Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1850-07-18
Dreadful Fire i'm PHILADELPHIA,
400 to 500 Houses Burnt!
Terrible Explosions and Loss Of Life.


| One of the most extensive fires that has Oc-
CURED in many years was kiDdled at PhlladeI-
phia, on The afternoon of Tuesday 9th inst II
commenced a, half past four o'clock in FIVE
story warehouse adjoining Ridgway & Budd's
known as 78 North Delaware Avenue. 'rhs
entire building through Water street was con-
sumed. as also Messrs. Ridgway & Budd's
warehouse, and a number Of store houses and
dwellings on the west side Of Water street were
soon in flames At this moment large quaR-
lily of guDpoweer and sahpere, stored in
cellar, exploded, and fifteen TO twenty persons
were blown into The river, and some ten
twelve seriously injured. The 6Ie now ragged
fiercer than ever, and soon spread in all diJec-
lions. Il was not long before two other terri
bic explosions Of salipetre took place, throwing
the fakes of the combusiible matter in all direc.
tons, by which The FIRE was communicated TO
large number Of houses. Delaware Avenue
was filled with mass Of human beings amongst
whom were several hunred firemen, when these
last explosions took place. and it proved fatal
in many cases, causing the deaths of a number
of men, women, and children.
On Delaware Avenue and Wafer street the
scene presented wassHightful indeed-appaI-
ling in The exlreme.--and such as we cannot
and will not attemp. description Of On the
eastern front Of The above stores, when The third
and last explosion of the salipetre occurred, The
rush for life was terrific. Men and boys, fire.
men and bysianders, rushed away fsom The
conAagraiion, and as they endeayored TO get
beyond reach of their danger, hundreds Of them
rolled over each other while running and jun
ping on the large collection OF cotton and other
goods on The wharves Several were knock
ed down as if dead, and hundreds ran over
hem causing legs and arms TO be broken. and
injuries inflicted of very serious character.
In the fright some were thrown in The Della
ware, while large number jumped voluntarily
in, TO shield themselves from the bricks and
cinders thrown from the burning stores.
The fire now ragged fearfully, and rapidly
extended through Froa, street, near Race, to
above Callowhill; then through Vine to Second;
through John, Newmarket, and Second; from
New street up 10 Callowhill ST., leveling al
leas. 400 houses. Both Morses and Houses
telegraph lines were burnt of, and the burnt
district covered an area of at least square
mile!
Among the killed and wounded, the follow
ing names are given :.-.David Milford, men,
Der Of Northern Liberty Hose, was killed in
Water s,reel, al the time Of the third explo-
sion; Mortimer Morris. fireman; young girl
named Rosena Morris Irampled to death.
Three men and two boys were drowned IN the
Delaware, at the time of the third explosion,
in attempting to jump on board schooner.
Marcus Marcus, young man aged sixteen, was
carried to the hospital. awfully burned, and ne
died almost as soon as he entered lha, insi'u-
lIon.
A fireman was burned to cifsp in Water
street. David May, young man aged nine
teen was inslally killed by being struck on the
head with brick. Wm, Bsekman had both
his legs broken.