The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-08-06
TEE PHILADELPHIA FIRE.
Graphic Details of Its Origin and Pro-
gress-Iae Total Loss Between Three
and -Four Millions-TOtal IRsu.
rance. ON Stock So, 200, 900
List Of Companies Suffer.
ing-The Accidents.

List OF Companies Suffer.
ing-The Accidents.
.txs phuadejphts morning and evening journals
of yesterday are filed with extended reports or the
disastrous conGagratiOn in that city on wednesday
night giving the commencement ana progress VI
che fire. with sccounts Of all theincdents ana accr
dents knowledge OF which could be OBTAINED up 70
the hour the hast edition Of the evening papers went
70 press We collate from them the following lnior-
nation
tFren, the Evening Bulletin, August 81
About seven O'Clock last evening q ure broke out
in me large BRICK buildings on Front street, above
Lombard. 'weil known as Palterson's p0naea ware s
house Tbese buildings were erected In 1854 by John
Allen builder, Tor Colonel William Q. Patterson.
These buildings were divided into eight sections,
lettered from to II. inclusive, and having front
Of go feet on Front street, and running back $50
feet, all seven stories hlgn, except section Il, which
was six. Each was supposed to be completely fire
proof and built without connection with each other
and therefore supposed to be perfectly SAFE from
destruction by fire. The walls OF the building were
eighteen inches IN thickness throughout The par
titlon walls were sodsfrom the cellar foundation
upward, and the connections were by arched
doors; out each one Of them mad solid iron doors
always closed. Every window was protected by iron
window shutters and these were invariably closed
At night The building on the northeast corner OF
Front and Lombard streets tsection HI was used TO
large extent for offices, and IN 1t was contained ma
chinery, thus reducing to some extent the capacity
twenty Ieet east OF Front street., the boilers were
located. The machinery used in the building con-
Ested OF powerful elevators TO moist ana
bower goods: consequently the boilers were
Of much power They were located be-
vault The fire room connected with the onces by
steps, Between seven and eight O'Clock In the
morning these stores were opened, ana they were
closed at i've +. NJ, Waterman being lett in charge.
In former days these stores were used principally
for the storage OF sugar. molasses and cotton but
since the close Of the war vast amounts OF WhlsKey
have been placed in them by the United States gov
ernment and number Of individual firms.
ORIGIN OF THE FIRE.
The fire originated in section II, which was at the
corner OF Lombard street. About seven O'Clock
large portion of the wall on LOMBARD street fell to
the pavement with loud crash, supposed 10 have
been pushed out by the weight upon the floors. The
wlnskey stored went down with the ruins,
and In few moments terrific explosion
took place. throwing down every wall OF sec.
ton II, scattering bricks, tlmbers. &c, In every
direction. while the flames shot up IN a solid body
far above the surrounding buildings, creating
general CONSERVATION among the residents OF the
nelgnbornood; for IT was soon rumored that num-
Der or children had been killed and several men
badly II not fatally hurt. Women were running
around frauticay to find children that had left their
turn the excitement somewhat abated. The explo-
sion, Of course, the entire contents Of the ware
cutters in swanson street to Pine and thence into
the sewer leading TO the river, and IN short time
an explosion took place IN the sewer, breaking
portion Of It, but not doing any very great damage.
The fame continued, however, through the sewer to
The end Of the wharf, which 1t set on rre and came
firing brig lying near the per- out fortunately
steamtug happened to be close by, which towed
the brig out OF Danger.
When the wall on Lombard street fell the root
was left hanging in position but when the
explosion took place all the walls and the roof
tel to the ground, exposing the walls Of
Ment The bricks were piled eight or ten feet high
in Lombard and other streets adjoining. The nre-
great zeal ana energy, not only to check the DANES
pouring forth from the destroyed buildings but to
eight O'Clock it was thought the flames were undeI
CONTROL and that the other sections OF the ware
b0 would be he sav a%ss 6roks yey sas
ton G, one of the seven story buildings, and IN
brief time the contents Of the warehouse were ONT
mass OF fire, the flames shooting up far above TIT
root Of the building and lighting up the streets
buildings for squares around. Flremen and citizens
Hooked 70 the scene crowding the thoroughfares il
that vicinity TO sucn degree that 1t was almost i'm
possible to get within several squares Of the seem
At nine o'clock the IRE had made Its way to sec
zion +, reaching this building by the iron sheathing
the side wall fell, and in few moments thereafte
the front wall came down with loud crash, creating
an intense Excitement
GENERAL ALARM.
was runs by order Of Chief Engineer Downey
Fox, who was upon the ground. The nrensn
ground, and as the light made by the connagration
could be distinctly seen for many miles, people
nocked 10 the scene in large numbers. The crowd
reserve in the station houses were sent for Ropes
were then stretched across Lombard and Pine streets
to keep back the spectators.
The flames continued to spread through the entire
block OF stores, and TO burn furiousy despite the
the fremen. section alter section took fire
and when the interior had been consumed
morning a very heavy shower OF ram fell THIS
alded the fremen materially, but the flames were
NOT got under subsection until nearly daylight. The
time but II was under such control that the greater
portion OF the Fire department could be dismissed
OF section Ii, and in portion Of section A, which i
stu standing. All that is left OF TINS fine series
stores is the front wall section ON Front stree
ana the walls of sections A and on Penn street.
The estimated value OF the warehouses destroyed
covered by insurance, but the names OF the compa
MES could not lie ascertafned.
TIE CONTENTS OF THE WAREHOUSES.
Every portion OF the warehouses was filled with
whlskey, and the origin OF the disaster which has
resulted Ia the destruction Of these substantial edf
ices is attributed TO TOO much weight upon the floors
Among the extensive stock of liquor on storage
was some very nne Old whlskey belonging TO II. >
Hannis Co., and valued at fifteen dollars Pc
gallon.
The total quantity OF whiskey stored upon tn,
premises was "a, 900 barrels. or TINS amount ii. S
Hannis Co. had s, 900 barrels, Henry Bohlen I,5O
barrels. II. a. G. Van Bell $50 barrels, Thomas
Dillon 2oo barrels George Whitley 200 barrels, Henri
Wallace co. 1000 barrels, Joseph r Toblai
ABS barrels, II. II. W. Catherwood 100 bar res
II. c: Ridgeway 1000 barrels, Barney Carr 30
barreis, George Ritchie 500 barrels, Carstairs
Mccall 200 barrels, j. ID. Williams 200 barrels. Tn
remainder belonged to other parties, who mad di,
sereBt quantities. ranging from 10 100 barrels
the whiskey on the premises it IS believed that 40
800 barrels VIII be saved. The value vi the quo
destroyed Is estimated ut 50. 800 900.
THE INSURANCE
The Total Insurance upon the stock ioots III
.42,25s,0O0. We append q Inst -
!psaranee Company Of North America. sI2. oo
rensyhia rlfe Insurance Company S3,ns
henahre. $500
uletpree' 80 eo
teue 31JO
american 1900
DSawaIe 22UO
2910
1sfNu IDU
DhoL M""a'.'' fiUt
HDrpM. 1900
rtEnh SEQ
rare hssoclAuon. 500
1eaolhh, VI fenpsyFaha.. 1000
hPme- OF new ioih. 200
l:srmanp, Of New York. 5n,
Ienox, OF New York. ................... stn
Continental, OF New York. o0t
AaxN arL