The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-04-14
THE DAILY DISPATCH.
Monday NIernlng. Aprii M. 1856.
Disastrous Fire in Philadelphia.
ARTISANS, BUILDING BURNED.
Loss $3.50. 600.

ken place In Philadelphia since the great FIRE o.
June, 1850, occurred Friday morning It broke
| out In the Artisans Building In Ramstead place
and was first discovered In the gold chain factory
OF s. p. Updike in the 5th story. The Philadelphia
Bulletin of Friday afternoon, says:
The Artisans Building was q huge edifce five
stories in height, and extending east and west a
distance of ll2 feet and north and south SO feet
| was so constructed that hollow square was left
In the centre, the wings of the Artisans Bufldinp
forming the north, east and west sides of the area
and portion of the south side. The rear and end
ofthe United States Hotel formed the greater Dor
| ton Of the southern side of the area The i'm
mense size ofthe structure, Its peculiar construc
| ton, and Its coopedup position, all operated
against the efforts to save IT, and the consequence
was that the fire spread from story to story and
from apartment to apartment, until the vast edi.
nee was enveioped IN names from top to bottom,
belching forth fire and smoke, and spreading ruin
and dismay around. The flames quickly conmu.
nicated to the rear of the United States Hotel and
the northern end of that large building was soon in
alght blaze.
The boarders in the house moved ont most os
their baggage, and q good portion of the furniture
OF the hotel was also removed The firemen intro
duced sde-streams into the hotel and although
much OF the back part was constructed of wood.
they succeeded in keeping the fire in check. and
IL. preventing 1t from extending through the main
body of the hotel
On the east of the Artisans Building, the flames
spread to several large structures some of which
were entirely destroyed.
The scene during the height of the confederation
was appalling, The wind was blowing freshly
fIom the northward, and the flames famed into
fury, were leaping upward, illuminating the entire
city. and threatening to involve in destruction
the block bounded by Fourth and Fifth and Chest.
nut and Merchant streets
Showers of sparks and burning fakes were car
ried to an immense distance, setting fire TO several
places squares distant. Around the Immediate
neighborhood of the confagration the storekeepers
and proprietors Of workshops were busy In the
efforts to remove their goods to places of safety.
About two O'Clock the walls of the Artisans build
ing commenced falling, and considerable damage
was done in this way. Several persons were hurt
and man named Allen SO badly crushed that his
life was despaired Of
The Artisans Building was built by Mr.. H.
Cowperthwait, and 1t was completed in the winter
of l64s49. The building together with an 80
horse steam engine in the basement, cost e5, 600
dollars The destruction of the building and ma.
| ehinery complete, and very little was saved
by the occupants. Mr. Cowperthwait was insured
for S25000
There were q great number of tenants.in the
building. and not less than three hundred opera
tives were engaee ed upon the various floors. The
tenants were as follows:
FIRST FOor.-James Burk, printer of cloths and
sattinetts; loss $4,000, insured for $4,000 Mr.
Burk occupied the north and east wings of this
| floor.
James Watts, sversmith. Loss 5000 No in.
surance. There was some machinery upon the
premises of Mr. Watts that belonged to Henry Du.
bosq, jeweller.
J. H. Camp, li.hographer; loss $1,000. Insured
| for So, 600.
Second F7oor-P S. Duval g. Co, lithographers.
occupied the entire second floor. Their loss is
| immense. They had thirty or forty presses in op.
Grafton, and great number of valuable stones,
pictures and materials Among the stones were a
number belonging to the United States govern
ment, which were illustrations for the forthcoming
history Of the Japan Expedition. There was also
about sc 900 worth of finished work belonging to
the government, that was destroyed. The loss on
the second floor is estimated at Sl00000 upon
which there was an insurance Of $4,000
Third Floor Edward Gaskill bookbinder,
occupied the North and East wings of the Sd
floor. He had large stock of work and materials
On hand part of which belonged to the United
is probably not less than $4,000. We have not
learned whether there was an insurance upon this
property.
Fourth Floor Geo w simons & Brother, gold
pencil makers, occupied the greater part ofthe 4th
floor. Not cents worth of their property was
saven. except such stocks and materials as were
in their ireproofs. The latter have not been open
ed. The Messrs. Simons estimate their loss in ma.
chinery, tools, &c, at $4,000 They have an in.
surance of Sc, 600 upon IT, cir property.
Z. d g. p Warner, watch case makers, occupied
the west wing of the 4th floor Their loss is about
$4,000. We could not learn the amount of their
insurance
Nathan Morgan, spectacle frame maker, occupied
the east portion of this floor. Loss So, 000-in-
sured for $1,000.
Fifth Floors Updyke, chain maker Loss
S4000-insured for $4,000. 1t was in this apart
ment the fire originated
Samuel B. Eakins, electro platter and glider
Loss S3,0OO-partially insured
George leopard, jeweller. Mr.. II. worked for
the Messrs. Simons. His loss is in toolS-$300 will
probably cover it.
no insurance.
This estimate makes the loss in the Artizans'
Building alone Sl95, 800,
RANSTEAD PLACE.
The property on the south side of Ranstead
Place below the ArtiZans' Building, was not DAM
aged in any considerable degree-th only injury
being the catching of the roofs of one or two OF
the houses.
On the North side, No was occupied on the
first story as lager beer saoon-loss about $500;
second and third stories by Mr.. Dobebower, prin-
ter loss estimated at about $5, 900; fourth story
by Mr.. Samuel N Foster, embosser and fancy
label manufacturer. loss about 50 900. All these
tenants lost everything; stock, tools, and materi-
ais.
No. 3 was occupied by Edward Jones, Stair-rod
manufacturer, ON the first floor Mr.. J.'s loss is
about $1,000; we learn that he was insured. Sc
cond and third floors Kite & Walton printers; loss
$sOOO-insured $4,000. Fourth floor, Messrs. Fish
er & Brother, printers. Messrs. L. d Brother are
insured to the extent of 5000, but their loss will
far exceed this They have lost all their stereo.
type plates Ave presses, and large quantity of
materials. We heard their loss estimated at
$4,000
The Buildings Nos. and were of brick, five
stories in height. They were estimated st about
$4,000 each--tbey were insured.
The following Is compend of the losses and the
amount Of the insurance so far as we could ascer-
tain them. Some losses are doubtless covered by
Insurance that yve could learn nothing of:
Losers Losa Insurance.
II CowpeEt hwait. ............. G85009 F25 900
+. s. Duyal L. Co....,.......... 100000 $4,000
James Burk. ..............,... 2oG00 TO- 900
EDWARD Gaskill. ............... 10000
u w simmons Hro....... 2nG0o 1900
y u r. Warner. 10000 -
nishef Brother. 10000 900
klte a. W alton ooo