The republic., 1851-01-01
TIL E X EP II BLIC


of the Ledger office, in Philadelphia, on Monday
morning from the Epenirg Bulletin, Of that city;
Sat about twenty minutes past seven O'Clock
this morning smoke was discoyered issuing from
the basement of the Ledger building, at the south
west corner Of Third and Chestnut streets The
alarm was immediately given, and some OF the
employees of the establishment hastened of, and
in d few minutes returned with the Hibernia En-
gine. The other fire companies speedily arrived.
Before, however, any access could be had to the
halnes, the smoke began to pour, in dense, black
Volumes from the windows Of all Six stories OF the
spacious building, and ii soon became evident that
the whole structure would be destroyed. IL was
for long time impossible to discover the locality
of the fire. The men about the building could only
surmise it, and the masses OF smoke which poured
from every aperture, rendered itimpossibe for any
one to enter the basement TO ascertain the exact
spot where the fire raging.
''The origin OF the fire Is u mystery. II was at
first stated that it was caused by some paper TAX
ing fire from the heating apparatus, but this, from
the construction OF this apparatus seems incredi-
BILE. The building was heated by contrivance
above the boiler OF the engine, consisting OF cyl
inder filled with tubes. These tubes received cold
air from the streat, which heated by the steam
from the boiler, being received around the tubes;
and the hot air thus obtained circulated through
the entire building. There being thus no fire what
ever near the heating apparatus, 1t seems impossi-
BILE that the flames should have originated there.
''The action Of the fan or blowing machine which
supplied the heating apparatus, and which was
worked by the engine, added to the rapidity with
which the flames spread; it being impossible to stop
the engine, that draught of air carried the fire
speedily over the whole building In little While
the flames burst forth from the lower stories OF the
building, and, with extraordinary rapidity, they
soon appeared from the windows of the fourth sto-
ry, on Third street. Again they spread and soon
nearly every window poured forth its volumes of
flame, or dense smoke, mingled with cinders of the
paper which was burning in the building. The
lire companies worked with great energy, and
floods of water poured upon the building.
rom Ia vi however.
were of scarcely any effect, and soon the whole
building, from the cellar TO the roof, in flames.
The tiremen worked with very great activity, ex-
posing themselves to every sort OF danger in their
efforts to save property.
"Between eight and nine O'Clock, small portions
Of the wall began to fall but they did not fall into
the street, and no one was injured. Some appre-
hension felt, also, that the boiler OF the steam
in the cellar would explode, but even this did not
deter the courageous tiremen from their work. and
they labored on if they had nothing to fear.
s'It is worthy Of remark that the fire broke out 80
suddenly that the engineers anc hremen had not
even time to stop the engine, and the smoke pre-
vented all approach to it; those who ventured in
being speedily overcome. The engine thus con
tnued to work for some time, and the danger be-
came very great that the boiler would explode
Some one finally contrived, by means of pole. to
open valve for the escape of the steam, and to
the engine
sThe Ledger building being evidently beyond
all chance OF being saved, the next object was to
save the adjoining properties-the Bulletin build
ings, on Third street, and the publication and
and bookstore of Mr. T. b. Peterson, No. 9S
Chestnut street. There being thick brick wall
separating each from the burning building, the
danger not at first very great but when
the flames reached the roof the burning flakes
poured down, and the roof Of the Bulletin office
was several times in flames. So great became the
danger, that every thing moveabIe in our building
carried out, and the ofiice left IN dire coniu
sion. Several pieces of hose were carried through
the building, and our office was soon flooded with
ISft x,,~n f,,r,,,
ture of every description that could be carried was
accomplished, amid clouds of smoke and floods OF
water Even we write, the hremcn have pos,
session of our stairways, and sections OF hose are
water and not dry spot is left, even for sit
down and pen this hasty narrative OF the conf1a-
grafton.
"The Ledger building was the most extensive
printing establishment in the United States, and
its machinery was considered the finest in the
world-more complete even than those OF London
and Paris. 1t was occupied altogether by the
Public Ledger printing office, the office of the Dol
lar Newspaper, and the United States Job Printing
establishment. One room on Third etreet was oc-
cupied publication and periodical store late.
ly kept by A. Winch, but now by Messrs Wood
& Peierman. They lost, we believe every thing.
"The cellar of the building was occupied by the
steam. engine, and two of Hoes celebrated Last
Fast" our-cylinder presses, on which the daily
edition of the Ledger was printed The second
story of this and the adjoining building on Ches-
torial rooms of the Ledger and Dollar Newspaper.
The third story occupied by the United States
Job Printing Office Company as hand press rooms.
."The fourth story was occupied as the book and
Job press rooms, containing six valuable steam
power machine presses; two of Adams's best book
machines and four jobbing cylinder presses. The
fifth story contained the paper storing drying and
pressing room In this story also a large hy-
draulic press and double cylinder Napier press.
The sixth story used by the slip and mail
writer's of the Ddiar Newspaper, and as storage
room
s'The establishment was the property of Messrs.
Swain, Abel & Simmons. The building was not
more than ten years old. and was constructed in
the best manner. The original cost of the building
was 5 500. The heating apparatus and other
fixtures made the entire not less than 10000
fhe presses alone cost over $50OO0, and the
entire value of the building, fixtures, presses, ma
chinery, and Materials was estimated at from
300, 900 to SSl5O,000. There insurance on
the building OF 900, and on the stock of 5000
"The actual amount Of the property destroyed
cannot yet be ascertaincd The presses and engine
in the basement are, it is hoped, not materially
damaged. The presses in the fifth story have fallen
through to the fourth story, where, it hoped, they
may be saved without material damage, that floor
being still secure. The sixth story has fallen
through also The second, third, and fourth hoors
are thus still standing, and il ia believed that much
valuable property will be thus saved. The foodf
of water in the basement prevent, for the present
any thorough examinations.
Gan OF the books Of the Dollar Newspaper estab-
down stairs are saved, MIR. d. o. Blood the clerk
having succeeded in locking them up in the fire
/ proof, although almost suflocated by the smoke
He was extricated, when nearly overcome by the
smoke, by the aid of Mr.. Pelouze, type founder,
| the opposite corne.
"Thc whole edition of the Ledger had been
worked off when the fire occurred, except n few
| huadreds. There were eight ten persons in the
| press room in the basement at the time but up
| stirs there one but Mr. Blood
"rhe fire has demonstrated the excellence OF the
building, which, when il was erected, was consid-
| cred by many to be unsafe. The proprietors are
proved to have known what they were about in its
erection. The walls stand secure, apparently
as ever, in spite of the weight of the presses and
| materials in the building, the heavy granite CO.
ping of the walls, and the intense heat, which was
enough to crack any ordinary walls. None of the
walls have fallen, except small portion Of that ad-
joining the Bulletin building, and thus there has
been no real danger to any one working near
them. Afra'
"The iiremen deserve especial encomioms. Prom
the Hiberna, which veteran company was hrst on
the ground, down to the last that arrived, all work
ed barmoniously, and with a will which showed
them equal to any emergency Some OF them
were in most periious positions--on walls, roofs,
and in windows, with the flames and smoke all
around them wholly thoughtless of their own safe
v In their desire O save prOperty, Some them