The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1865-02-24

WY uCil lOoS viii UC hSttHs ~ IuInt
stock of coal was on hand, much of whct
is now worthless.
Between the coalyard and Ellsworth
street, on the west side of Ninth street
stood six three-story brick dwellings,
Here is where the loss of life occurred
These houses nearly adjoined the coal OF
establishment in the rear, and of course
were subjected to the greatest fury of the
flames. Much of the flowing oil found its
way into the yards and cellars of these
houses, which, in turn, burned with equal
ly as great force. The hamesspread with
such rapid strides that these six dwellings
were enveloped in flames at about the
same moment as the fire first broke out in
the coal oil sheds. The occupants had moi
time to escape. Seven of them are known
to have persisted, while others beat re.
treat by jumping from the windows. One
poor man and his wife rushed down stairs
and attempted to pass out front. AS soon
as they opened the door the flames burst
into the room, and they were obliged to
rush back in order to save themselves.
The six alluded to were completely de-
stroyed; nothing was left, but the totter-
ing walls, which were pulled down by the
6remen. The ruin between Washington
and Ellsworth streets was most complete,
nothing remaining after the fire but a
mass of smouldering ruins. To those not
acquainted with the spot, it would have
beea impossible to state whether or not
the vacant space was occupied by dwell
ings.
Captain Joseph II. Ware occupied the
dwelling No. 1l2S Ninth street, the Sc
cond house below the coal Yard. His
family consisted of himself, wife, five
daIs hters, and two sons. They all got
into the street just as they left their beds,
and there they found themselves in a riv-
er of fire.
The family became scattered. Mrs.
Ware had Her youngest child, a girl of
about five years of age, in her arms She
fell, and Lewis G. Williams a member of
the Moyamensing Hose Company made a
desperate effort to save them. He had
hold of the unfortunate woman, but he
was compelled by the fcrceness Of the fiery
blast to leave her to her fate, aud seek
safety for himself in fight. Mrs. Ware,
her child, aud daughter about fifteen or
sixeeu years of age were burned to death
in the street, and so horribly mutilated,
that their remains can only be identified
By the peculiar circumstances surround.
ing them. Captain Ware escaped.
Those who lost their lives by the sad af
fair, as general thing, were confined to
the family of CAPTAIN Ware; the members
of this family that were still missing last
evening are the following:
Mrs. Rebecca Ware, aged 43; Aunie
Ware, aged %; Emma Ware, aged 20 !;
R sbecca Ware, aged 16; Helen Ware,
aged ID; Isabella Ware, aged 4.
Albert Ware, aged II, and Clayton
Ware, 10 years, were both burned in a
most frightful manner. Que of them died
last evening, and it was feared the other
could not live until morning.
OF the Eve bodies recovered and taken
to the station house, one is believed to be
that of Samuel M'Manamin, of the Moya-
mensing Hose. The other four are sup
posed to be members of the Ware family,
~but are so horribly burned that they are
past recognition. OF some the heads are
burned off, others have no arms or legs,
and the sight is most revolving one
Two members of the Ware family are sup
posed to be buried beneath the ruins, and
will probably be found to-day. All the
members of the Ware family who perish
ed had reached the street, and here met
their sad fate. The fremen who saw
them emerging from their burning house,
describe that they appeared bewildered,
and as the floating oil in the street sur.
rounded them they would fall, and after
few struggles and cries all would be ST.
lent.
The damage was all confined to the
west side of Ninth Street, between Wash
ington and Ellsworth. The flames ragged
on, and leaping over Ellsworth street swept
every house down to Federal. All of
these structures, with one or two exeep-
tions, were completely Quilted and render
ed tenantless although the walls still re-
main, but most of them will have to be
removed, as they are in very insecure
condition. The building at the southwest
corner of Ninth and Ellsworth, the first
below the fatal six already alluded to was
owned by the estate of Robert Briggs and
was occupied by Robert Watson as gro
Gerry and liquor store. The front of the
building was pretty badly damaged.
But while the flames were working dc.
struction on the west side of Ninth st,
the dwellings on the east side were meet
ing with the same fate, all being in flames
at the same time. The destruction on
the cast side was equally as great. The
flames commenced with the first building
at the southeast corner of Ninth and
Washington streets, sweeping down to
Federal and along Federal on the north
side to Sidney street, where their further
progress was checked. The building at
the southeast corner of Ninth aud Wash
ington street is occupied as a tavern by