Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-01-21
FIRE IN PHILADELPHIA.
Great Destruction of Property ut Mint
and Chestnut Streets.


AT about one o'clock Wednesday. a fire was
discovered In the back part Of the bu ding 1T 9O2
Chestnut street, occupied by the great firm Of j.
Il. Caldwell Il Co., jewellers. This il one of
magnificent block Of marble front stores, the
others being those of Howell X Bros, pap,r
hangings. j. NJ. IIa1cgh Il Co.. dry goods and
furnishing goods, and J.F. 4 E.B Orinc carpets.
The fire Is supposed TO have originated in an
attempt by burglars TO blow up the safes Ex-
plosiens of considerable londncss were heard, a
short time before the fire was discovered. nv
passcrs-bv and policemen In the streets.
The iremcn had great difficulty ia gettinp nc-
cess TO the store through the massive iron shut
tiers which protected the front, and this dclay
gave time for The whole intcriorto get thoroughly
on hre, ana before two o'clock the building was
entirely Quilted. Owing 10 the strength Of tn,
walls, the flames were not as fierce outside ~ is
usual with such immense couiligntions but the
entire nrighborhood was sinothered with dense
smoke and sparks.
The private Waterman, who slept on lL, first
floor, was found when the front shutters ". re-
broken open. lie was considerably burned u,d
stated that he was awakened hy "A noise HL, nm
explosion. Several other men slept nsp in the
bnllding, including the cashier. Some duuGts an,
entertained as T.. their aicty. The stock III the
Mrssrs Caldwell was imncii.cly vain die. al
course, Including large STOCKS Of diamonds and
other precious stones, fine jewclry br1uz4s, stu
li"nefy, rare paintings, and other articles of
| re,ten.
Notwithstanding MI the efforts of the drcmcp
the fire communicated 10 the stone of Howell x
Bros and though the hui'ding 1, not dr-t,uyrd
lhr fire has done much damage, and The stock i
| ruined by water.
ny TELEGRAIH.
PulihphiriliA, Jan. ll-IU O'Clock.
Howell Bros. paper store is still burning, in the
upper stories.
| Tie stock is ruined by the fire and water
| Inc nrctlen now have control OF the contlnvra-
ton, and the Continent Hotel ON the nl,pnsit.
coriltf, y not considered in danger though The
boatderT there aud AT the Girird House were
irlly prepared to leave at Il moments warning.
| Two millions will hardly cover the loss, unless
,he iron safes in Caldwrll's have protected the
| diamonds and other yaluanes
| More OF the main walls of the block have r,l.
len, and the marble front will not be- much dam.
| aged.
SECOND pISrArCH-l SPECIAL
1880, A. Nit is difficult to learn anything
definite as TO the origin, or loss, In the fire
Everything is IN confusion, and II cannot b,
0sccrtained whether The jewelry safes are pre-
served or not. The fire is not yet entirely ex,in
gulshcd O.
TlIIRp pIsrNrcu.
II O'Clock. Iowcll's store was owned b,
George Howell one of the firm
| The stock is totally destroyed.
IL was valued al quarter of million dollars
of which about hall i covered by Insurance.
The insurance on the building will suffice (,
cover lis damage.
The damage to Ormes Carpet store is con
hned to the upper part but the entire stock i
injured by water.
The fire still continues among the stock Of pa
per in Howells, though 1t is uxtinsuishud in ia
other part of the bluck
The explosion In Gnldwrll's store Is now n-crr
tdincd to have been caused by the bursting of tn
boiler used in heating the building, 50 that tn
loss VIII moi bc serious at first supposed II
the safes have undoubtedly protected the valua
abes they contained.
The art Gallery in Caldwell's contained lnrp
number of valuable paintings and stntuIry. IN
paintings belonged to Mr. Kcyser, who sustain
u serious loss.
The building was erected by the Btird estate il
the most substantial manner, aud the mnrbl
front on Chestnut street is not scii usiy damage
except on Fourth story aud tl- coruces.
Seven clerks were sleeping III the building ntl
csclpcd through the second story window,
| Nearly all were seriously burned.
FOURTH DESPATCH. SPECIAL. PROBABLE Loss
OF LIFE.
i O'clock, p. M.-Howells, Caldwelrs, an
Orme's stores are entirely destroyed Caldwell
! loss is two hundred and fifty thousand dollar
: Howell's two hundred thousand, Ormc's one hun
drcd and twenty-five thousand. All were partia
ly insured, Caldwell about one-half.
Two of Caldwell's clerks are missing, aud sui
{ posed to be killed j. + poulk, and Ed. llag,
{ Several were hurt.
Tue three buildings were worth two hundr,
+ thousand dollars. The cause of the fire is III
e known; It's supposed to have been a boiler
5 sas explosion. c.
. FIFTH DISPATCH.
n O'Clock r. M.-Caldwclls stuck out side
i the safes was valued at quarter If million Al
is insured for one hundred and fourteen thotlsal
i dollars.
II llowells stock, worth two hundred thousai
:. dollars, was insured for one hundred and fl
!, thousand.
II Orncs stock of carpets was valued At ono hu
drcd and twenty-five Thousand dollars.
If The buildings were fully Insured.
IS Two clerks sleeping at Caldwell's are missin
: one named Hogan from Providence, Il. L., Il
II other named Poulk from Winchester, Va. VIII,
l. last seen Hogan had fallen down near the fro
e door. Both are supposed to have pcrisled
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