Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1854-01-06
Correspondence.

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. "a, 1853.
Tae Weather- Fire and Loss IF Life : CArist-
mas Preparations - "Clec's House''- Ly-
.dia Darrah's House = The Old .s.Slate koof
Houss"-.'Carpenfer's Hail." Se.
The weather last night was intensely
cold, and the wind blew almost hurricane.
During the week we have also had slight
falls of snow.
On Thursday night last, there was an ex-
tensiye FIRE in n. Third street, during the
progress of which, the wall (only nine
inches thfck!) Of q burning, four. story
building came down with terrible crash,
burylng several men who were engaged in
extmguisbing the fire. One Of these unfor-
tunatas lay for some three hours, pressed
down by the rubbish, and unable to extri-
cate himself, in sight of his friends, who
wero alike unable to render him any assist
ance. He was at length, however, deliv-i
cred from his perilous situation, and con-
veyed to his home, but at last accounts his
injuries We're such as to leave very little hope
of his recovery. Another man, policeman,
was completely buried; and when found,
he had long been dead. His feet were
burned, off, his face burnt to crisp, and his
head crushed in. U
The markets, rs we'll as shops of all
Kinds, are crowded to- day, with people ma
king their Christmas purchases. Turkeys
and fowls of all kinds, are vanishing from
the markets as if by magic. asked a lady
what the best turkeys were sellir & at., She
replied that she had priced several fine ones,
which were seuen dollars apiece! ! his seems
a high figure, but everything else is in pro-
portion. Couldn't you forward US u few
hundred of the birds? ~
During the week l have visited several
places of note near Philadelphia. The first
of these places was Germantown, where the
Americans made the terrible charge upon
the British, quartercd in the celebrated
ssChew's House.'' This building is still
standing, and is at present occupied as a
dwelling house. Il does not appear near as
old as others in its immediate vicinity It
is built in tho real old English style, and
still bears the cannon and musket ball
marks received in the conflict which made it
famous. 'Germantown is rich in old build
ings, some bearing the dates of l743, 1850,
&c. .a.ess..s.,
At the corner of Little Dock and Second
streets, stands the queer looking old house
occupied by the heroic Lydia Darrah. 1t
was here, if remember the story Alright,
that she left the British officer, and taking
her -four bag, set of to inform Gen. Wash
ington Of the intended attack of the British
upon his camp: and her herois conduct de-
feated the plans of the rad coats, and saved
the Americans. Well does she deserve q
monument; but no such monument is hers.
As one might almost guess, her old mansion
10 now occupied by Jew, as . clothing
store.
The next place Of note is the old !" Slate
Root, House," which was the frst house in
the oity covered with that ,materiaL It'is
situated in Second street, at the corner OF
! ! Norris's alley. 1t was erected about one
hundred and sixty years ago, in the old
English style of architecture, 1t was occu-
pied by VIM. Penn, in the year loo, and
John Penn, the American" !" who was born
under its roof. In this house Gen.aForbes,
second in command, and afterwards suc-
4 eessor to Gen. Braddoch, died, and from il
was borne to the grave, with imposing mil
|itary honors. In after years, it was the
temporary abode Of John Adams, John Han
cock, and many other distinguished members
Of the 6rst Congress, and also Of Baron d.
rKalb, who fell, fighting for american inde'
kpendence, ct the battle Of Camden. Til,
brave General Lee also breathsd his last il
tshis house, and was buried in Christ Chpseh
yard. This noble old relic is also desecratet
in the same manner - tho Darrah House
'u,lsss ssasurss sss shortly tako sss II