
among whom were several hundred of our
valuable and noble firemen. The first explo-
sion did not seem to cause much excitement
or fear with the mass nor did the second. ex-
cept some slight fears for safety when thev
moved towards the Eastern edge of the
wharf.
The third explosion however, was fatal
in many cases, and proved death to MANY
women and children in the Avenue and on
Water street. The scene was fearful and
apPalli g in the extreme. The rush for life
WAS terrific, and in their endeavors to get be-
yond danger. hundreds rolled over each other
ler-several were knocked down as if dead
Many legs and arms were broken. Some
were thrown into the Delaware river and a
/ large number jumped IN there voluntarily to
shield themselves from the bricks and cinders
thrown from the burning stores. The three
stores mentioned are owned by John Brock.
and were occupied as follows No. 76. by
| Ridgeway & Rudd, Flour and Commission
Merchants; the north portion ofthe first floor
/ by jacob +. Leverlng us a room for storage
! OF \ GLASSES and Sugar; the southern part
| by John Keller as a boarding house and bow
ling saloon. No So by the Lehirh transpor-
tation line; the second stories by M. Hvman.
flour inspector; Sd story was storage room,
and the 4th occupied by Vineyard G. Shnd-
ley sa! makers. The list of persons whose
property is destroyed fills one column of the
morning papers, and the details of the suffer
Ings sicken to peruse.
Among the sufferers are a woman. two
boys, and two girls, taken to the North station
house. One OF the girls is recognized as a
Miss Drake. woman burnt almost to a
crisp was taken to drug store, where she
died soon after. 1t is said a daughter OF
James Alexander, constable had her head
blown oil. A little girl was picked up in the
gutter, with her arm blown off. A humber
OF Infants, not more tnan three months old
were badly burnt. 1t is supposed at least
thirty were killed, and some ten more will
probably die. The total number wounded is
not less than one hundred. To Judge from
the ground covered by the fire, and the M.
} ture OF the property, the damage cannot be
less than $4,O0O,000. At all events il is thf
most extensive and destructive fire that has
ever happened in this city. No praise car dc
Justice TO the fremen. Some OF them perilleC
their lives, and their feats of daring and gal
lantly ehclted bursts OF applause. Some o.
them had their apparatus much damaged
The brakes Of the VigiIent were knocked of
by the explosion, and the Southwark host
carriage was nearly burned up A member
OF the United States engine saved his life bv
a bold feat
The firemen of Camden. West Philadel
phia: Frankfort, Mayumunk and Geman
town, responded to the alarm in time to lenc
service. The u. ). Marines, from the Navy
|, Yard; rendered good .scavice. The police
too were efficient. The houses were set or
fire at distance of six squares. and it wa:
only by the constant wetting of the roof
that they were saved.
AT A. M, the fire was not completely un
der: but there appeared no danger oil the
flames making further progress.
A. M.-The fremen are still working
No further spread of the elements.
PHILADELPHIA, July 10, NJ.
After most diigent inquiry it is impossi
: BILE 10 obtain list OF the killed and wounded
and missing. From all information gained
30 are killed, 100 wounded. 8 drowned, and l.
missing.
A most painful spectacle was presented al
the Cherry street station house; a large
woman lying on the floor with her clothe:
, burnt off, and her body marked by the fire
her limbs drawn up from agony and pain
iul expression Of face, told The suherings she
had experienced. By her side, on scorchet
matrass, lay three boys terribly burned, anC
in moving them they had rolled together. and
, IN separating them the charred flesh fell from
their bodies.
PHILADELPHIA, July 10, 2 P. M.
The Coroner this morning held an inques
over ID bodies, aud is yet engaged. MANY
OF them are so mangled that the nearnest re
latlve cannot recognize them. The scene O
the hire presents most sickening aspect.
The smouldering ruins, the partially destroy
ed building for squares, the many sufferer
who have lost everything, force upon the mind
the most melancholy emo ions.
The city council have held a meetino anf
, appropriated $4,000 for the relief of the guf
terlng poor.
Not less than 400 houses have been de.
stroyed
Several insurance Offices held conven
ton this morning, when it was aseertaineC
t the total losses do not exceed half million
, A delegation of New York firemen arrived
at noon. Workmen are engaged digging fc
bodies.
CONGRESSIONAL.