Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1869-08-18
The Great Whisky Fire.

The extensive bonded warehouse of
Col. VIM. G.. Patterson, in Philadel-
phia, was destroyed by fire on We'd
nesday night, 4th inst, and its con-
tents, twenty-five thousand barrels Of
whisky, consumed. The building had
a front on Front street of three hun
dred feet and depth of one hundred
and fifty feet, and was divided into nine
sections, each section being a COM
plete store. The singular Incidents
the breaking out Of the con-
fiagratiOn were first noticed shortly
before seven o'clock on Wednesday
evening. At that time, Mr.. Undert-
won, Mr.. Haas, and several other res
idents in that immediate vicinity were
startled by loud, rumbling noise, like
the clamOr OF many heavy teams over
the eObble-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, hastened 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 up
per 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
Outhanging jOists, while streams of
the liquor flowed from the bung-holes
upon and into the debris.
Quiet had scarcely been restored ere
a terrible report was heard from the
dismantled building, followed instant
ly by bodily upheaval Of the lower
stories yet standing; and scarce had
the gigantic power torn out the foun-
datiOns, ere the force of gravity
brought 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 destroy
ed in less time than the pen can de-
scribe the thrilling horror Of the
scene,
A few moments prior to this last ex-
plosion bright flash was seen among
the debris; and as hundreds Of barrels
of whisky now falling, burst out and
showered streams all around, curling
flames of dark blue and deep purple
were seen in a hundred spots. The
volatile vapOr of the exposed whiskey
acted rs a myriad of torches, and ere
the alarm reached the Central Police
Sfnffnra OF fr- r1afnnnfn1 hnffNHa.
en- o'clock, this whole compartment
was a mass of flames. All the availa-
BILE force of the Second fire District
was speedily on the spot, and steam
fought fire with passionate ardOr. For
ninety minutes it seemed as if the
flames could be throttled and extin-
guished, but then the fiery element
gained the control.
THE AwE-INsPIRING SCENE.
AS the fire progressed the walls fell
one after another, and the hope that it
would be stayed proved groundless.-
The sea of flame lighted up the whole
heavens, and drew crowds of tens Of
thousands to witness the frightful
scene. The roaring of the flames, the
putting of the fire engines, the peril
Gus feats of the firemen, and the anx-
iOus watching of the crowd, together
with the dread that had struck all
who resided near the scene, made a
picture that it is impossible to de-
scribe. 1t was indeed a scene of sur
passing grandeur. The flames shot
up seemingly q hundred feet in the
compartments yet standing, and the
blaze and heat were OverpOwering to
those compelled to be near by.
Dense volumes of smoke of a yellow
ish greenish hue covered the neigh
bOrhOod, and as the streams of water
broke their opacity, cOne-like spec
trums were shown, bright with all the
colors of the rainbow. The flames
varied in color, deep blues and puppies
predominating. Those whose fortune,
or misfortune, 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 stOmachs
of those who worship the demon of
drink.
The immense light attracted persons
from all the city surrounding. The
city passenger railway lines reaped a
fine harvest in carrying passengers
from all directions TO the scene. The
streets leading north and south, east
and west, were crowded until q late
hour, by persons of both sexes, old
and young. A noticeable fact was the
shyness on the part of the lookers-on
to approach near the burning struc-
ture; the various explosions thor
Oughly frightened even the most ven
turesome, 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.
THE INSURANCE.
The total insurance on the stock
foots up &, 300. The heaviest
losers are as follows: Imperial of Lon
don, England, $4,000; Liverpool
and London and Globe, $3.50, 900; Roy
al, S152, 500; Insurance Company of
North America, S127, 600; Insurance
Company of State of Pennsylvania,
SS1, 500; Pennsylvania, 500, 900; Queen
of London, S56, 900; Etna of Hart
ford, $4,000; Pacific of California,
$40, 900; Maryland of Baltimore, S3S,-
500. The remainder of the insurance
is scattered among seventy-One east
ern companies, and ranges from S, 600
to SS5, 200.
%s<O%s
From the Evansville Courier.l