Elizabeth daily monitor. [volume] (Elizabeth, N.J.) 1868-1880, 1869-08-06
THE PHILADELPHIA FIRE.

The Bonded warehouse burned laSt
evening was divided into eight sections
lettered from A to Fl, having a front of
900 feet on Front-street, and extending
back 1876 feet, each section seven stories
high, except Section Fl, which was but
six The entire block was supposed to
be fire proof, and would probably have
been so if stored with anything less ex-
plosive and combustible than whisky.
The originated is Section III, at the
corner of Lombard street. About Z |
o'clock large portion of the wall on
Lombard street, fell to the pavement
with loud crash, supposed to have
been pushed out by the weight upon
the floors. The whisky stored went
down with the ruins, and in few mo-
ments a terrific explosion took place,
throwing down every wall of Section Fl
scattering bricks, timbers, &c, in every
direction, while the flames shot up in a
solid body far above the surrounding
buildings, creating a general consterna
ton among the residents OF the neigh
borhood, for it was rumored that a
number of children had been killed,
and several men badly if not fatally
hurt. Women were running around
frantically to find children that had
left their homes, but as those who were
missing began to return the excitement
somewhat abated. The explosion of
course set the entire contents of the
warehouse on fire, and soon burning
whisky ran down the cutters into the
sewer leading to the river, and in n
short time an explosion took place in
sewer, breaking portion of it, but
not doing any very great damage; the
flame continued, however, through the
sewer to the end of the wharf, which
it set on fire, and came near FREEING q
brig lying near the pier, but fortu nate
ly steamtug happened to be close by,
which lowed the brig out of danger.
When the wall on Lombard street
fell, the roof was left hanging in posi-
ton. but when the explosion exposing
the walls of the next section, from the
roof to the pavement The bricks were
piled eight or ten feet high in Lombard
and other streets adjoining. The fire
men were soon on the ground, and
worked with great zeal and energy,
not only to check the flames pouring
forth from the destroyed building. but
to save the surrounding property, and
at 81, o'clock it was thought the flames
were under control, and that the other
sections of the warehouse would be
saved In short time, however, the
flames broke out in section G., one of
the seven storied buildings, and the
contents of the warehouse We're soon
one mass of fire, the flames shooting
up far above the roof of the building,
and lighting up the streets and build.
ings for squares around. Firemen and
citizens who had not been apprsed of
the first fire now hockel to the scene,
crowding the thoroughfures in that Vi
entity, SO that it was almost impossible
to get within several squares of the
scene of confagation. About O'Clock
the fire had made its way to section T,
reaching this building by the iron
sheeting along the edge Of the roof,
and in a very short time the side wall
fell, and in a few moments thereafter
the front wall came down with loud
crash, creating an intense excitement.
At 9.24 a general alarm was rung by
order of Chief Engine Downey, III d
a. $40 this alarm was repeated by d.
rection of Mayor Fox, who was on the
ground. The firemen from all sections
of the city came upon the ground, aud
as the light made by the confagrat;oa
could be distinctly seen for many mill s
people focking to the scene in large
numbers The crowd became very
great, and all the policemen held in
reserve at the station-houses were sent
for. Ropes were stretched across LON
bard and Pine streets to keep back spec
tators. The flames continued to spread
through the entire block of stores, and
to burn furiously, despite the most
strenuous exertions on the part of the
| firemen. Section after section took
fire, when the interior had been con
sumed the walls fell in About O'clock
this morning n very heavy shower of
rain fell
The estimated value of the ware,
houses destroyed is from 100000 to
$500, COO The structures are fully
convered by insurance, Every portion
of the warehouses was filled with whis-