Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-01-03
Destructive Fire ira E'hilasieIRsia-EEarn
tien's Express Office Resfroyed.

The Philadelphia Inquirer. of this morning. says:
At haii,past twelve O'Clock last night the State
House bell struck the alarm for of the most dis
astrous hres which has occurred in this city for many
years 1t was indicated at once that the fire was in
the ,nelgh60rhood of Independence Hall. On pro-
ceedng thitheT If was found that Howari's Express
building, on thesnut street, above Sixth, was in
flames.
The fremen were promptly on the ground, but the
building was so securely fastened, that they were
unable for some time to force an entrance and when
this was ACCOMPLISHED, they found the interior en-
veloped in fiames
An immense storage of goods was on the ground
and second hoors and as the portion of the
R%aGkages % were inei1Sed in pine boxes and were of
lleht ana com bustlble material, the flames spread
rapidly. The hTemen had no opportunity whatever
to eXtinguish the flames until they had acquired
such headway that 1t was matter of impossbility
w hen the heavy windows had been broken in on
Iayne street. the flames burst forth in terrific fury
Ibe ladders of the Washington Hose Hook and Lad
der Company took fire, and the intrepid men were
forced to fall back for a moment, but speedily they
had their ladders reset and torrents of water were
poured INTO the devoted building but with little
effect,
Herculean efforts were made to subdue the flames,
6nt IN few moments they burst out on the Chesnut
'front.' and it was then made manifest that the entire
establishment doomed
we do not remember fire since the introduction
OF steam engines where the dread element got so
complete a mastery of water.
The flames leaped from the Chestnut street win
dows and wrapped themselves about the elaborate
ly carved columns. and dartcd half away across the
street. as Il holding high carnival, sending forth
mllioaS OF Sparks which flied the air for squares
Of the eruption Of burning crater.
The lower portion of the building in question is
occupied by Harnden5 Express Company, and vas
lately purchased by the proprietors of the EUeiug
B"Hetia, and was soon to be converted into a news
paper establishment and printing office by the pur
Chasers. As write the building is enveloped in
iiames and ITS entire or almost total destruction is
fOregOne conclusion.
During tde progress of tho fire the front walls fell
into the street and it is believed that several remen
were injured. The loss is certainly not less than
100000 The buildings were of brown stone, five
stories high, and were among the most ornamental
on Chestnut street.
Last night was the fifteenth anniversary Of an i'm
mcnse fire on the same spot on which occasion two
men were killed.
BY TELEGRAPH.
PHILADELPHIA Jan. 2.-Some twenty persons have
been arrested for robbng the stores in the vicinity Of
the fire. One, i'll danger from the fire, was com
pletely gutted. Among the goods taken to the sta
ton house old pair of pants which the owner
| must have exchanged for new pair but forgot to
remove the pocket book containing six dollars From
the extensive robberieS, it is believed that the
fire set for the purpose of facilitating the thieves
All the money packages from Harnden's Express
the safe and the greater part of the freight
| moved. tits supposed the total loss will be about
| quarter of million dollars, but the amount of the
insurance is large, and will probably nearly cover
the loss. The fremen worked maufuly, and at one
| time pouring ffty-eight streams of water on
| the rear end of the building.
The damage to Magargers paper warehouse is not
| very la!ge principally by water.
| MessrS. Rockhili & Wilson's loss is estimated at
| S5O,0OO the stock being principally removed. The
| building insured. The building No. 609, adjoin-
ing of the burnt stores, saved from destruc-
| tion by having iron doors.
| Messrs Perry Il Co. loose $4,000. and are insured
| for $4,000.
The site of the burnt buildings was formerly occu-
| pied by the old Chestnut Street Theatre.