The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-12-08
FIRE.
The Destruction Of the ommercial Exchange
BniIdinR-The LOss-The Origin a Mystery.

The r. the "ran ESsssnEe
At few minutes before 5 o'clock last evening
there was cry of fire on Second street, above
Walnut, and it required but few seconds to
discover its whereabouts. But a few minutes
more elapsed when there was crash OF glass,
followed by the bursting of q flame from the top
of the handsome building owned by the Com
mercial Exchange Association. By this time
the alarm had been given over the Police and
Fire Alarm Telegraph wires, and shortly the
apparatus of the First Second, and Third fire
districts were on the ground. All efforts were
made to stay the flames, but from the rapid pro-
gress which they made the attempt proved
fruitloss, and in less than two hours nothing of
the structure was left save the bare walls and
that portion of the first floor occupied by the
Tradesmen's National Bank. Numbers of citi-
were on the ground early, eager to render
assistance in removing the contents, but com
munication having been cut OIL with the rpper
floors, none were got out. +-
There was rumor on the street, for which
we could not ascertain any foundation, that
when the fire broke out several persons were in
the main room of the Association, who we're
taken from the building by means of ladders.
AS to the origin of the fire several theories have
been advanced, but it is, as yet, involved in mys
tery One rumor was that it resulted from the
falling of chandelier in the main room, but
that was dispeled by the statement of the janitor
that there was no such article in that apartment.
Another rumor was that it resulted from defec-
tive fues but as the structure was heated by
steam that is not plausible. Another was that
il came from escape of gas, and the final
rumor was that the fire was the work OF an
ipcendiary.
1t seems to rest between the two latter
theories which may be solved by Fire Marshal
Blackburn when he again appears on active
duty. William s. Pine the janitor, states there
were no people in the upper part of the struc-
ture except two boys, who, as usual, were posted
Mt the head of the staircases on either side of
the main entrance, observing that none but
those having the entree passed up. He, himself,
was in the cellar fixing the boilers for the night,
and was notified to get out OF the place, as the
building was on fire. He ascended to the first
floor, and going into the rotundo, looked up into
the tower, the upper part OF which was all in
blaze. He then turned off the gas, and endea-
vored to go up the stairway but was compelled
to return, as the flames were rapidly descending
the tower. He believes the connagration TO
have been the work of an incendiary, stating
that no gas was used the upperpart OF the tower
as the rooms were not occupied As to the
crash of glass, which gave rise to a report that
an explosion had taken place. he believes that
was occasloned by the intense heat which must
necessarily have epsued. This glass formed the
skylight in the roof.
The building comprised, in addition to the
main room, which was used for meetings of the
Association and for the display OF samples, some
twenty odd offices, reception room, and three
committee rooms the latter being IN the tower.
On the first floor there were twenty offices,
which were ranged ON either side OF the main
entrance. These were occupied MS follows:-On
the north side by Lewis Audenreid ~ Co., coal
merchants; The Vessel Owners and Captains
% Association, Pierce n Neyhart, Malcolm, Lloyd
Waring. King q Co., Tack Brothers and A. b
Gray, petroleum brokers; e. ". Grant, dealer
i'm tallow; offices of the Pacific and Atlantic
Bankers and Brokers, aud Western UnioI
Telegraph Companies, and thereception room o
the Commercial Exchange. On the south sid
were the Tradesmcn's Bank, the Offices OF th
Cotton and Woollen Brokers Association, r.
CGymore, d. A.; Howard q Co.. II. l.; Foster
CHARLES WhitOff William p Logan q Bro au
Warden, Frew d Co., petroleum brokers. tn
Atlantic Petroleum Storage Company, aud 3. l
Ward. Secretary and Treasurer Of the CONNER
cial Exchange.