The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-02-10
THE GREAT FIRE IN PHILADELPHIA.


Thrllling Incidents, De.
From the Philadelphia Press, Feb. o.
Coroner Taylor empanelled the following named gentle
men 70 serve a. jurors to investigate this awful AFFAIR."
Nessrs. William r. Leeds, William Address, Samuel
Charles wilson The jury visited the Second strics
station house fold Southwark HAIL. whore lay in heap
the charred remain: Of Ave human beings Twas utterly
One appeared be the body Of man, child and
the other three adult females probably Ill but mem
bers OF the unfortunate Ware family.
The following are the MISSING :-Mra Barbsra Ware
aged forty three years; Annie Ware, aged twenty three
w
bella Ware aged four years Albert Ware, aged seven
teen and Clayton Ware, aged ten years. were shockney
diving last evening Four OF the charred bodies at the
Second district station were probably Ns Ware and three
Of her daughters The other two daughters arc probably
under some Of the ruins.
VISIT TO THE RUINS.
Tho Jurors having examined the remains OF those at
the station house, visited the runs OF the fire. and
learned that tho fams first discovered In among
some coal OIL under shed, access being had thereto
from Ellsworth formerly Little Washington street
There were immense nnmbers Of citizens present. and
gloom OF horror seemed pervade them all Among the
visitors District Attorney Mann and the Grand jury
30 IL was stated who desired to view the terrible havoc
made by the ryhtfui rayages Of coal oil Although this
10 an article Of great commercial importance, and must
receive - h me ros h. ~ III oaa
thores will act at once and abolish the places where
large quantities Of the material are slowed away in tbs
thckly built up parts Of the city It was distressing
sight 70 stand amid We ruins yesterday aud contemplate
the destruction Of property, aud the more shocking
es cA authority that all tho property de.
stroyed was envcloped within thirty minutes
The burning oil spread from house to house,
south from Washington avenue, across Ellsworth street.
Federal street. and running down the cellar widows OF
the dwellings and stores involved the whole Of them In
Of tho police and remen who were early Al the scene
say impossible " awaken the sleeping nnates
y s probable that they became awakened and effected
clothes they had more complete wreck OF tene
ments stores furniture and household goods generally
has not been seen in this city since the memorable IRE
1885, that commenced in Brooks store On tho wharf
below Vine street.
rHRxIBLx AND THRILLING SCENES.
While tho sea Of nre surgng along in ts resistles
fury man whose wife had died on Tuesday was COM
PEELED to carry her body from the house In a few min
We learn that the dead body Of an old lady Was carried
ont by several Arensn from . house THAI after
ignited and . sheet Of fame
Two horses valuable animals, belonging TO Messrs-
Porter Daily coal dealers, were consumed. One Of the
animals wildly from the stable into the burning OIL
and fen In ess than minute. The other animal per-
The TranEiin steam Engine No IL, tho Moyamen-
the scene The Franklin and the Moyamsnsng Joined
in action and put the water on very speedily and 70 this
ns Tss Ranee l
risk Of his life, brought the body Of Mrs Ware from
where sho had fallen in the guties Her remains were
ut once conveyedsto the Southwark Hall George W.
Buchanan f. H. Colmirc and Gwin cxcavatcd the ruins,
and recovered the charrcd remains Of man and woman
James huElcS rescued WOHuu, WhO6c manu- W. eoui0
not learn from q house In hameA She was burned
shockingy about the hands and slightly injured about
the body from her clothes taking Hre Her condition -
not considered very dangerous
The chief director Alexander Philibcr rescued girl
and baby from room, by means Of clambcring over
she'd He slipped from tho shed with the girl and baby
on his arms and injured his back. They all finally
capped through . narrow alley. Many OF the nremen,
citizens and police officers distinguished themselves ia
various ways. just before the qud flames commenced
rubbing through the cts these pelted the upper
windows OF the tenements with snowbals, which, break
ng the glass awakened tho inmates 10 sens, Of danger
But for this the loss q life would unquestonably have
been greater than II was.
stroyed involved in flames with the space Of thirty
minutes The streets being flooded with water and snow,
the water and inets choked up the
burning oil spreading with great celebrity over the sur
face reached from house house both sides OF the
way and ran In burning str ans into the cellars This
Ii what caused such immense destruction Of houses
Yesterday afternoon policemen engaged In pull
Ing down tho most tolterng walls, or those most likely
e. fall thus TO prevent any accidents What may appear
strange yet be easily understood there were sevc-
raj hundrld barrels OF petroleum In the northwestern
part the enclosure that did not take e The grade OF
THO yard downward from this point, and the wind
fierce il VAS from the north northwest The
nromeu kept constant supply OF water on these bar
reL until thu height of the connagration had passed
There several other places In that neghborhood
where coDsid rabe quantities OF coal oil are stored IL IL
generally known to those who pass along the street.
because IL In almost entirely hidden from view by sur.
rounding dwelling houses nrc In such place would,
In all probability, Be attended with loss Of life
THE ORIGIN.
y
sign II II said that woman saw IRE burning under
the shed half hour before the oil gnited This
current report but certainly needs hrmstiou The
subject b left 70 the authorities TO ferrst out
The Loss by the Fire.
PHuApELrMA, Feb Q, 1855
me loss By the IRE yesterday 10 $4,000 The
loss On coal oil $4,000. Only onsthird Of the total
loss insured Over hundred structures Of various
kinds were destroyed The missing and dead number
twenty persona Eleven Of one family are missing,
who supposed DO buried in tho ruins Of tho house
Relief for the Sufferers by the Phila-
dslphla Fire.
PHILADELPHIA, Feb ., 1888
The Corn Exchange today subscribed 81 500 to the
sufferers By ths great arc aud tho God Exchange 000
The Storage Of Petroleum In Phtladel-
Phia Prohibited.
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. .. fsea
Both Houses Of the Pennsylvania Legislature to day
passed bill to prohibit the storage Of petroleum In Phil
adelphia city.