The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-02-09
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Destructive Confagration in
Philadelphia.
Two Thousand Barrels OF Coal
Oil Burned
ABOUT FIFTY DWELLINGS DESTROYED.
People Roasted Alive I'm the
Streets.
ABOUT FIFTY DWELLINGS DESTROYED.
NAMES OF SOME OF THE SUFFERERS,
&C., &C., &c.

NAMES OF SOME OF THE SUFFERERS,
&C., &C., &C.
from the Philadelphia Bulletin Feb 81
The most terrible confagraton that has occurred In
Philadelphia since tho great fire Of july 1850 took place
this morning Before proceeding TO narats the horrors
Of the calamity, win describe the locality where the
Ninth Street below Washington Is lined principally
with three story brick dwellings that occupied mainly
by respectable families Of limited MEANS the houses rent
ing we should Judge for from hundred two hun
dred and fifty dollars year. The first street below
Washington street is Ellsworth and the next Federal
both OF which streets had, in that vicinity, about the
class Of dwellings upon them as those upon Ninth
On the southwest corner OF Ninth and Washing
streets there coal yard belonging to MessTs Daily
Porter; and Immediately west Of this upon Washing
street. open lot, upon which Blackburn Co.
had housand and three thousand barrels Of
coal oil stored account OF various owners
This morning at about half-past two o'clock, q hre
broke among this OIL and the flames spread through
the greater part OF II with almost much rapdity AZ
though It had been gunpowder. About two thousand
barrels Of the infammable material were soon abaae,
and sending up into the sky huge column OF naine.
The families in the neghborhood spraDg from their BEDS
and without stopping to secure even single article OF
clothing rushed into the streets that were covered with
from their threatened homes got OF with their ves but
those the spot where the conaagraton first COM
menccd and who were not prompt to escape from their
houses met by q terrible scene
The blazing oil that escaped from the burning barrels
poured over into Ninth and down TO Federal I'LL
ina he entire tired aoiM lake y fire, and ignting the
houses uo,. both sides Of Ninth street squares aud
carrying devastation into washingion Ellsworth and
An eye witness, who was upon the spot when the OIL
poured out into the street, describes the fierce body Of
fame as resembling screw In It's progress; 1t first
whirled up Ninth street. and then the fiery torrent
rushed down the street for distance Of two squares,
aud back again at the caprice Of the wind, destroy
ing all living things that IN its way burning dwell
ngs and their contents though they were 30 much
stones IN the street with the intense heat Fully ave
squares Of houses had they been placed In row. were
fire at once and the scene was one to make the stout
People escaping from their blazing homes, with
covering but their night cothcs parents seeking for
their children and terrified little looking for safety
in the horrid turmoil, all dreadful enough but
there still terrible scenes Witnessed. Men,
romen and cidre. gere ht~yoty Tcosed dlsUe IN the
ayxs
Captain JOSEF H. Ware occupied the dwelling No l2s
Ninth street, the second house below the coal yard al
ve daughters and two They all got into the street
Just they left their beds and there they found them
Mrs. Ware had her youngest child, girl Of, about i've
years Of age in her She fell, and Lewis Will
liama, q member Of the Moyamensing Hose Company,
made desperate effort to save them He had hold Of
the unfortunate woman but he was compelled by the
herceness Of the aery blast leave her to her fate and
seek safety for himself In flight Mrs Ware, her child
and daughter about fifteen sixteen years OF age,
burned to death in the street and horribly mutt
lated their remains only be identified by the
culiar circumstances surrounding them. Captain Ware
and his two escaped but three OF his daughters arc
missing Captain Ware and his all badly
burned There were six bodies in all recovered;
they taken to the Second district station house
Three Of the bodies have been recognised rs belonging to
the Ware family One the body Of man supposed to
be Mr. james Gibbons the proprietor Of dry goods
store 1l33 South Ninth street There is also boy not
yet recognised, and q man Whose body was found IN
Ninth street. short distance below Washington street
fragment Of red cloth, resembling the lining Of ire
mans coat leads TO the belief that the victim was fire.
IN thought there are persons who have perished
and whose bodies are buried under the ruins
The streets In frghtfu condition from the snow
and rain that had fallen the evening previous and the
remen after reaching the Hpot could accomplish moth
ing except the prevention Of the spread of the flames
Nearly every house from Washington street Federal
distance OF squares Is burned, with all their
tents nothing but the bare walls remaining this morning
The same scene OF ruin IL presented on Washington,
Ellsworth and Federal streets, both above and below
Ninth street The entire number OF buildings burned
about forty seven.
THE PROPERTY DgsrRovgp-rBE OCCUPANTS, Erc.
The fire began Washington street above Ninth, In
the coal oil storage promises OF Hanse Hamilton which
were totally destroyed.
On the south at the corner Of Ninth and Washington
Streets the coal yard Of John Porter and Thomas
Daily the firm being Porter Daily The sheds &c,
were destroyed and much Of tho coal was burned.
Several large piles Of coal smouldering this
ing, and will probably be almost entirely burned
NINTH STREET, WEST SIDE.
South or the coal yard, and extending 10 Ellsworth
street, were about six dwellings These were completely
destroyed and only portion OF the walls Of some OF
them are standing In front Of the one nearest Wash.
ngion street three persons were burned 70 death and
ruins The next house, No. lbs, was occupied by Jo
seph Ware The occupant Of Of the other houses
by the fall and she reported 70 have persisted in the
flames.
Southwest corner Of Ninth and Ellsworth streets was
owned by the estate Of Robert Briggs and was occupied
by Robert Watson a grocery and liquor store The
from. Of the building was pretty badly damaged
badly damaged Belongs TO the Briggs estate.
No. 1,146, dwelling occupied by Mr. Kline and Mr.
Briggs Completely burned out Also belongs 70 the
No. las, dwelling OF John Booth Burned ont Be
| longs TO Charles Brannan.
No iiSo, dwelling Of Mr. en badly damaged. Belongs
No. 1852, dwelling Of Geo l. Doughcrsy. Considerably
| damaged
Al the corner Of Ernst street. No 1885, s the LIQUOR
store Of James Fitzpatrick slightly damaged.
No. 1,15s, Henry walter, baker; badly damaged
No. 1,160, - Kane, dwelling
No. ,l62, lingo Lockhorn, provision store.
No. l,1ei, Anthony yoght, grocery store
Nos l66 and ll6s were dwellings, but we could not
learn the Of the occupanta
No LILO, OF Federal street. is Reeds tavern
The houses In this row we're all considerably damaged
EAST SIDE or NINTH STREET.
Southeast Of Ninth and Washington STREETS is
tavern, kept by James McMAnus; roof destroyed, aud
| upper part badly damaged
Then comes an open lot.
Next came three story brick dwelling, owned and
occupied by David l. hey. This was injured by the
! fire.
No l,13a, dry goods store Of James Gibbons Com
Three dwellings between that and Ellsworth street wero
also destroyed but we could not ascertain the names OF
che occupants
AT the OF Ellsworth street was the hardware
store Of Mira Chadwick This WINS partially destroyed
Southeast Of Ninth and Ellsworth owned by the
Eneu estate and occupied by jeremiah Brew a. liquor
The next two houses belonged James Bradshaw and
NO ll31 was occupied by HIM as a dwelling Both were
nurned ont Two frame houses in the rear also belong
Ing TO MT Bradshaw, were consumed.
/ The next house adjoining on the,souh occupied
by Pat McNuty. IL was guted The stable In the rear
Nos 1865 and 1157-a large four story brick building
occupied oy David j. Hey, wooden manufacturer Tho