The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1856-05-17
Terrible Conflagration-Forty stores and Dwell
in.s DE stroyed in Philadelphia by Fire.-Loss
of Life.

Terrible ConflaSrati0n-Forty stores anu owen
incs Destroyed in Philadelphia by Fire.-Loss
of Life.
From the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin OF May l.
Last night, about II o'clock, fire broke
out in the northern end of the large rag and
paper warehouse of Messrs. Jessup K Moore,
on the south side of East and North street,
below Sixth. The wind was blowing fresh
ly from the north east at the time, and the
flames were carried through with fearful ra-
pidity to the other extremity of the store
on Commerce street. The large structure
was speedily enveloped in flames, which
were carried by the wind against the build
ings adjoining, and they were soon in light
blaze.
To add to the disastrous effects of the
fire, the burning rags and paper were vom'
tied forth from the windows and carried or
the wind in southwesterly direction, where
they fell in a fiery shower. The firemer
were soon in service, but it was speedily nan.
ifest that all the buildings west of the paper
store to Sixth street, and south to Market
street, must be involved in destruction. The
State House bell was Immediately struck
for general alarm, and its constant strokes
brought to the ground the entire Depart
ment of the city.
The worst fears were soon realized. The
buildings on both sides of North street, and
upon both sides of G mmeace street, were
soon in light blaze the Market street
stores extended back to the last-name.
street, and the flames were soon pouring out
of the windows on to that avenue, anc
threatening to extend to Chestnut street
By two o'clock the western end of the block
bounded by Market, North and Sixth
streets, was in flames, and the wind had
carried the burning fakes into the block
Immediately west of the main body of the
confagration. Back of the house, belonging
to the Society of Friends, a carpenter shop
and several small dwellings were in flames
and burning furiously.
The roofs of two large stores on the low.
er side of Market street, below Sixth, took
fire, and the roofs of two buildings on the
west side of Sixth street, below Market
were in flames by IL o'clock:
The scene was now most frightful-the
flames shot up high in the air, illuminating
the entire city, and threatening to destroy
entire blocks to the windward. Commerce
and North streets were in flames, and fires
were raging upon both sides of Market and
Sixth streets. The wind which was increas-
ing in strength, was carrying fiery shower
to great distance all around the scene Of
devastation, persons were hurrying away
their families and their goods to places of
safety. The iremen, bewildered and dis
tracted at the ,suficiency of the means al
their command, in comparison with the vas..-
ness of the field of exertion before them
struggled manfully with the destroying ele-
ment, and under the judicious command o.
their officers did the best they could.
The fire continued to spread until after
daylight, and when the sun rose sickenine
scene of destruction was exhibited. Every
building on the north side of Market street
was in ruins, and most of the houses on the
east side of Sixth street were down. The
western ends OF North and Commerce streets
were in ruins, while ugly gaps were made in
the blocks in south and west of the bounds
described. Some forty buildings were de-
stroyed, many of them stores of great
value.
One fireman was killed by the falling oil
a wall, and another was stabbed in an ARRAY
The loss of property is estimated at over a
million of dollars.