The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-07-27
THE FIERY ELEMENT.

EINERN LAST ENENlNN-LObb NEARLY A MIL
LION OF DOLLARs-FRFMEN INJURED.
At a quarter before Z o'clock last evening,
a fire broke out in the engine-room of New
ball, Borie & Co.'S immense sugar refinery,
at the corner of Grown and Race streets, and
owing to the extensive stock of sugar and
matter Of an inflammable nature in the build
ing, in about a quarter of an hour the entire
structure was on fire, the flames shooting up
to q great height of several hundred feet,
while the dense smoke was slowly drifted
away. AS the shades of evening approached,
the city for some distance was brilliantly illu-
minated, and every steeple and spire, for
squares around, stood out in bold and beau
tiful relief.
The great height of the burning building,
as well as its breadth and depth, soon. con-
WINGED the fremen that all their efforts to
save it from destruction would be futile, as
the water thrown upon the melted and burn
ing sugar only seemed to give greater fierce
ness to the flames. Therefore many of the
streams Of water were thrown upon the sur
rounding buildings subjected to the scorch-
ing and blistering heat, and by this means a
large amount of property was undoubtedly
saved. aided as the fremen were by the alb
sence of ill wind, no sparks or burning tim
Der being carried far beyond the scene of
conhagration. The boiler-room, in which the
fire originated, was on the ground floor,
fronting on Race street, and the fire, it is
stated by a workman, was caused by the
flames being forced out of the doors of the
fire chamber by a sudden draft and communi-
eating with a lot of shavings. The fire soon
spread to the ~packing-room on the same floor,
and, as before stated, darted throughout the
entire structure with great rapidity, fed as
the flames we're by the stock of sugar,
amounting to some two thousand hogsheads,
stored on the first floor, both on the Race and
Grown street portions.
The third and fourth floors were used for
the storage of the moulds necessary in the
manufacture of the refined sugar, and the
fifth floor for purifying purposes. The build
ing had a front Of about 156 feet on Race
street, 1870 feet on Crown street, seven stories
high and built of brick. Within a few years
the building had been enlarged, and add
aional machinery, together with a Harrison
boiler of 700 horse power, added, thereby
nearly trebling the capacity Of the refinery in
its production. The sugar sent out from it
fully reached the highest standar as regards
quality, either III New York or this city. The
fire continued to burn until a late hour, and
the firemen were on the ground engaged in
putting water upon the surrounding property.
The Mayor and Chief Of Police were early
on the ground, directing and assisting to
keep the ground clear, SO as to give the fire
men full opportunity to work with efficiency.
TIL entire loss on building, stock, ETC., is
estimated at about 5000, 600, upon which, as
far as could be ascertained, there is an insu-
rance of $500, 900, III all the principal COM
panies in the country. The Fire Association
loses $4,000.
The dwelling-house No. 215 Crown street,
adjoining the sugar refinery on the north, was
occupied by Mrs. Campbell as a boarding
house. The building was totally DESTROYED
by the falling of the heavy wall of the re-
fnery. Loss not known. No. 217 Grown
street, residence of Mr.. Henry Fox, was badly
damaged, chiefly by water.
The building at the northwest corner of
Fourth and Race streets, adjoining the sugar
house, was occupied on the first floor by
Williams, Waterfall 81 Co., United States Paint
Works; second floor by Gg. Koehler, entrance
No. 2O4 n Fourth street; third story, empty;
fourth and fifth stories 10y Altemus q Co.,
photograph album mandatory and book
binders, No. 2OG n. Fourth street; Bamber.
ger & Ellerman, Tectifers of liquors, etc.,
occupied No. POS n. Fourth street; M.
Zurichy, lager beer saloon, No. ZIP North
Fourth street; No. PA, Mr.. Daily, matches;
No. PIG, William M. Tell q Bro, cabinet
makers; No. 218, Q. H. Battersdorf, cutler;
No. 22O, G. Christman, baker; No.
222, II. Eggling, wines, liquors, and
cigars: No. "a, Thomas f. Brock, plumber;
No. 226, r.. Murphy & Sons, shoemakers'
findings: No. 228, @. Schwartz, tobacco; No.
go, boarding house, kept by WILLIAM Stone;
No. 232, T. Brecht, brewer and saloon
keeper; No. 234, G. S. Himmelwright, tailor.
The above were all damaged to a greater or
less degree by fire, which was communicated
to the back parts of the buildings, and by
the immense quantity of water which was
thrown on them.
The Insurance Patrol, under Captain
McCusker, rendered efficient service in all
these buildings, and with their waterproof
covers saved much valuable property from
destruction
The buildings on Race street, opposite the
refinery. were somewhat scorched by the
heat. The residence of Alderman Maxim, on
Race street. above Fifth, was set on fire on
tbe roof by a spark from a steam engine, but
the flames were ~extinguished before much
damage was done.
FnEMEN n OTHERS INJURED.
While the fire was at its height, portions of
the walls, on Race and Crown streets, fell,
and a number of fremen were more or less
injured. Two Of them, reported to belong to
the Robert Morris Hose Company, were re-
ceived into the Pennsylvania Hospital. One
of them, VIM. II. Cook, was much bruised
about the body, and burned in the arms and
legs. He suffered very much from his in
juries.
Harry Smith, residing in South street, was
severely cut ia the head by falling bricks.
The following named members of the Phi
ladelphia Qate Moyamensing) Hose Company
were injured by the fall Of pieces of the
Crown street WALL
James Murtland, residing on Bainbridge
street. near Eighth.
Frank Fritz, residing in the neighborhood
of South and Ninth streets.
John McGurk, residing in Baker street.
near Eighth.