The Morning herald., 1877-02-26
OONFAGRATION IN PHILADEL-
HHIA.

TtUBC H~CtOTy V0u0WUsets-CNW sVS@ "
Ltfs-$1 200, 900 Loss.
By the HERALD Special Reporter.
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 25.-At about 12]5
o'clock yesterday morning, curl of smoke |
and tongue OF flame shot up from the |
roof Of Fox's Theatre! On tho instant the
alarm was given; but the flames originating
among the combustibls materials Of the
property room, found superabundance of
food to feed upon, and rapidly shot higher
higher, higher.
Fifteen minutes after the first squirt of
spiteiul fame was discovered the entire
structure was q mass of lurid fire that
elazed skyward gorgeously, and, swayed BY
the wind, rolled golden billows Of smoke
into Chestnut street.
In the course of q short half>hour thesim-
mense structure was lulid mass of seeth-
ing flame. Reckless efforts we're made to
save something from the devouring element.
Pictures in the corridor were torn from
their fastenings and borne out into the
street. But all that was really of any value
was consumed.
SPREAD OF TEE FLAMES.
The cinders from the seething mass of
flames that were consuming the theatre
were borne by the wind, that blew strongly
from the west, direatly over the adjoining
properties; and on Chestnut street, east
ward the fragments Of blazing scenery fell in
great showers, and gave unmistakable signs
of threatening to extend the boundaries of
the confagration. At times the intersectio
of Tenth and Chestnut streets was covered
thickly with red hot GOALS of fire.
The firemen were unable at one time to
protect the properties threatened, and the
first to become ignited was the large double
dwelling and store of L. G. Love, merchant
tailor, No. 1919 Chestnut street. The roof
of the building caught from sparks, the
flames igpiting the cornice on the front.
The insurance patrol had protected the
furniture onthe upper floor, ,anda portion OF
the cloths and stock on tho first floor.
the building was likely to ensue, some Of
the stock was removed to a place of safety.
The family of Mr.. Love abandoned the resi-
dence soon after the fire in the theatre was
discovered.
Milligan's drugstore, No. 1918 Chestnut
street, did not suffer but to the extent of a
few dollars.
The great central conhagration that was
devouring Foxes attracted the attention OF
the tiremen and the multitude of spectators
and it was not known that VIM. D. Rogers
extensive carriage warehouse, situated at
Nos. 1907 and 10O9 Chestnut street, had be.
come ignited; but the roof had caught from
flying sparks, and the structure burned for
ten minutes before attention was seriously
bestowed upon 1t. A number of persons
were engaged in wheeling at the valuable
sale carriages that stood upon the first floor
of this building, when crash was heard
overhead, the whole building shook as II
rocked by an earthquake, and the people
engaged in the removal fled in terror. II
another moment the third floor had crushed
In the second, and the contents of both were
piled up on the first, with flames darting In
all directions, and dozens of costly car.
riages in ruins.
TERRIBLE RUMOR.
A few moments after the floors In Rog-
er's establishment fell, wild rumor was
carried from mouth to mouth that num-
ber of tiremen were crushed and buried
under the debris. Instantly ther was rush
made to the scene, when the cry was
raised. "Look out for the front wall p
but 1t availed nothing, and at once a force
OI lucU WcIC SCu w WI N w ClCNl VuC UuA
ing mass as far as possible. 1t was posi-.
lively stated that an employe of the Fire
Insurance Patrol named Noonan was be.
meath the burning ruins. Noonan was in
company with Captain Thompson and an
other patrolman, cndeavoring to save prop
erty. Noonan was crushed by beam, and
Capt. Thompson was cut very badly in the
head.
IT was also stated by party named
Samman, former employe of Mr.. Rogers,
that he was one of the last to reach the
street, and that behind him were two
brothers named Harvey and Charles Bart.
ley, clerks employed in the establishment.
He made dilisenE inquiries for them, but
conld not fad them in the vicinity, and be.
lieved that they were under tho ruins.
This building was ignited on the roof.
The Rogers establishment marked the
boundary OF the fire on the east but there
would have been different story to tell
had not the massive granite building of the
New York Mutual Life Insurance Company,
on the northwest corner of Tenth and Chcs-
nut streets, stood and dsfied the further
march of the flames:
THE MERCANTILE LIBRARY DAMAGED.
The western portion of the Mercantile Ii
brary stands directly opposite the rear Of
the destroyed playhouse, and 1t consequent
" was q prey to the intense heat that arose
from the conflagration. Being largely q
tireproof building, 1, withstood the fury Of
the element that ragged so hercely within q
few feet Of 1t, but the southern wall was
cracked and greatly damaged.
The rear portion of the structure was
rooted with sky)ights to afford light for the
reading room below, and this glass was ut
terly ruined. The water and smoke played
.aa hauon with fha lihraru and snuaral