Elizabeth daily monitor. [volume] (Elizabeth, N.J.) 1868-1880, 1869-01-15

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. IA.

costly block OF marble buildings on
Chestnut street, above Ninth, at an
early hour this morning was one the
most serious calamaties that has befall-
en- our business community for many
years. The block comprised three
stores, commencing nj the southwest
corner Of Ninth and Chestnut SITS, oc-
cupying II frontage OF about 100 feet,
and extending through to Sansom-st.
The buildings We're erected on the
ground formerly occupied by the DR.,
| Burd = mansion, and were finished
about two and half years ago at a
cost of nearly II quarter of "a million
dollars. They were considered the
finest and most substantial marble edi-
fees in the country The corner store
was occupied by Messrs. Howell & Bro
theirs, manufacturers and dealers in
paper hangings the middle one by
James E. Caldwell & Co, Jewellers,
and the third by Messrs. J. F. Il e. B.
Orne, dealers in carpets.
The Continental Hotel building, on
the south east corner, was several times
in jeopardy, especially about 3 o'clock
this morning, when flames burst from
tue windows opposite fronting on
Ninth-st., but it fortunately escaped
damage There was considerable ex-
citement among the guests, who num-
bered some 500 but it was allayed in
q great measure through the GOODNESS
displayed and excellent arrangements
made by the proprietor Mr.. J. E.
Kingsley. and his clerks. 1t was not
necessary fora gnest to leave the house
although the vicinity was throngrd
with "carpet baggers. The ladies ex-
hiblted much more composure than
the men.
The total loss in property is estlma-
ted at about a million dollars. Several
persons were severely injured by The
falling of the cracked marble and
pieces of the wooden cornice, and it is
feared that two of Mr.. Caldwell's clerks
Edward Hagan, formerly of Pro>l-
dence, R. l., and J. F. Polk, of Win
chester, Va, persisted in the flames.
About 1890 this morning, several
explosions were heard in the vicinity,
causing the earth to shake They
could not be accounted for, until a
quarter of an hour afterward flames
were discovered issuing from the San
som st. end of the cellar of Caldweli's
store. They spread rapidly and before
the fremen arrived had reached the
third story. The store was safely
guarded by strong iron doors and win
dows aud it was difficult to effect an
entrance. The private Waterman,
James Andrews. was disc overed near
the front entrance when the door was
finally broken in. He was badly burn
ed and almost senseless There were
five clerks also in the building, three
of whom effected their escape by get
ting out of the second story front win
dows upon the cornice.
The store of J. B. Caldwell & Co. is
completely destroyed. Their stock was
valued at $3.50, 000- $780, 900 worth Of
which, comprising the diamonds, watch
as, &c, was deposited in fire proof safes
and found in good condition this morn
ing. The stock consisted of jewelry,
silver and plated ware, clocks, bronzes.
pictures, and fancy articles of every va
riety. and was one of the 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, bronzes, sta
tues, and other costly works, including
the "Veiled Statue" BY half-past two
o'clock the entire building was burned
out from top to bottom, and the inte-
rior walls and floors fell with crash.
The assurances on their stock amount
to $141, 900. There was also an insur-
ance on the fixtures of $4,000 each in
the Astor and Howard Companies. The
building was owned by William G.
Houston, and cost $4,000. on which
there is an insurance of $4,000 all in
Philadelphia companies. At about two
o'clock the flames made their way into
the corner building, occupied by How
I'LL, LII l.,..,.a u41.al- .,e