The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-06-22
Disastrous Fire at PhiIade.ph,a.

MANY PERSONS INJURED-SUPPOSED LOSS OF LIFE
NEARLY 500 600 WORTH OF PROPERTY DESTROYED.
From the Philadelphia North American June 21.1
About four O'CLOCK yesterday afternoon q fire was
discoveredri9 va dfats story Of the extensive six
story bricx bidiDg situated on the northwest cor
ner OF Miffin and Jefferson streets, known Us Hills
Factory. The flames spread with great rapidity. A
large number OF persons at work in the build
ing about dozen females being employed in the
structure there was but one Staircase and ' that
over one of the boilers. panic seized those who
were thus threatened with death. A number escaped
by quickly rushing down the staircase. But the
flames soon cut oil that mode of egress. A man
named Mackel jumped from the fourth story to the
ground, and broke his leg in the fail. Several girls
frantic with fright, appeared at the windows, and
by their gestures indicated that they gave them
selves up for lost. Ropes were thrown IN to the
windows, and there fastened. Ladders were also
placed to aid the escape Of the miserable beings.
During these arrangements, the scene was calcu-
lated to touch every heart large number Of
women thronged in the vicinity Of the fire. and ap-
peared greatly excited by the prospect of terrible
loss of life. The firemen exerted themselves noby
to save the females. Several Of the girls were
taken down the ladders. They were scorcbed
about the hands and arms, however, and their cries
were heard above the noise Of the iiremen. Four
girls and enc little boy were saved by sliding down
a rope. Two of the girls were sisters, Eliza and
Sarah Mcbride. All Of those who escaped in this
way had their hands dreadfully lacerated by rapid
friction in sliding down the rope. The bystanders
reported that two or three girls were seen to ap.
pear at their windows afterwards making implor-
ing gestures, and TIL en- tall back into the devourng
names one little girl, younger sister of the
McBrides dared to attempt the descent bv the STAIR
way and, in spite of the flames, which crossed her
path, and although she fell down several steps, she
succeeded in getting into the street, where she was
picked up and taken into neighboring drug store
Her clothes were nearly all burned off, and her
arm and side severely scorched. No less than eight
girls, with scorched arms and hands, were taken
into the came drug store. Their names it was i'm
possible to learn with accuracy A little boy
named Donaghan, bad his arm broken by fall
from a window of the burning building The
wounded were all conveyed away and received
prompt attendance.
In the meantime the conAagration ragged, and the
heat was SO intense that the iremen could scarcely
approach the burning building. All they could do
was to attempt to save the surrounding property.
There were five boilers, each of ten horse power in
tue basement. Mrs. Hill had the presence Of mind
almost as soon as the fire gained any Roadway, to
dlrect man TO let oil the steam. BY this foresight
many lives were saved, as the bursting of the boil
ers would have been fatal to the crowd near the
building Within an hour and half the contents
OF the factory were almost entirely consumed, and
the walls fell gradually without doing much damage
to the adjacent property. row of two story build
ings, fronting on Sixth street, were somewhat in
Jued IN the rear, ard most of the furntsre OF the
occupants las removed. But the freincn succeeded
in keeping down the flames in that direction.
The factory destroyed formerly belonged to Mr.
John Hill dyer, who occupied building in the rear
which was was also included in the destruction
Mere recently it belonged to Mcssrs. Thurlow 81
> Hughes. Their loss may be estimated at about
$4,000, which, as far as we could learn, is not
covered by insurance.
The first three stories were occupied by Messrs.
keevy d Hodener, manufacturers Of Kentucky
jeanes. Their loss is heavy in machinery, material,
and manufactured goods.
The fourth story was occupied by Messrs Rowe
~ Philips, weavers. 1t from this story the
girls that were injured made their escape. The
loss cannot be ascertained at this writing.
The fifth story was occupied by Mr.. William
Graves and MIR. Holt, cotton spinners. Messrs.
Crooks Jennings also bad apartments in the
building. Tie sixth story was entirely unoccupied
We are OF opinion that the entire loss of property
by this disastrous conhlgraon cannot fall short OF
100000, but some days must elapse before we can
give the precise amount. Ii is almost certain that
one or more persons were consumed in the factory.
Between the number who were, known 10 be EN-
ployed there and the number known to have escaped
there is wide difference. The number of persons
injured by the brc, or otherwise as far az we can
learn, is sixteen, Of whom eleven are fem ies A
member of the independence Hose Company, and
member OF the Carrolton Hose Company mad each
hand severely burned. None of the injured
believed to be fatally hurt. We trust that n lives
have been lost, but yet LEFT in terrible state OF
uncertainty Great and increasing anxiety prevails
to know the worst.