The Morning herald., 1875-11-01
MILLION DOLLAR FIRE IN PHIL
ADELPKIA.

MILLlON DOLLAR FIRE IN PHI
ADELPEIA.
The Quaker Ctty's Marrow Escape
DESTRUCTION IF THE CARLETON CoTTo,
AND wOOLLEN hILLs-HIGH WINDS AM
FURIOUS FLAMEs-sEvERAL TIREMEN IN
JURED-DANGER OF WOODEN BUILDING
a LOSS OF ONE MILLION DOLLARS.
[Repoi ted specially for THE HERALD
At quarter past 10 o'clock, yesterday
(Sunday,) morning, fire broke oat in TIN
cotton and woollen mill of Philip E. Garret
u Co., an establishment well know
throughout the country as the "Carletol
Mills The property is located at Twenty
Fourth AMI Hamilton streets, and embraces
almost an entire block. The fire originated
over the boilers in the drying house, located
Immediately west of the hollow square
which forms the centre Of the building, and
notwit hstarding the strenuous efforts of the
wa'chman employed on the premises, soor
gained rapid headway. The wind, at the
time, was blowing regular gale from the
southwest, and infused in the flames such
terrible vitality that they soon enyelopec
the entire western end of the mammoth
structure. The firemen, WHO were endeav-
oring to save this section from destruction
had blrely sufficient time to escape with
their lives-so lightning like was the rapid
ty with which the great tongues Of fire
licked up their prey.
In thirty minutes from the breaking out
OF the conflagration, the volume of flame
had become SO great that the few fremen
who were upon the scene, were perfectly
helpless, and second and third alarm had
to be sounded, and soon thereafter the
whole fire department with the exception of
tie necessary reserve, was at hand and
struggling with all the energy which human
skill aud muscle could command, to gain
the mastery over the devouring element.
Thr high wind, however, impelling the
flames forward with irresistible force, drove
the tiremen back, though they contested the
ground manfully, inch by inch.
Such was the rapid growth of the fire and
the heightened velocity of the wind, that
one sheet of flame extended from Hamilton
street at a point midway between Twenty
third and Twenty fourth street, over the
heads Of the immense concourse assembled
at Twcnty-ffth and Hamilton streets, a
lurid canopy that darkened gradually its
blood red crest till it became like a thick
lager of molten iron imperiling the exist
ence of every living thing beneath. Great
clouds of black SIN oke, cinders and pieces
of burning wood, were waited by the fierce
wind through the heavens, and the falling
timber rendered pedestrainism exceedingly
dangerous to life for squares around. At
quarter of twelve O'Clock the walls around
the building began to fall outward towards
the street and several of the unfortunate
firemen were injured, happily none seriously.
In the meaStime large force Of men was
employed to remove the books and papers
Of the concern, and in this they succeeded.
The great safe, however, could not be moved.
Il resisted every effort to rescue it from its
fiery tomb, and had to be left to its fate.
All hope was given up of saving the main
portion Of the building, so every effort was
to effect the escaping cf the
I'D mill structure, at the s. w. corner Of
rwcnty-third and Hamilton streets, and for
4 time their efforts were successful. The
ire had now unlimited sway, and it became
,vident that nothing short of the intcrposi-
ion of Providence would save the city from
such conha grafton as had visited Chicago,
md which subsequently destroyed the city
If Boston. And as the flames were driven
bout with relentless fury by the wind, the
of the houses in the neighbor-
rood began to remove their portable pro-
perty and hurry to place of safety. Prov
denc did interposo in the matter, however
he heavy rains which visited the city on
had so dampened the roofs of the
urrounding houses that they resisted the
corching embraces of the destroying ele-
1ent, and but few of them were seriously
amaged. Those that did suffer may be
as follows: 3NA ",tp'
The machine shop Of s. B. 4 M.
leisher, manufacturers of worstcd goods
oss, $4,000; three-story tenement
ouse, No. 1897 Hamilton street; also the
houses 2317, 2319, 1921 and 1928
hamilton street. The three last mentioned :,
uildings are owned by a Mr.. McGill, and
ere damaged only slightly. Fifteen hun
red dollars will probably cover the loss Of
[cGill's property. '''.
On Linn street below 23d, is located John
enier's carpet weaving mill, an old stone