The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-08-12
The Great Fire In Philadelphia
THE ORIGIN, EXTENT, LOSSES, ETC.


The extensive bonded warehouse of Col.
Wm. @ Patterson, in Philadelphia, was de-
stroyed by fire on Wednesday night of last
week, and its contents, twenty-five thousand
barrels of whisky, consumed. The build
ing had front on Front street of three bun
dred feet and depth of one hundred and
fifty feet, aud was divided into nine sections,
each section being a complete store. The
singular incidents attending the breaking
out of the conflagration were first noticed
shortly before seven O'Clock or Wednesday
evening. AT that time, Mr.. Underwon, Mr.
Haas, and several other residents in chat
immediate vicinity were startled by loud,
rumbling noise, like the clamor of many
heavy teams over the cObble-stones, coming
from the whisky warehouse. This building
had been closed, as usual, at FIVE P. NJ, and
left in charge of the fireman and engineer,
and all work suspended. These gentlemen,
attracted by the sight of passers-by running
in all directions, fastened to Lombard street.
They arrived in time to see the gable end of
the Lombard street front, extending from
Front to Penn, with one mighty surge,
crumble into fragments and tumble over into
the street. Almost in a moment the upper
three stories were shapeless mass of bricks
and mortar As this wall fell many barrels
of whisky, piled up in these upper floors,
descended with heavy thuds, striking out
against the outh angling joists. while streams
of the liquor flowed from the bung-holes
upon and into the debris.
Qniet had scarcely been restored ere
terrible report was heard from the dismantled
building, followed instantly by bodily up
heaval of the lower stories yet standing; and
scarce had the gigantic power torn out the
10 he of Wit
the many tons of material to the highway,
blocking up Lombard street for two hundred
feet with a ruinous mass fifteen feet high.
The southern compartment, No. 425 South
Front street, was thus totally destroyed in
less time than the pen can describe the
thrilling horror of the scene.
a few moments prior to this last explo-
sion a bright fash was seen among the
debris and as hundreds of barrels Of whis
XIV, now falling. burst out and shOwered
streams all around, curling flames of dark
blue and deep purple were seen in huE-
dre6 spots. The volatile vapor OF the eX-
posed whisky acted as a myriad OF torches,
and ere the alarm reached the Central Police
Station, at twenty minutes before seven
O'clock, this whole compartment was mass
of flames. All the available force of the Sc
cond Fire Districtswas speedily on the spot,
For ninety minutes it seemed as if the flames
could be throttled and extinguished, but
then the fiery element gained the control.
THE AwB-INsPIRING SCENE.
As the FIRE progressed the walls fell one
after another, and the hope that it would De
stayed proved grou adless. Tho sea of flame
lighted up the whole heavens, and drew
crowds of teus of thousands to witness the
frightful scene. The roaring of the flames,
the putting of the fire engines, the perilous
faats of the fremen, and the anxious watch
ing of the crowd, together with the dread
that had struck all who resided near the
scene, made picture that it is impossible
to describe. 1t was indeed scene OF sur
passing grandeur. The flames shot up
| seemingly a hundred feet in the cOmpart-
ments yet standing, and the blaze and heat
were overpowering to those compelled to be
near by.
Dense volumes of smoke of a yelowish-
greeuish hue covered the neighborhood. and
as the streams Of water broke their opacity,
cone-like spectrums were shown, bright with
! all the colors of the rainbow. The flames
varied in color, deep blues and purples pre-
dominating. Those whose fortune, or mis-
| fortune, it was to gaze upon the sight, will
never forget the awfulness Of the spectacle.
! They have the sound consolation, however
that the strange cOlored flames were less
harmless there than in burning up the stom-
achs of those who worship the demon OF
! drink.
The immense light attracted persons from
all the city surrounding The city passen-
ger railway lines reaped foe harvest in
carrying passengers from all directions to the
scene. The street leading north and south
east and west, were crowded until late
hour, by persons Of both sexes, old and
young. A noticeable fact was the shynesS
on the part of the lockers on to approach
near the bnrning structure; the various ex-
plosions thoroughly frightened even the most
venturesome. and as the flames would from
time to time increase in height the vast mass
would sway to and fro, in fear of danger
from flying missiles.