The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-08-06
PHILADELPHIA.
q AsBA &
Destructive aGonhagf ton
U. S. BONDED WAREHOUSE BURNED
10000 BARRELS WHISKY
i DEsTROFED.
Contents Of Building Valued
at Several Millions.
Four Lives Said to be Lost.
The streets Rivers of Fire

PHILADELPHIA, August 4, 10 p. NJ
Since seven o'clock this evening an im,
rsense fire has been raging in the UnlteG
States bonded warehouse on Lomo afG
\ street wharf. The building contalHed
thirty thousand barrels OF whisky,
which will probably reach two and
half millions of dollars. The fire was
coused by the explosion of boiler. 1t
ia tboueht the engineer and Waterman
have perished in the flames. Further
particulars will be forwarded as soon as
they can be obtained. The fire is now
spreading frightfully.
| PHILADELPHIA, August 4, Midnight
The fire is still raging, with little pros
pect of being subdued till morning.
The fire department are on the ground,
but from the combustible nature of the
contents is unable to do more than pre-
vent the further spreading of flames.
PHILADELPHIA, A. NJ, August5.-Ihe
United States bonded warehouse on
Lom bard street wharf, better known as
the Baltimore store house, six story
brick building, $50 feet by $50 feet, and
containing 10000 barrels of whisky and
other goods, valued at ten or eleven
millions of dollars, took fire at seven
o'clock last evening, and up to this hour
has defed the efforts of the fremen to
subdue the flames. The burning liquor,
running through the streets like rivers,
destroys the hose, thus interfering with
the work of the firemen. 1t is impossi-
BILE to state how far the fire will extend.
A large number ofmiRor casualties have
occurred, but no lives are known to
have been lost, except those of four
children, who were killed by falling
bricks. The origin of the fire was as
follows: The immense weight of whisky
stored in the south end of the building.
directly over the engine room, caused
the upper part of the building to give
way, thus letting the whisky down into
the engine room. Instantly the fire
spread throughout the six stories. The
firemen directed their efforts to the
saving of the surrounding property, it
being impossible to do anything with
the warehouse. Much of the whisky
was that on which duty had been paid
under the extension act of Congress.
This fire is the most destructive which
has occurred in this city since the great
fire of 1850. The principal losers are
the Haneys. Catherwood and John Glib
sons Sons. At this time it is impossible
to state the amount of insurance.
LATER-1:15 A. MA heavy thunder
storm has set in, which will aid in re-
ducing the fire, but it is still burning
unchecked. The great heat prevents
close approach to ascertain minor par
ticulars, but the streets are full of ru-
mors of lives lost by falling walls. The
stores destroyed were considered to be
entirely fire proof, having iron doors
and shutters. There were eighteen
inch walls between each of the eight
stores, but they burned almost as if
made of wood. The burning whisky
ran into the sewers, causing explosions
and great panic among the spectators,
which was not lessened by reports that
the building contained powder, salt
petre, &c. These buildings were erected
some fifteen years ago, and were consid-
cred among the finest of the kind in the
country. They were formerly used by
the Government for storing sugars,
cigars, &C., but recently were entirely
devoted to the storage OF whisky In
bond.
LATER-5 A. M.-The fire will not
spread any further. The heavy rain
continues and is checking the flames.
PHILADELPHIA, August 5.-The fire is
still burning, but has not spread beyond
the ruins. During the night various
adjoining stores took fire from the
sparks and were more or less damaged.
The loss is generally estimated at over
five millions. No lives lost. All &C
counts agree that the fire was caused
by tho falling of the floors from the
weight of tho whisky.
PHILADELPHIA, August 5.-H. & w.
Catherwood lose POO barrels of fine
whisky; insured for S2l7, 800, which
covers their loss. Among the heavy
losers by the fire are a number of bank
ers, Including Jay Cooke & Co., who
had advanced money to the whisky
dealers to pay the tax on June 3Oth,
under act of Congress. Insurance COM
panies will. lose heavily. John Hannis
has an insurance of million dollars.
The total loss by insurance on stock
is g, 299. 900, including S35,e00 in the
Republic and $4,000 ia the Merchants
of Chicago, and $4,000 in Cleveland.
New York and Eastern companies are
the heaviest losers. The Losdon and
Globe lose $4,000, the Imperial of
London Sl39, 900, and the North Ameri-
can of Philadelphia Sl25,OOO. The Phil
adelphia companies probably lose four
hundred thousand.
John Gibson X Sons correct the state
ment of last night that they had whisky
in Patterson warehouse. They lose