Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1852-01-01
TERRIBLE CoNFLAGRATIoNIN PHIL
ADELPHIA.


GRa.r DEsrRUcriOx OF Lire AND PaorERrr.-
One pf the most destructive fires that has ever vis-
tied Philadelphia, oreuncd a, an early hour on
Saturday morning.
About one O'Clock flames were seen issuing from
HarTsbniiding, at The corner Of Chestnut and Sixth
streets, which was speedily destroyed, together with
sevefai book and musical stores, and Harpcr's Res
taurdnt in the basement
Tie flames next communicated to the Shakespeare
building on the opposite side of SIKH street, adj
joining the Chestnut street Theatre ghieh was To-
tally consumed Browns Hotel on Chesnut street
a6joi4ing Harris building, shared the same fate
,Ah58l O'Clock the walls of Harris building fell
into The street, instantly killing two eoored men,
and severely woundiRg several firernen and police
men, Many others,are supposed 10 have been
killed, as al The time the wall fcllthc street was
crowded with spectators.
The entire block on the west side OF Sixth street,
from Chestnut 10 Carpenter sIreeis. is a heap ef
side q Chestnut street. Harris fine building Browns
Holal Johnston's Law book store and several other
valuable stores are completely DESTROYED. MANY
other buildings, on both sides OF Sixth street are
damsgee and the loss cannot be less than $500 600
The are was not subdled until nine o'clock this
morning
TIE heaviest losers are Dr. schencl, whose e.
tahliFhmeni was completely DESTROYED: II A II
W. Johnston, law booksellers Ii Bakston and
Getz Buck, booksellers Many music, periodi-
sal and oihersIores on SIKH street, also suffered
severely.
II reported Tia, Police Officer johnson has been
killed. w. w. Haley Esq. is also missing and
supposed 70 be killed. Besides thesethere are re-
ports Of two or three others having been killed.
The wind blew Within greatest violence ihrou Oh
ont the morning and covered theheuses for squares
around, win sparks and burning embers
The State House and County Buildings. Al one
time were in she greatest danger OF being DESTROY
ed. The fakes Of fire covered almost the entire
Western portion Of The building, and one or Two
places caught fire, but The damage was trffing.
The Eyening Bulletin, which went to Press in
the afternoon, says:
i. is impossible at this lime, 10 give an estimate
Of The loss, but il cannot be Tar from four hundred
thousand dbllors, only portion or which is insuf.
ed. A large number bf persons were employed II
The upper stories Of Harris building, who are now
thrown out OF employ ment.
James Mausseft, a member of The Nofthern
Liberty Hose Company, became drenched with
water al an early honr in the morning. and fell
dow y completely exhausted He was picked IN Nv
The Mayors Eelice in a state Of insensibifity and
conveyed u the stat on ho.a where he was proper
" cared for.
We regret 10 learn, as We go 10 r-ess that Officer
Gran! is much worse and that his phrsictass la re
but little hopes ofhis recovery
II was 50 intensely cold early in the morning.
that number OF the plugs were frozen up and The
hremen were compelled 10 kindle fires around
them As fast as the water fell upon the payeuen,
II became frozen, and rendered them almost impa.-
sable. In some instances the water became frozen
IN soiid mass in the hose and the companies were
compelled 10 take ii away in crates
Eg There were sol deaths n Boston las, week
II died Of consnmption.