The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-01-14

The most destructive fire which has occurred
In this city for probably ten or twelve years
last night consumed the block OF marble stores
at the southwest corner of Ninth and Chestnut
streetsi The site upon which they were erected
is that formerly occupied by the old Burd man.
sion. They were bat new structures, spacious
and elegant, three in number. The one at the
corner was occupied by the firm of Howell &
Brothers, paper-hangers; the next by James E.
Caldwell & Co., jewellers; the third by the firm
OF J. F. a. Il. B. Ornc, carpet dealers. In them.
as we go to press, the fire still shoulders and
smokes, and three of the finest buildings ia the
c,ty are ruined.
Origin Of the Fire.
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 aud Chesnut, they arrived iu time to
see smoke and flames issuing through the shat
tered windows and the iron grazing in the rear
OF ldWell's jewelry store. Toe concussiol
> from the explosion was SO great mat the people
hi the adjoining houses and the officers In the
vicinity felt 1t; aud the sash III the SAMSON street
front were torn from it's place. Qu cker than
words can tell, the flames burst through the
6rst floor OF Athe jewelry establishment and
unobstructed, leaped into the second story, fill
ing the whole structure with light and smoke.
Al the time various v ere the surmses as to the
origin but it has been ascertaihed that the boil
efs in the basement OF the jewery store, which
are used for warming the buidng and were
placed there for the express purpose OF avoiding
ihe danger from Tres in different parts OF the
structure, exploded, scattering the burning Goals
over the entire hoor.
CaldweIl's Jewelry Embellishments.
At the time of the explosion, the employees
sleeping in the upper story Of the building were
awakened, and made endeaVors to escape, being
driven to the front of the building by the dense
smoke and the flames, which were rushing
through the building with incredible celerity.
- oy.ttsNA do, as,h mad hra
OF LADDERS. Within twenty minutes from the
6rst alarm, the structure was sheetcd in flame,
and before the Fire Department (Which was
prompt 10 the CALI responded, the flames
we're almost beyond control. The fire
belcbed forth from the windows with such
terrible ferocty that the paint on the buildings
opposite was blIstered and scorched This
store, the centre one of the three at the corner
Of Chestnut and Ninth streets, Is, ike the Others,
Of brick, running back TO Sansom street. having
atwo story front on this street, and four story
marble front on Chestnut street. Tue building
WAS filed atthe time with the finest OF ie Wery,
diamOnds, articles of Uertn and bVOuterie, the
sock being heavy one. OF this the more
valuable portion, consisting Of precious stones
ard fDe gold ornaments, was IN the huge fire.
pI0of saiee while in the cases $250,00u worth
ojewery was stored.
Upon arriving al the scene the dremen eXpe-
rIenced soNe delay in getting streams up)n the
hames the iron shutters 10 the doors and
windows barring them out These being raised,
every effort was made TO save the stock. Lieu
n
CORDS OF officers, guarded the front entrance and
guarded the property which was aiken from the
6Ornipg structure. Special men were detailed
tocarry the cases OF rich jewelry into the ad
Oning buildings, and before even this could be
hly completed the heavy timbefs and cOrnices
bOken and burned by che flames, fell. filing
NE place so deLsely with suHocating smoke as
~ bIreyeDt the men from entering.
Before the flames burst through the front of
Ae building all but two OF the inmates escaped.
Al the time there were sleeping in the upper
A RaG h,.FI.
Hndy G. Gadney King, Edward Hagan, sales
men: James Andrews, porter, and James +.
POLK These men, escaping nom the front
second. story window, ran along the projecting
SOInice, and were restored 10 terra fTnla by the
aid OF the 6Iemep.
"A They however sustained some serious in
y iurts In their buried exit. Further mention
oftbem will be given in another place.
It may be interesting for our readers VINO nave
vatcbed the building no OF this fine establish
ment which, until the disastrous contiagrdtion
Al this morning, was one OF The chletest orna
menta TO Chesnut street, 10 read this description
Sthe structure before the cOulagration:-
n MeksTs J. f.. Cal lWell Co. were estaDlshec
10 the general jeWelry business, az NO s.1 Ones
mt street, for a number OF years, but com
npnced altering and adaOtlng the large anC
Smdsome store No. 902 Ohesnut street as soor
a. It was abandoned by Mr.. j. M HaheiSh
shont the fret OF September, 1867. The interior
~sented palatial appearance scarcely rlvalIeC
u any similar establishment IN tDe Worid' In'
d,e OF the fixtures and ornaments was ina
skch prevailed in the days OF Louls Nly o
Eance and everything has been brought Int
Lssnlpg with this antique design. 1he oulldlni
vas our stories in height, with q 'front.' OF 80 Zee
srd total depth oil 235 feet. On entering the
Gator stood In the department. OeVoteo u
.%Sral iewelry, watches, diamonds, etc tina
Il sdeplh OF 10 feet, being separated rom IN
n s,Yt APARTMENT by what Is tecbntcallY termel
Iisrced screen, consisting OF heavily cornlce'
s,ch, supported by columns and pllasters o
;mtatiye Sienna marble, resting upon pedestal
nISeIcately yeined white marble, the monotoD.