The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-01-04
nestrnctire Fire I'm Philadelphia.


At half past IL o clock last night the state
House bell struck the alarm for one oil me
most disastrous fires which has occurred III
this city for many years. 1t was indicated
at once that the fire was In the neighbornood
of Independence Hall. On proceeding thither
IL was found that Towards Express building,
on Chestnut street, above Sixth wasin names
The flremen We're promptly on the ground,
but the building was so securely fastened, that
they were unable for some time 10 force an en-
trance and when this was accomplished they
found the interior enyeloped In flames.
An immense storage of goods was on the
ground and second floors, and rs the greater
portion of tho packages We're enclosed IN pine
boxes and were of light and combustible ma
terial the flames spread rapidly. The firemen
had no opportunity whatever to extinguish
the flames until they had acquired such head
way that it was q matter of impossbility.
When the heavy windows had been broken
I'm on JAYNE street the flames broke forth in
terrific fury. The ladders of the Washington
Hose Hook and Ladder Company took IRE, ana
the intrepid men were forced to fall back for n
moment, but speedily they had their ladders
reset and torrents Of water were poured into
the devoted building, but with little effect.
Uercuean efforts were made to subdue the
flames, but in few moments they burst out
on the Chestnut front, and it was then made
manifest that the entire establishment was
doomed.
We do no not remember n fire since the intro
duction of steam engines where the dread ele-
ment got so complete a mastery of water.
The flames feared from Chestnut street win
dows, and wrapped themselves about the Ella
borately- carved columns, and darted half way
across the street rs if holding high carnival,
sending forth millions of sparks, which filled
the air for squares around, and descended in Il
shower, reminding one of the eruption of Il
burning crater.
The lower portion of the building in question
is occupied by Harndens Express Company,
and was lately purchased by the proprietors of
the Ereming Bulletin, and was soon TO be con-
verted into a newspaper establishment and
printing office by the purchasers. As we write,
the building is enveloped in flames, and its en-
tire almost total destruction is 4 foregone
conclusion.
The building is occupied in the basement by
Pauls concert saloon. The upper stories are
rented by John II. Simmons, dealer in photo
graphic materials; the Union billiard saloon,
conducted by Christopher Bird, and Schrack
4 BruccS billiard saloons and the lower
floor north of Harnden's Express Company's
office by Perry Co, wholesale clothiers.
The rear of the building, facing on Jayne
street, is occupied by Herbert, Delerie & Ba-
ner, dealers i'll millinery goods, fancy trim
mings, &c AT quarter past ! o'clock the
entire interior of the spacious building was
one sheet of living flame, which belched
forth with terrific effect from every window,
both on the Chestnut and Jayne street side.
In n short time the Chestnut street front be-
gan to fall, and in n few minutes the entire
front, rs far as the second story, was level
with the ground. Owing TO the difficulty in
effecting an entrance, but few goods were
saved, for by the time the tlrcmcn got into the
building everything was more or less de-
stroycd. 1t is impossible ut this time to make
any approximation of the loss by fire in TINS
building, but it will be very heavy.
A large number of tremcn We're actively en-
gagged, however, in saving clothing from the
establishment of Perry X Co., and also that OF
Rockhill & Wilson, which adjoinS it on the
east.
These goods were conveyed to the Central
Telegraph Office, and to different offices in the
State House Row. As we write, the Central
Station is filled with clothing of all descrp-
tons, and is suddenly transferred into vast
clothing emporium.
The building No COS Chestnut street, n large
brown stone edifice, similar 10 the one where
the fire originated, is 1T the present moment
in danger of destruction, the lower doors of
Rockhill and Wilson's establishment being
sheet of flame.
Megargee's paper establishment, on Sixth
street, between Chestnut and Jayne, isaln
great danger, as we write, but the fremen
are using almost Superhuman efforts, and 1t
may escape with comparatively slight damage
Since writing the above, we learn that the
fire originated in Simmonss Photographic eS-
adjustment, No. COZ Chestnut street. y large
quantity of chemicals We're stored in this place.
and shortly after the fire was discovered Il
number of explosions were heard, which are
supposed TO have proceeded from these chem
icalS and 10 have scattered the fire in all di-
rectionS.
Hrlf-1,ast Ttco O'cIock 4. M-The fire is
nearly SuDdued, ana IL Is evident mat IL VIII
not extend beyond the buildings named in the
above hastily prepared account flremen are
still busily engaged in transporting goods from
the clothing establishments named 10 the Cen
trail Station and other points.
Rockhll i Wilson are heavy losers. The
firm have been making extensive improve
ments lately in refitting and altering their es-
adjustment. Too much credit cannot be
awarded to our noble firemen for their great
endeavors to subdue the flames. We noticed
n number of them make marrow escapes from
death.
Megargee's paper establishment did not SUI,
fer materially from fire, but the water poured
on the building did considerable damage
Ptilrdelphid Inquirer, 26h.