Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1869-01-23
GREAT FIRE HN pMlLADEL.
PEnlA.
OF THE BURD MARBLE BLOCK
SUPPOSED LOSS OF LIFE-sEvERAL FER.
SONS INJURED-NEARLY MILLION DOL
LARS WORTH OF PROPERTY DESTROYED.

SUPPOSED LOSS OF LIFE-sEvERAL FER.
SONS EXTRAORDINARILY A MILLION DOL
LARS WORTH OF PROPERTY DESTROYED.
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. l4.-The burning Of
the beautiful and costly block of marble
buildings on Chestnutst, above Ninth, at an
early hour this morning, was one of the most
serious calamities that has befallen our bust
ness community for many years.
At one o'clock this morning. an explosion
was heard by the officers at the corner of
Tenth and Chestnut streets. Hurrying to
the marble block at Ninth and Chestnut,
they arrived in time to see smoke and flames
issuing through the shattered windows and
the iron grating in the rear of Caldwell's
jewclry store. The concussion from the
explosion was so great that the people in the
adjoining houses and the officers in the vi.
cinity felt it; and the sash in the SAMSON st.
front was torn from its place. Quicker than
words can tell, the flames burst through the
first floor of the jewelry establishment, and,
unobstructed, leaped into the second story,
filing the whole structure with light and
smoke. At the time various were the sur
misses as to the origin, but it has been ascer.
tanned that the boilers in the basement of
the iewelry store, which are used for warm
ing the building, and were placed there for
the express purpose Of avoiding the danger
from fires in different parts of the structure,
exploded, scattering the burning Goals over
the entire floor.
The block comprised three stores, com.
mencing at the southwest corner of Ninth
and Chestnut.sts., occupying frontage of
about 1870 feet, and extending through to
SAMSON ST. The buildings were erected on
the ground formerly occupied by the late DR..
Burd's mansion, and were flashed about two
and a half years ago at cost of nearly q
quarter of million dollars. They were con.
sidered the finest and most substantial mar.
BILE ediices in the country. The corner store
was occupied by Messrs. Howell & Brothers,
manufacturers and dealers in paper hang
ings the middle one by James L. Caldwell
6 Co., jewellers, and the third by Messrs. ].
T. & Z. B. Orne, dealers in carpets
The Continental Hotel building, on the
south east corner, was several times in ieop.
ardy, especially about o'clock this morn.
ing, when the flames burst from the windows
opposite fronting on Ninth st. but it fortu-
nately escaped damage. There was con-
siderable excitement among the guests, who
numbered some 500 but it. was allayed in a
great measure through the GOODNESS display
ed and excellent arrangement made by the
proprietor, Mr.. j. Z. Kingsley, and his clerks.
1t was not necessary for guest to leave the
house, although the vicinity was thronged
with carpet baggers." The ladies exhibit
ed much more composure than the men.
The total loss in property is estimated at
about a million dollars. Several persons
were severely injured by the falling Of the
cracked marble and pieces of the wooden
cornce, and it is feared that two of Mr..
Caldwell's clerks, Edward Hagan, formerly
Of Providence, r. l., and ]. f. Polk, of
Winchester, Va, perished in the flames.
The store of j. Z. Caldwell & Co. is COM
pletely destroyed. Their stock was valued
at $3.50, 900, 800, 900 worth of which, COM
prising the diamonds, watches, &c., was de-
posted in re.proof safes, and found in good
condition this morning. The stock consisted
of jewelry, silver and plated ware, clocks,
bronzes, pictures, and fancy articles of every
variety, and was one of tho most valuable
ever collected in America. The Art Gallery,
on the rear of the second floor, was rich with
treasures, embracing many most valuable
paintings, statues, bronzcs, and other costly
works, Including the "Veiled Statue" By
p o'clock the entire building was burned
out from top to bottom, and the interior
walls and foors fell with startling crash.
u6 lusuTauCtS Ou luelI StOCh W
$l4l,000. There was also an insurance on
the fixtures of $4,000 each in the Astor and
Howard Companies. TIE building was
owned by William o. Houston, and cost
$5s, 900, on which there is an insurance of
$50, 1000, all in Philadelphia companies. At
about o'clock the flames made their way
into the corner building, occupied by How
ell & Brother, who had large stock of pa.
per of all kinds on hand, the Spring stock
having been received a short time ago.
Everything in the building was destroyed.
Although the building was Of marble, the
cornices were of wood, and fell to the street
or were whrled through the air, imperiling
the adjacent buildings. Many Of the fire.
men were injured by the falling fragments.
The loss of Howell & Brother is nearly $780,
600, on which there is an insurance of $l05,-
900. The property was owned by Mr.. Geo.
Howell, and cost $4,000, on which there is
an insurance of $4,000.
The entire stock of Messrs. j. F. and Z.
B. Orne, carpet dealers, No. 9O4 Chestnut-st.,
was damaged by water, but the building
was not much injured by FIRE. The stock
was valued at $125,00o, on which there is
an insurance for s225,OOo. The building
was owned by Mr.. Benjamin Orne, and cost
100000, on which there is an insurance for
$4,000.