Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1865-02-16
The Philadelphia Csn1agrstisn.
Correspondence Of the h. Y. World.

Correspondence of the n. Y. World.
PHILADELPHIA, Fec. Q.
In thirty minutes from the time
Of the discovery Of the fire, nearly fifty bull
dings, situated uDor Washington, Ninth,
Ellsworth and Lafayette streets, were on fire.
Some Of these, including several dwelling.
houses, were within this space of time wrap
ped In flames from basement TO attic. The
scene was was perfectly appalling. High
over all rose the tremendous column Of flame
that shot up from the burning yards into
the nurkv sky. From half dozen streets
shafts oflurid Gre darted far above the build
lngs. Over oil dense and terrible cloud of
impenetrable smoke hung like pail. The
scene in the streets was terribly grand.
can imagine no better simile than to com.
pare these hissings, sputt ering, bowling
rivers Of fire to the streams which issue from
Vesuvius, and the great fountain Of burn
ing oil to Vesuvius itself. Rolling over the
slush and snow the horrible torrent poured.
darting into the yards, trickling into base.
msnts, sputtcring and spirting up against
doorstep, and window, and wall. Like ser
penis Of fire. the jets Of burning petroleum
leapcd and darted from the river. xig-zag
ing this way and that, whirling and tossing
and sending out jets Of flame and inky smoke
everywhere. An drdunt courier of fire. en-
shroaded in smoke, proceeded the great riv-
or, lying like blanket upon the ground.
People looking from above would not have
thought that, beneath the dark vapor which
apparently rested just upon the water and
snow IN the street, existed an ocean Of IL
quid flame. It is believed that this circum-
stance explains the cause for the destruc-
ton OF several persons, including the Ware
family. Not being able to see the fire be.
meath, they stepped from their doors into
the street, only to find themselves ankle.
deep in perfect lava stream and. SO en-
trapped, fell and persisted. All alo, the
street horror stricken faces, illuminated in
70 startling distinctness, peered from the
windows; from the blazing doors, frenzled
men and women, half drunken with sleep,
barefooted. and with none but garments Of
the night to shield them from the pitiless
storm above and the fire capped slush be
heath, rushed into the street, some bearing
children. some with articles Of clothing and
household goods in their arms-all bewil-
dered and panic stricken. Many of those
living in the upper stories of the dwelling
houses were aroused only at the last mo-
ment. and sprang from bed to escape, scorch-
cd and Olackened, through the flames. Be.
fore the stream Of molten fire had penetrat-
ed any considerable distance down Ninth
street, the Rremen and others passed down
the street, and with snowballs and Fragments
Of ice, broke the windows Of dwelling hous.
es, thus awaking many of the sleepers. who
must otherwise have persisted. Ere the fire
had reached its height, we witnessed most
affecting scene. Forth from the door Of one
OF the houses in Ellsworth street came a
man bearing in his arms the dead BODY Of
his wife. She had died the day before. and
aroused from his slumbcrs il perchance he
slept, the faithful husband, waiting not to
clothe HIMSELF Or save any Of his household
property. ciasped the corpse Of her be loved
IN hts arms, and took it to . place of safety.
It Is nov thought that twelve persons
persisted in the flames. Seven bodies have
been recovered. Those supposed TO be OF
members Of the Ware family, burned in the
street, present . shocking appearance
some with the bead entirely DESTROYED. 9th.
ers with limbs burned of, blackencd stumps
Of bones protruding, the flesh roasted or
consumed upon the back and sides,
So intense wAs the heat from the sure;nr
stream Of burning petroleum that the pav.
lng-stones in the street were calcincd. crack
Cd, and broken into fragments the tracks
OF the railroad twisted up, and left protrud
ing into the air; house fronts are blistercd
ana sealed Of, even for blocks away. A fire.
pug was heated red hot. The boiling lets
" name from the street leaned n some cases
- nigh q the second-story window.