The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-08-05

cept in one or two instances.
Shortly after midnight the battlement wall
separating dwelling No 400 and the northern
compartment of the warehouse fell into the
ruins, and instantly the roof of No. 400 was in a
blaze. From this it communicated to No. 407,
which was unoccupied, and to Nos. 405 403, and
401. No. 401, which is at the corner of Front
and Pine streets, was occupied as a grocery
store by i. Gilroy.
The heat was SO intense, and the air so full of
flying embers from the falling walls, that the
properties on the east side of Front street were
ON fire several times, but the firemen have
managed to save them thus far. 4 heavy
westerly wind sprung up and blew the flames to
the eastward. Wall after wall fell, and the
burning embers filed the air for squares around.
On the surrounding houses could be seen dozens
of men throwing pals Of water aver the heated
roofs.
BY o'clock the flames communicated to the
row of dwellings adjoining the warehouse, eX-
tending to Pine street, and there appeared to
be little probability OF their being saved. The
row consisted of three double dwellings, used as
tenements. The occupants deserted them half
an hour before. The saloon located ut the
corner of Pine and Penn streets was also very
badly damaged.
The flour and feed store of Messrs. Conalett,
No. 1923 Penn street, was fired by sparks from
the burning buildings. The iiremen, in their
efforts to save il, completely saturated il with
water, rendering the stock entirely worthless.
The cooper shop of William Thompson, at
Fourth and Pine streets, and the large brick
building at tlg southwest corner OF IJtllWare
avenue and Spruce street, used as a rigging loft
by Mr.. Izuards, the Spruce street portion as the
Jersey Hotel, and the Penn street corner as a
liquor store, were in serious danger from the
hundreds of splinters of burning wood blown
through the air
About o'clock, while the fire was still raging,
a heavy thunder storm added to the terror of
the scene. The flashes of lightning, the heavy
pcals of thunder, the fall of rain, the immense
flame of fire. and the vast extent of the PROSTATE
ruinS with the confusion Of the muliitu1pc
attempting suddenly to leave the ground, and
the engines, made n scene the equal of which is
rarely witnessed. The wall of the warehouse
building now fell in with great crash, and the
whole OF the Front street portion of the building,
except section a, near Pine street, was level
with the ground Fortunately no persons were
injured by the falling walls There were several
general alarms given throughout the night, and
the Camden fire department responded.
The State House bell was rung ut different
times, and called to the scene all of the avail
able policemen. The patrolmen had their ropes
stretched across the streets at all proper places
and thorOughtares, and prevented interference
with the fremen and prohibited the citizens
from yenturing in places of danger.
THE FIREMEN AND THE MAYOR
worked nobly, and by their exertions no pro-
perty totally destroyed except the ware
house building. They exposed their lives even
recklessly, and worked nobly. This morning
the walls yet left standing were torn down by
them, and as the huge masses of brick fell into
the debriS the flames yet burning flashed out
brighter. Mayor Fox was the ground ut an
early hour, watched carefully its progress, gave
orders to the department.. and instituted aided
by Chief Mulholland. better enforcement of
the regulations for clearing the neighboring
streets than has been enforced for some years
past.
THE THEORY OF THE FIRE.
The theories of those competent to Judge are
somewhat conflicting
Whila por I'M cistt tbof nhpiln n6n
there are others who contend it did not but that
the whisky exploded. 1t cannot be told until
the boiler is reached whether it was the cause
of the terrible occurrence or not
If the whisky caused the explosion, we can
only account for it on the suppOsitiOn that the
building settled by the heavy dead weight upon
it, thereby starting some of the casks to leaking.
If this liquid dripped until it reached the fire.
room, and ignited, flame shooting upwards
would perhaps have thrown the first portion of
the wall out. The fire spreading up into the
gases generated by the liquid, and penneating
every portion of the closely-shut place, might
have caused the grand explosion which tumbled
the building to the ground.
This seems probable when we consider the
fact, rs we understand it, that there was prae-
tsed in the warehouse a system of bringing
whisky to that perfection heretofore supposed
only to be obtained by age. By this system it
was rendered absolutely necessary that the buugs
should be out. If such were DONE it can readily
be imagined how so dreadful a catastrophe could
happen.
CASUALTIES.
The casualties reached to'the neighberhood of
about twenty, most of whom we were unable to
obtain, from the fact that the injured men were
mostly taken to their residences.
Jacob Andrews, residing on Penn street, below
Lombard, was struck on the head by n brick
and severely injured Taken to the Pennsyl-
Vania Hospital.
Daniel Hagerty, police officer, residing Mt
Penn and South Streets had his face and head
badly burned Taken home.
Michael McNulty, drayman, while driving
along Front street. was struck on the head with
Il brick. Taken to the hospital.
William GILES, residing at No. 5l2 Penn street,
had both arms broken.
Thomas Proctor, colored, aged Twenty-Five re-
siding at Tenth and Rodnan streets, badly
scalded. Is at the hospital.
Albert Brest of the Hope Engine, fell of the
ladder and had his head severely injured.
James McCreed aged eight years, residing
AT No. l1l2 PlOyer street, run over by steamer.
Isaac UnderdOwn, oil clothing manufactures,
| was cut in the face by flying brick, and badly
| injured.
Thomas Mcguire, the shipping master, was
| thrown down by the force of the explosion, m-
turing him badly.
Shortly before one o'clock a ladder placed
against building on Penn street, adjoining
| the warehouse, fell and severely Injured
Edward Alburger member of the Empire
| Hook and Ladder Company. The injured man
was removed to his home in Emmett street.
THE INDIVIDUAL LOSSES.
| II. $. Hannis IL Co., of Nos. 21S and go Soutl
Front street, the heaviest losers, had 5000 barrels
| of whisky in the place. Its value was ovel
| ~ 900, 600 Fully insured.
| Henry Wallace q Co., of No. 226 South Front
street, had over 1000 barrels in the place. 1t,
value was over 100000. Fully insured.
| Barney Corr, at Beach and Brown streets, had
800 barrels in the place. Insured for $9i, 600
| fully covering his loss.
| George Richie had 500 barrels in the place