The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-07-10
TERRIBLE FIRE In PHILADELPHIA.
TIE destruction of -Four hundred
Buildings.
TREMENDOUS EXPLOSION AND LOSS OF LIFE
THIRTY PERSONS KILLED.
LOSS OF PROPERTY, 100000.

TelegraphIe Dispatches sent for Kew York
Engines and riremen to hasten to
Philadelphia by Special Trains.
There has been terrible eonnagration raging In
Philadelphia, which almost equals, in its devasta-
tion the great fire in this sty in 1915 1t broke out
yesterday afternoon and spread with fearful rapid
ity, urged on by the explosion Of e large quantity
of gunpowder and saltpstre 1t will be that
the great fire In this city in 1915 vas magninsd
and increased by the explosion of ssltpstre in New
street.
Annexed are our teiesraphie dispatches, received
over Bains Electro. Chemical line -
THE TELEGRAPHIc PARTICULARS OF THE FIRR.
PHILADrLrHIA, July 0-P. NJ.
A IRE broke out in i've story warehouse adjoining
Rdgway Bsdds on the wharf below Vine street.
The entire building through to Water street con-
sumed, as also Mesus. Ridgway and Budds warehouse
and number of store houses and dwellings on the
west side Water street. alss eriousy damaged
large quantity of gunpowder and ssltpetre stored
in cellar, exploded, and esa to vesfv psrsons
hs~n into the riru, end ten tVs!vs seriously
injured.
Loss thus iar Is estimstd at 100000
The Morse telegraph wires burnt down for about
the lei 9Th Of block Of buildings.
PHIIAp.LrHrA, July o-sk m.
The IRE IL raging terrincally.
At least one mile square IL in flames 10 Estimated
that from 100 200 Aessss already BURNED sad several
Lrss lost.
horse's telegraph line is down. All between Race
and Vine streets and from the Dsswsr In the dirso-
tion Of Fourth street, lie on IRE.
PHILADELrHIA, July 9-11k p. n.
The Ore broke cut in the store No. 70 North Dels
avenue, at half past O'Clock. The building
ccupied for storage purposes and when discovered
had already made considerable headwsy with the flames
spreading in every direction but short time elapsed
before that large building through to Water street
envelopsdin flames. The one adjoining north No.
So was fire ~ well as the one South, No. 70.
Before the devourins element had reached the
ground floor Of the building in which the rs origns
ted two terrific explosions Of satpetre rent the walls
asunde throwing the fakes Of the combastble matter
In all directions, by which the fire Communicated
to large number of houses, which win be detailed
hereafter. Delaware avenue filled with mass Of
human beings, amongst whom were several hundred
of our valiant and noble hremen
The first explosion did not seem 10 cause much sI-
element fear with the people present. nor did the
second-exeept slight fears Of safety when they
moved to the eastern edge Of the wharves The third
explosion was fatal In many cases, and proved the
death Of . number Of men, women, and children.
On Delaware avenue and Water street the pre-
sented frightful ndssd-sppaling In the extreme
and such aswe cannot and viii not attempt de-
seription Of
On the eastern front OF the above stores, whom the
third and last explosion Of the sspetre occurred the
rush for life terrine Men and boys, hremsn aud
bystsnders rurhed away from the eonHsgration, and
na..v tl.~ "a - A
hundreds Of them rolled each other while running
and jumping the large collection Of cotton
and other goods the whsrvss. Several were
knocked down dead, and hundreds ran
over them, causing legs and arms to be broken,
and injuries inflicted Of . very serious eharso-
ter. In the fright thrown In the Delaware,
while large number jumped voluntarily In, to shield
themselves from the bricks and oindsrs thrown from
the burning stores.
The IRE then extended through Frsnt strsst, near
Race, TO above Callowhir; then through Vine to &c.
cond; through John, Newmarket, and Second; from
New street up 10 Csiowh street. ievsllins ct iesst
400 houses.
A. far We have been able 10 learn, give the
following list Of the killed and wounded
David Milford, member Of the Northern Liberty
nose, killed In Water street, ct the time Of the
third explosion.
Mortimer Norris, fireman.
young girl
Three men and two boys were drowned In the Della
ware at the time Of the third explosion in attempting
to jump board q schooner.
Marcus Marcus, young man aged sixteen, was
risd to the hospital swfully burned and he died sl
most soon 81 he entered that institution.
A fireman burned 10 . crisp, In water street
David May, young man aged nineteen, vas In
stantly killed. by being struck on the head with
brick.
VIM L. Backman had both his legs broken
Thoa Steer, . member OF the vigilsnt Engine Co..
was very seriously injured by being crushed between
the engine and falling bricks, at the explosion.
long lst Of cases taken to the hospital Of frsc-
tured arms and other injuries, many Of which viii
prove fatal
At my present writing, IL O'Clock, the ere sncom-
passes tvo squares round extending from Race street
to Caowhill, and from the river to Second street.
Certainly not less than $50 houses destroyed
On Water street. from Race to Vine, old fashioned
dwellings occupied generally by poor people 20 to 30
families in some Of the houssetheir sunerings be
Inns sinsd.
IL 10 reported that In of the houses Q
found dead and by her side her infant alive; and
other woman and Ave children were found burned to
death This believe to be true.
Th.css roughly estimated at upwards Of 81 600 900
and the flames stil raging With unabssed fury
@ cd preserve the poor vemen and children!
H.Lr-rssr o'cLocE.
The Gre 10 nov got anaer within bounds In addi-
lien to the killed already mentoned the bodies OF
man too women and four children taken 20 the
green house
Altogether fifteen are known TO be killed the loss
Df life may think, be safely Get down ~ thirty 10
possible 20 gee any further psrtieular. to night
The Cali OF Phu.dslphi~ Upon New York
Responded to ny Our Firemen.
Last evening, the fellow ing tslsgrsphic dispatch
ras received By Mr. H. ,. Rogers, superintendent Of
Bain's lane Of Telegraph In Wall street -
Bsirs Tn EessPB 0sFIcr. Puma prLFws.l
July Is o elock. n. N.
|" win you call ON the proper authorities, aud ask
hem TO End TO city all the able aud ire
rppsrat,s that be spared for the upper part OF
Inc city all in names shd the IRE ~ spreading ~ith 4
~ -