Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1850-07-19
The Fire in Philadelphia.

The fire which commenced in Philadelp phia
on Tuesday afternoon, (the 9th.) about a J
o clock, seems to have been one Of the most
terrific and destruciv i've that ever occurred in
that city. II continued 10 rage until Wednes.
day morning, about o'clock, when its progress
was sensibIy checked. The extent of the con
/ flagratior was bounded by New street and Cal.
lowhlll street, and by the wharves and Second
street. The number Of buildings destroyed can
not yet be certainly known, nor the amount Of
property consumed but the number Of build.
ings burnt IL estimated at from 900 TO 400, and
the property consumed at not less thin mil
lion Of dollars. Many of the buildings con-
snmed were storc-houses !; br, many more were
occupied by poor families, who have been sub
lected TO great loss and severe Inconvenience
as well as much actual suffering, by this terri.
BILE fire. The loss Of life, too, occasioned BY the
repeated explosions in the burning store.houscs.
has been very severe. It is variouslv estimated
at from 80 TO 100 persons-mcn, women and
children. From the latest accounts in the Phi
lade lphia papers, we collect the following par
ticnlars Of this sad event.
The scene was a most heart-rendng one :;
carts and furniture wagons were put in rcqusi
ton IN moving the furniture from the houses as
they became threatened with destruction. and
in many cases second remove became ncces.
sary
About twenty arrests were made BY the po.
lice Of persons detected in the act ot pilfcrinp
from 'hc goods piles about the streets and even
IRON the stores. Some had new coats put Oh
under their own clothing.
During the height Of the fire poor womans
lie vas saevd by fireman lowering her by
means OF rope, from the window of the room
she occupied, in Water street, near Vine, her
means of escape having been cut off by the
very rapid spread of the flames
The wind was from the Southeast during the
conflagraion, but from the North and North
west there was an under current Of air rushing
toward the scene of confiagration, which led
one standing in that direction to suppose that
Disk gale was blowing from the Northwest.
Early IN the evening file of marines under
The command Of Lieut.. Graham, came up from
the Navy Yard, and placed themselves under
the direction OF Major General Patterson, for the
purpose OF being employed in the blowing up
OF buildings in the range ofthe fire, should such
a necessity be deemed advisable. This force
was stationed at the Majors office, in the city.
Information was sent to Mayor Wilkinson, OF
the Northern Liberties, that the services Of the
marines could be had whenever he should de-
mand them. Fortunately an exigercy did not
arise for such course.
AT about half past four on Wednesday NOR.
ming, truly startling explosion took place,
quickly followed by another, spreading havoc
in every direction. Beams of wood. scanting,
bricks, metal roofing and blazing shingles were
thrown into the air and fell at great distances
setting the roofs of several other houses on fire.
rms, however, was The slightest part OF the
Calamity, for the crowds in all the neighboring
st is and on the wharf made rush to escape,
by which some persons were forced int, tie
whl'e others suffered from The falling buildings
Thelivcs lost cannot be at present ascertain
ed, but number were carried of in manged
condition. and snvera niiorlv hLnloos 'in
hre now spread with the utmost iury-and by
six o'clock, upward of fifty buildings were IN
1lames, and the conhagra,ion still spreadng.-
The scene at this time was truly irighiul.-
The alarm OF women and children were quite
distressing, while the rapid removal of furniture
and goods on all sides, adlcd much to the CON
fusion. The firemen, in several instances, had
10 pause in their perilous labors, for they knew
not at what moment another explosion might
AXE place.
a heavy giider was thrown sheer up about
bne hundred tect and fell upon one of the op-
Dnsite houses in Front street, breaking through
The root and burylng and injuring some Of the
inmates, who were engaged in hastily remov-
"S 'Ht'i 'htSlS' INt tIIlS moment tIlcrp were
abont three thousand people on the ground and
the spectacle OF fright and confusion, and the
wailing and screaming OF women and children
made up scene of horror beyond description.
a number of infants, some OF them no, more
han three months old, were shockingly burnt.
We saw one of these children, with the mother,
pulled by the firemen from the ruins Of ii build.
ing partly demolished.
There are supposed 10 be at least twenty kill
I'd. Some ten or more will mast prubabl die.
The total number cannot Ge less than one hun
lred.
Houses were set on fire at the di stance of six
squares, and il was on'v by the constant wet
ing Of the roofs that til y were saved.
We regret to have to record the fact that
party of rutfians from Moyamensng, made
'owardly attack upon some of the members of
he Shider Hose Company in Front street.
Seven "l the rioters were arrested by the police
Il Boston Traveller.
News from CnlliuinIa.