The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-07-11
THE C0NFL AGRATl0N IN PHIL ABEL Hlh.
~>NoN>~~0~>~~~~~>>~~~~~o<
TER RIB 4 e Il KIP 10 s ION
AND LOSS OF LIFE.
Four Hundred Houses Burned.
$1,000, 900 OF PROPERTY DESTROYED.
NEW YORK FIREMEN ON THE GROUND,
&c., &C., 30.


Prom the Philadelphia forth American JuIvIoJ
The city at the present moment in high state Of
ex ctement, owing TO fearful csnaagration which ia
now raging with very little abatement from All thu
efforts that are making to suppress it,
From the Roadway which the flames have already
obtained and the force of the breeze that tanning
them into yet destructive ferceness it impos
sible to foresee where they will step what win be
mated, about Az o'clock this afternoon IN the upper
part OF the large double torehouse the south aide
Of Water street below Vine owned by John Brooh,
runs all the way through to Delaware avenue and Is
occupied in the different apartments and stories BY
lasses dealer; Whampole shannon, salmakers; John
Keller hotel and bowling saloon, and by John Brock,
The FIRE ragged with great fury and the aremen, who
were promptly on the spot Notwithstanding the
rowness Of alter street, which rendered 1t dcult
reach the Immediate scene Of the confsgrston would
have succeeded In mastering it but for terrible sx
plosion which occurred about halt hour after the
hre began To give an idea Of the that followed
this calamity, Is impossible As soon as the names
had reached the saltpetre in the store room of Mr.
finally a tremendous explosion took place snrs.aine
terror and destruction around The force Of the ex-
plosion lateral shattering the walls OF the build
ing but 1t spent itself principally in upward direc-
ton, carrying with it into the air to the height OF
three hundred feet large burning of combust
bles with brick, joists, &c.
heavy girder was thrown sheer up about one hun
dred feet, and fell upon one Of the houses In Front
street, breaking through the roof aad burying and
hastily renewing their effects At this eut there
about three thousand people the ground; and
the spectacle Of fright and confusion and the wang
and screaming of women and children, made up scene
Of horror beyond description.
In Water street, where the hremen chiefly COL
lected, the houses Immediately adjoining Brooke
building were completely demolished by the pioson
while those situated on the west side of Water street
on fire by the fakes and cinders which flying in
all directions. Many Of the bremen thrown, with
their pipes In their hands from the roofs of sur.
rounding houses, and others knocked down from the
engines, and some OF them burned or lacerated in
The force Of the explosion and the intense heat and
fury Of the fire. rs 1t burst out all sides at
tended with lamentasle loss of life. Several men,
women and children, were instantly killed. Numbers
fightfully scorched and dreadfuly burned and maa-
ged; while many others were hurled into the docks,
there very large crowd Of spectators aud when
the panic seized this portion Of the multitude great
number ofthem spraHg into the river utterly
scous Of what they we're doing.
Pen fails to depict the scene that succeeded The
dead and dying were borne to the drug
and police stations or to the Hospital The wind being
fresh from the southeast the flames spread in north
western direction aud before the remen had
ed from the bewderment accustomed by the explosion
they obtained fearful headway The buildings we're
nearly all old and combustible, with shngled roofs
The fire, In spite Of almost superhumsn .xertions on,
the part of the fremen continued 20 make the most
alarming progress and for six hours baed all attempts
to eheckit
At ten o'clock the hour at which We commenced
penang this report, nearly the whole Of th proper
ties embraced within the boundaries OF the Delaware
river East the east side Of secoEd strest West the
north side of Calowhill street. North, aud the south
side of New street. South including Delaware avenue,
Water Front Vine, and New Market str.ets, with the
intermediate small streets and alleys were involved In
The area contains about four squares and some
twelve blocks in which there perhaps three hun
bred buildings. The locality was one Of the most
densely pop uated IA the city and large number Of he
being sns o.
oldest In Philadslphia; yet there many valuable
business stands, and yet some Of the finest VI
81. .ta1n akavvp
From the place where the fire originated IL extend
ed south far as the first alley destroy the extern
sive -four and grain store OF Ridcway Bddd North
II to Vine, and from Water through
Delaware avenue, burning the Office OF the Lehigh
S n se 90 ., and ssnaa our
store Of Lewis Chesher rope maker and ship chandler
and the drug warehouse Of DR. jayne which
the southeast corner Of Vine and Water streets
ON the west side Of Water street below Vine the fol-
lowing properties involved In ruinto wit Car
lin tavern; Thomas Quigg Brother, taiors; Thomas
McGovern tavern Catharne Sullivan old iron dealer;
Philip McGrath, do; Deylin tailor; Edward Herrich,
iron store; Thos Black, boarding aud lodging house
The houses the east and west side Of Front street.
below yine on both sides OF New street from Front to
Second and on both sides Of Vine street from Front to
Second, were principally dwellings The buildings
the east side Of Second street from New Is callowh
Commencing at New street and extending Vine the
sufferers are Evans Green, carpet dealer; Knapp,
tailor Charles Hungwaid, copPersmth S N Murphy
pine and lard oil the Barley sheaf Tavern aud stsbs
}. 7. Van Zsnt grocer; cbss. T. Amos. shset iron
worker Moss Detrler, stove store and Ethan Com
ley, dry goods The drug store ofDr Houston south
east corner Vine and Second escaped destruction
Commencing on the northeast corner Of Vim. and
Second and extending on the east sido of Second to
Callowh the following properties were consumed to
wit:-Joseph Knights iron store G. q. Raphuu hat
ter Morgan Co, bedding Thomas De,lns, candy
store VIM, L.. Ortiz, paper hsngingsi Vim Hsss,
mineral water J, Lahsrty, clothing; j McConaghy,
grocer O vansandt shoe dealer Yocum n wilson,
ry, leather store Yettcriine X Co, pexsrs Mn a
Cline stoves Gilbert furniture store Chlries Kay
ser clothing store the White Horse Hose and other
On the northeast corner Of Vine and water streets,
the large salt store Of A. Wright Nephs~ de-
sroyed Near that, the wood yard Of Galbrath BEN
der was burned, and further north a lumber yard.
The -four store OF ". b. Edwards n r. corner Of Vine
and Front streets, was also burned aud like wse the
susquehanna House, kept by Walter p. Culliu ~ w.
corner Of Water and Vine streets.
majority Of the buildings on both sides OF Front
street, between Vine and CallowhI were occupied as
dwellings, though there some large business es-
tablishments: The houses on wa.er street between
Irish families The livery stables in New Market street
gone The old Penn market, on the south Tide Of
Calowhhl, between Front and Second, iell prey to
The public school house and the school hoars be-
longing TO the tocety Of Friends the south side Of
New street, we're both reduced 90 ashes.
II Is impossible 70 ascertain the number 81 lives
lost or 90 give any very exact estimate Of the total
value ofthe property destroyed The following i.t of
the killed and wounded Is as full aud accurate a., in
the confusion prevailing we are able to obtain =:
TIE KILLED sND wouNpFD.
David Milford, a member Of the Northern Liberty
Hose, killed in water street at the time OF the third
explosion.
Mortimer Morris. . young man said 10 b. a member
OF the United states Engine killed In Fsout street
young girl. whose name could not aacartain.
killed Ia water street She standing directly
opposite Brock store when the explosion took plsce
aud was burned 90 death
Three men and two boys drowned IN the Della
at the time Of the third explosion in their at
tempt to jump on board a schooner. Their uamrs wa
could not learn. Their bodies have not AZ yet been
recovered.
Marcus Marcus, young man sred ~ vas carried to
the hospital avfully burned aud died almost IS soon
az he entered that institution.
An unknown fireman was burned % q rsisp Ia wstsr
street lie was taken TO the Northsra Liberties Hall
for recognition.
David May, a young man aged rim teen years re-
siding In otter street Franklin was Instantly
Killed by being struck on the head with brick
William l., Bpekmsn had both legs broken Taken
"a the hospital
Thomas Teefe, a member q the vigilant Rnxins
Company, very seriously injured by being bed be-
tween the engine and falling bricks at the tne ~ the