Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1852-01-03
GREAT FIRE AT PHILADELPHIA.

Buffalo suffered even more severely in loss
OF property, though not Of life. The spread
ing Of the fires in all these instances, is
attributed 10 the extreme cold, which froze
the bydrants. and prevented the firemen
procuring the necessary quantity of wa.
ter, in time 10 check the progress of the
flames.
The destructive fire noticed in Saturdays
Ledger, which occurred in Hart's Building,
northeast corner Of Sixth and Chestnut
streets, between ~ and I o'clock, on that
morning, proved more serious than was at
first anticipated. There seems to be no
donbt that the origin Of the fire was on the
third floor Of the building, in the driving
room attached 10 Buffers copper-pls,e pint
ing-office, as it was in this apartment the
flames were discovered. The intense cold
ness Of The night froze up some of the plugs
in the immediate vicinity, and had not this
been The case, the loss would probably have
been comparatively small as an attachment
as possible, and hose carried 10 the loom,
but no water could be obtained. This un-
fortunate circumstance, OF course caused
delay, and by the time the iremen coud
procure water from some Of The adjoining
plugs, the flames, which spread furously
among the combusiible material, had gained
such headway in the interior as TO render
their efforts futile, and defy their most ener-
gelic and praiseworthy exertions. Seeing
the entire establishment was doomed TO
inevitable destruction, the firemen directed
their efforts to the surrounding property, but
in short time the flames had communica-
ted 10 the Shakespeare Building, on the
norhwes, corner, rs well as 10 the w-book
establishment of Messrs. +. & j. w. john
son, adjoining on Chestnut street.
All the tenants in Harls building suffered
heavy losses. Some of the occupants of this
building lost all they had in the world : and
from the rough estimate made, $4,000
would not more than replace Harris build
ing as il was previous to the sad calamity.
Mr. George r. Graham meets with loss
of eight fine steel plates engraved and pre-
pared for the March and April numbers Of
his Magazine. The Magazines for those
months, however, will not be waning in
embellishments, as the proprietor has al
ready made arrangements 10 have olhers
engraved.
The Messrs. johnson had large stock Of
law-books. Their loss, ii is supposed, will
reach $4,000.
The house, No. 1913 Chestnut street, was
occupied by J. W. Moore, bookseller, on the
first floor, and the balance of it by Mr..
Brown, as a restaurant. boarding-house, and
the Democratic Headquarters. This was
not materially injured by the fire, further
than the roof, which was almost half des-
troyed, and the rear end of the back build
ing, which was slightly damaged.
The Shakespeare Building, owned by viii.
liam fl. Wnder, also contained numerous
occupants, whose losses are considerable.
Robert J. Park had billiard-saloon in the
second story, and bowling-saloon in the
third. The loss of the Shakespeare Build
ing, and the stock of the various occupants
will probably reach $4,000 Mr.. Winder
has an insurance on the building
The Chestnut Stree, Theatre was several
times on fire, bur the fire was so managed
by the use Of The ladders of the Empire
Company, as 10 save it with but little
damage. The water thrown into the build
ing caused a suspension of the performan-
ces in The evening.
The County Courthouse, on the S. E.
corner OF Sixth and Chestnut street, was
also on fire number Of times, and great
fears were entertained that the whole
"row" with Independence Hall, would fall a
prey to the devourng element,
Some idea may be formed of The difficult
ties the iremen had to encounter, when the
mercury in the thermometer is known 10
have been below zero, at o'clock in the
morning at 6 o'clock it was degrees
above zero.
The most deplorable incident connected
with the fire is the loss of life. Up 10 the
present time the bodies Of two coored per-
sons have been recovered, but who they
were or where they belonged is unknown.
They where found embedded beneath
mass Of ruins shortly after The ontef wall of
the Shakespeare building fell, on the west
side of Sixth street.
William w. Ilaly, Esq, a member of the
Philadelphia Bar, is missing. lie WAS in
Kinda's Music Store with George Malhers
a clerk in The slore and several other per-
sons, attempting 10 remove some of the
pianos. Mr.. Malhers states that while the
persons were in the store, the ceiling Of the
second floor and upper timbers fell, throw
ing him under the counter, with person
wearing a grey coat, answering the descrip.
lion of Mr. Haly. He (MatheTs) then mana
ged TO work his way through an aperture
in the ceiling, The lath Of which was burn
ing, and ran 10 the front door, but finding It
barricaded, and knowing the particular To-
cai,y of the store, succeeded in making his
escape out of The back door and through the
alley into Sixth street. AS he was running
out he fell on The hot grating, covering the
area in the rear of the store, and had his
L III. L.s.. a