Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-07-08
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT PHILADELPHIA.

About ten o'clock Wednesday night fire broke out
in the National Theatre at the of Ninth and Chess
nut streets Philadelphia, which proved terribly disas
trous 1t originated during the performance Of Putnam,
and was caused Zone account says) by the
stage attempting to light match by rubbing it against
the scenery Another account says that it originated
from the waddng of the maskets used the close of the
play OF Putnam, setting fire to the scenery, which in
moment became mass Of flame.
The alarm soon communicated to the audience,
and great confusion ensued but fortunately the ex
trene heat Of the weather prevented large attendance
and all escaped with their lives.
The combustibe nature of the building and its con-
tents soon caused tremendous light and blaze shedding
its lurd glare large portion of the city. The fire.
men were promptly on the ground, but human efforts
could prevent the destruction Of the theatre The stores
half dozen in number, in the basement of the circus
were involved in the destruction and rapidly did the
flames extend that very small portion Of their
could be saved Among them were toy store, confec
tonary, philosophical instrument maker cigar store
and drinking saloon and or two others
The substantial block of dwellings, once the residences
of the first families, but since converted into stores
early marked out aprey to the flames and time
the roof Of many had been knded by the flakes from
the consuming theatre that the destruction of the entire
far Eighth street deemed to be nevita
be These stores all rstclass establishments and
contained stocks Of goods Of immense value and the
cltlZcnS lent their
what could be carried out They occupied by j. A.
Place. dry goods; j. s. Earle picture dealer and frame
maker and the second floor by Bode Co., hair dresser
Thomas Evans Co., dry goods; r. W. Frazer, dry
shment on the second next to the Art Union building
Nos 30 and 208 occupied partly by the Art Union Gal
ery and by G. F. Mercer, picture dealer and frame ma
kerr and by Boutelier Brothers Mikens linen store;
Clinton fancy goods; Eyerests jewery store VIM. s
/ Mason, epgraycr; L. Ladomus, jewellers and Herman
Hooker bookseller. All these buildings were o
less damaged
The of the houses on the west side of Eight
street caught including the Waverley Hotel, Bell Hotel
George Reibrch patent lock manufacturer; George r
Fisher, tailor; 0. G. Nicholson, dry goods store; s.
Scholl, eating house.
The Chinese Museum building caught from the rear o
the Theatre and the flames gradually spread along it,
cornice and window frames until at midnight this i'm
mense building was enveloped in flames. The settee
and other fixtures Of the building were removed has
possible when the prospect its demolition seemedine
vabe. 1t constructed n183S, designed the Phlla
delpa Museum. Its walls 23S feet in length by q
feet wde which the dimensions of the upper saloon
The lower saloon originally used for the exhbitio
Of Mr.. Dunns Chinese Collection. Its dimensions wer
hundred and sixty feet by seventy and at tn
rear of it lecture room.
The fire also extended across SAMSON street at Ninth
to the Bazaar Auction establishment Of Mr. Herkness
for the sale of horses and carriages This was larg
circular building originally constructed for the exhbi
tion ofpanoramas The fremen by great exerions hav
managed to check the flames at this point and although
not yet entirely extnguhed the building will probab,
be saved.
At o'clock, when forced to close report
the State House bell still pealing out the alarm, bu
the remen evidently obtained the mastery of the flames
and there is but little danger of their extending east
4 Eighth south Of SAMSON streets.
1t is almost vain attempt calculation Of the entire
loss and ut best it be but guess. The est
mate cannot be- less than 100000, and may reacl
$500,000.
Mr. SHEPHERD, actor unfortunately persisted in tn
theatre. Several fremen we're badly hurt, but non
1 fatally.-Ledgr.