The New York herald., 1878-11-16
CONGREGATIONS.
Destructive Fire in a Penn<
sylvania Oil City.
VALUABLE BUILDINGS BURNED,
Narrow Escape Of Another New
Jersey Seaside Resort.
DAMAGE TO A VIRGINIA PENITENTLARH.

BRADFORD. Pa, Nov. Is, 1873.
Are broke out at half-pas nine o'clock in the
Wine room over the Theatre Comque. caused by de-
fcctise chimney, which rapidly spread. and soon the
whole lower end of Main street in flames. and be-
fore it could be checked destroyed extend
ig from Boylston street norh Corydon street south.
the Erie Railroad track east and Csgood's DWELL
ing house Main street west. comprising
fifty buildings, including the Riddle House. tha
Pierce House. tho United States Express Building,
Bavard Syfang's machine shop and foundry.
Stewards planning mill and numerous small hotels.
boarding houses, saloons, &C.
As near be got at in the wild confusion that
prevails the losses follows:-Five buildings
below the Theatre Comique and the theatre, zoos
ten buildings south of the Comique. $4,000; Express
ofce estimated loss in goods, $1,000; Riddle House.
$4,000; eight buildings north of the Riddle House,
$500; Bavard y syfang's shops. $1,000; planning.
The value OF the oil wells and destroyed buildings is
unknown. No insurance can be aacertained
SKETCH BRADFORD.
The town of Bradford, In Mexican county, Pa Is on0
of those mushroom cities which sprung up ont Of
the wilderness in night 1t has history
in the marvellous oil regions. and owrd it's pronit
nence to the wonderful discoveries OF petroleum in
to the outside world save numbering region and
place where hunters wont to resort in search
OF bears end wild game of various descriptions A
few years ago company OF capitalists bought
land in the vicinity, and believing in their theory
OF an ..o belt commenced to sink wels in search OF
the precious fuid. Their success was phenomenal.
Scarcely well drilled but what produced OIL and
hardly one but what proved to be flowing" well:
that is, which did require to be pumped but
the gas from which elected the oil into the receiving
tanks In short time the spectators from all over
the oil country hocked the new E Dorado: out OF
the little valley sprung high derrickg overtopping
the green frs; far into the adjacent hills
and distant villages the. smoke Of engiiles
K.t IN hA and thn af Ia tNxf~vy
of Tarport was hive OF busting industry. Bradford
farmers sold out their little acreage ut what seemed
to them to be great profit at the time. but since then
has proved TO be only for song" Property which
held at $40 III fee simple has since realized
came town OF Importance Tarport. outlying
village ecriing with Industrious population aud
giving busy trade to its thriving neighbor.
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT ATLANTIC c1rY--NARRow
ESCAPE FROM ANOTHER CAPE MAY DIsAs1ER-
SUDDEN DEATE OF A CITIZEN FROM HEAg1
DISEASE.
ATLANTIC CITY, N. j.. Nov. Is. 1878.
1t feared this morning that this seaside resort
would be devastated like Cape May by fire. and the
calamity only prevented by the superior facil>
tiles which the city possesses for extngushing fres.
ORIGIN TIE FIRE.
The grocery store Of Charles T.. Adams was dscov-
cred to be on fire about one o'clock this morning.
The alarm quickly sounded and large numbers
of citizens and the hrcmcn were promptly at tho
scene. The building fire in thickly settled
block of wooden buildings situated in the very heart
of the business centre Of the. city. Before the work.
OF fighting the flames begun Adams store waf
doomed to destruction and tie flames had fired the
adjoining building. used drug store and residence
by T. $. Reed. Although the men worked heroicallys
the stationery store and dwelling Of Lewis Reed Sr
and John SINNERS boot shoe were soon ems
veloped In flames. 1t was then found necessary. in
order to prevent the spread Of the re to tear down
the building OF O. ". Tompkins. an ice cream dealer.
Tney labored with vigor and the structure was
quickly lcyol,ed. and the spread of the fire
checked, after consuming the cottage of James M:
Reed. for the want OF fuel. The Reed family owned
ali Of the property destroyed except Sknners builds
The loss will be between $4,000 and $4,000. fully
covered by insurance in Newark Philadelphia and
illvine companies.
DEATH PROM Excr1EMTSr.
Among those early at the fire Edward s. Taylor.
popular painter. lie worked arduoasiy TO stay thA
progress or the flames, and when it seemed as il tho
irc spreading he became frantic with excitement
and dropped dead from heart disease The wife when
aud when she partially recovered suddenly sprang 70
the door and ran through the streets III dazed way.
She caughtand removed to herhome. 1t is feared
the shock has unsaated her reason.
FIRE IN VIRGINIA pESITEN,r1ARy - EXCITE
slEsT AMONG The INMATES, BUT No ESCAPE
A LOSS OF srxTy-FIyE THOUSAND DOLLARS.
RICHMOND, Nov. Is. 1878.
fire at the Virginia Penitcntiary at an early hour
this morning destroyed large three story brick
building over two hundred feet long, in which
cooper shop. carpenter shop shoe factory and .
machine shop. Tho fre originated in the engine
in the middle of the building. and wss accidcn-
tai. Another building of similar proportions, sep-
aratcd from the burning building by a narrow yard.
q part of which occupied b tobacco msniifac-'
tory and the remaining part used dining hall for.
tRe prisoners, caught fre at many windows. buea
the flames were kept down by the strenuous Efforts.
of the Fire Department. The last named build.
ing intcsvenod between the fre and the main
buildings In which the prisoners confined. Much
excitement existed among them. but the prison guard.
aided by the police force of the city and some citizen
soldiers kept perfect order and attempts to escape
were nade The entire loss will approximate $65.OV0
10 SI0,o00, upon which there is no insurance.
EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO A HAY DEPOT.
Bosros, Nov. Is, 1873
A Are in the Fitchburg Hay Depot. at Charlestown.
this forenoon damaged hay belonging to some twenty
parties, to the amount of S4200. No insurance On
The way TO tho fire two hose carriages collide throw
ipp afx from q the ground. whom