The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-09-07
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.

SAW MILL AND PILES OF LUMBER DESTROYED.
About $50 o'clock yesterday afternoon
ire broke out in Smith ~ Harris calcued
plaster mandatory and planning and saw
mill, occupying the ground between Coates
street and near the Oohocksiull creek and
from Beach street to the Delaware avenue.
The firemen, though quickly on the ground,
failed TO check the flames, and in a short time
the mill and its contents were one mass of
ruins.
The flames began to make headway among
the immense piles of lumber along Delaware
avenue above Coates street, and then, by
direction of the Chief, a general fire alarm
was struck, bringing out the entire fire de-
partment. Canal boats, loaded with lumber,
and other vessels lying III the docks near the
fire, were hauled out in the stream, aud re-
moved to places of safety, while firemen and
others were engaged in throwing lumber in
the Delaware from piles which had caught,
and out of the reach of the streams of water.
The huge piles of lumber extended for some
distance above Cohocksnk creek, on the river
front, as well as below Coates street, and be.
tween these points the hames ragged with great
fury, throwing lurid glare over large por-
tion of the city, and bringing out in bold re
lief all the objects in the vicinity.
The active and energetic efforts of the fire.
men at last checked the spread of the flames
and confined them within the space men
toned above, with the exception of the lum-
Der yard of Taylor q Belts, on the south side
of Coates street. The loss of Messrs. Smith
& Harris will be very heavy Their mill was
an extensive one, and contained the usual
machinery for saving and planning boards, all
OF which is, of course, so much damaged as
to be valueless. Fortunately, the flames did
not reach the engine and boiler-house.
What the loss by the destruction of
the mill is could not be ascertained
definitely, but it will probably exceed
5000 This firm had on hand large
quantity of worked flooring boards of Caro-
lima pine, the most costly lumber used in the
building of houses, and this being piled in a
manner to aid in thoroughly seasoning it.,
the fire had full play, and 50 far as could be
ascertained, destroyed the whole of it. There
was other worked lumber which was also de-
stroyed. The firm have an insurance of
$4,000 on the planning mill in the Farmers
Mutual, of York, Pa Peoples, of Worcester,
and Albany, of Albany, n. Y, aud $4,000 on
the plaster mill, in the Charter Oak, United
States, of Baltimore, Lycoming Mutual
Buffalo City. The lumber is understood TO
be only partially insured.
On the south of the mill and of the lum-
ber of Smith & Harris, the firm of Taylor &
Belts are heavy sufferers also the firm OF
Taylor d Son, adjoining Considerable OF
the lumber belonging to both was destroyed
it being impossible, by reason of the intense
heat, to save much of it. The estimate is
that the two firms had e stock valued at from
$75, 900 to 100000. They we're reported tc
be partially insured. Some of the lumber Of
Messrs. Patterson & Lippincott was burned
but their loss will not exceed four or five
thousand dollars, and is covered by insurance
The lumber of Norcross & Scheetz and o.
Collins & Co. was damaged. Their loss, how
ever, could not be ascertained. 1t was for
tunate that the fire did not cross Cohocksinl
creek, as there are large piles of lumber oil
the other side, which at one time were il
great danger. The mill property was owneC
by Mr.. Thomas IL Powers. of the firm o
Towers d Weightman.
Two schooIers, lying at Patterson & Lip
pincott's wharf, took fire, and had to b.
lowed into the stream TO prevent their de
ktr1ction A brick Office was being erecte
rear the planning mill, and so quickly did tn
flames spread that the workmen had to pic
up their tools and run to escape. The fir
ground was kept in most excellent order b
the police, under the direction of Mayor Fo
and the Chief, who were early at the scene G