The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-12-16

Great Western Gum Works Destroyed
Rapid and Fatal Discharge OF Fire
aKms-One Man Killed, Others Injured
The Explosion OF Oartrld ges- WaIIace's
Flour Store and COIviIle's Marble
Works Burncd.
This morning after 12 o'clock fire broke out
in the Great Western Gun Works, situated on
the corner of Wayne and Penn streets, In the
Fourth Ward, resulting IN the entire destruction
OF the gun works, the flour store of ID. Wallace
fronting on Penn street, and the marble works
of II. A. Colville, fronting on Wayne street.
The flames were first discovered issuing from
the corner of the gun works. on Penn and
Wayne streets. The watchmau Immediately
sounded an alarm from Box 80, but for some
reason the big bell did not strike. The alarm
was given 10 the engine houses, however, and
the 6remen were promptly on hand; but before
the engines could arrive at the scene OF the fire,
the building was wrapped III flames.
Immediately in the rear of the office of the
gun works was stored a large amount of Govern
ment ammunition. This storehouse ran parallel
TO Penn street. 1t is stated that large number
of loaded guns were stored IN the works and
this Government depot. The fire soon reached
these, and terrific explosion followed. The
loaded guns were discharged in every direction,
eudangeling the lives of the firemen and large
numbers of spectators, who flocked TO the scene
of the fire. Antoine Keck, boy fifteen years
of age, who was standing on the steps OF the
building opposite, was shot through the neck
and mortally wounded; he was immediately car
ried 10 his fathers hotel on Liberty street oppo.
site the Union Depot Hotel.
Conductor Browning, OF the Pennsylvania
Railroad, had his knee shattered, and was taken
TO the Union Hotel. He resides in New Brighton.
His injuries, although severe, are not considered
dangerous. Pc.
A man named Dixon, and several others whose
names could not be ascertaine1, were reported
as having been injured.
The buildings in the vicinity of the Gun
Works were ridded with bullets; large num-
her n the windows in the Fort WaUna huiIdinu
were broken, some of the bullets entering the
telegraph Office and taking the operator by
surprise. The outside of the building was
covered with bullet marks The wholesale fur
niture establishment of @. A. Klopter & Co., on
Wayne street, opposite the burning building,
was marked with bullets, the balls principally
passing over the heads of the crowd below, and
whisthng in manner not at all agreeable. The
Iear windows OF the adjoining stores on Liberty
street were also riduled by bullets.
The fan es soon extended to the -four and feed
store of d. Wallace, and consumed the contents.
Two horses stabbed in the rear are reported as
having been burned. The loss of Mr.. Wallace
we were unable to learn, but it is probably not
The MARBLE shop OF Peter G. Renters, ON Penn
street, was next burned, and considerable
marble work was destroyed The marble work 8
of X. A. ColYille, Esq, on Wayne street,SWere
also totally destroyed. His works contained
several fhe monuments, which were nearly
completed.
Owing to the lateness of the hour, 1t was i'm.
possible TO ascertain with amy degree of accu-
racy the loss of j. II. Johnston, the proprietor
of the Great Western Gun Works, or of any of
the other sufferers. The loss to the Government
on the property destroyed will be heavy.
The fTemen deserve great credit for their in
trepidity in facing the bullets, which were flying
about as thick as hail. The extreme cold weather
was also against them, as the water was formed
into ice all about them.
The building destroyed this morning, which
had front on Penn street OF one hundred and
fifty feet and front of one hundred feet on
1864, the old warehouse which, for many years,
had occupied the.gTound. having been destroyed
by IRE on the morning of April 22d OF that year.
The warehouse was then in the occupancy OF
the sufferers then, as now, were Peter G. Renters
and Robert A. OolVille, marble cutters. Mr..
Wallace, we believe, had lease of the property,
which belongs TO the beirs of Dr. Hartford.-
Piusburg Commercial of Saturday.