The daily gazette., 1880-01-07
A ABigB|azs nths STandywins'
Pennypacker IT. Co.'s MiH Com
lietety Burned out.
THE LOSS ABOUT $4,000.
A LARGE AMOUNT OF WHEAT,
CORN, FLOUR AND CORN
MEAL DESTROYED.
A ADEsTRUCTIvECO CONFEDERATION

the south side of the Brandywine, ex-
tending from French TO Walnut streets,
was completely burned out.
The fire originated In the eastern end
Of the building,i in the drying kiln, which
was filled with corn, aud around which
was packed a large quantity OF corn
| meal, In barrels. just when II broke
out Is not known, but II was discovered
about quarter past eleven o'clock, by Mr..
| Schwenck, the watchmaD Of the mill,
whose attention was attracted by the
smell of burning grain. lie traced the
odor 10 the vicinity Of the drying kiln,
and noticed some Of tha woodwork and
barrels in flames, when he lmmr diately
attempted TO suppress the fire by throw
| ing on buckets OF water, but without
any perceptible effect.
Seeing that his efforts to stay the
flames we're fruitless, M. Schwenck
sent word to the Phoenix engine house,
and IN very few minutes that engine
was down TO the mill and had good
stream of water on the burning mill,
from the plug at Fifteenth aud French
streets. BY this time, however, the fire
had gained considerable headway, and
was traversing throughout the interior
of the mill with great rapidity. The
old timbers OF the building we're dry
| and innammable, and afforded food to
| the flames that led them on in spie OF
| all that could be done 10 prevent their
spread.
| Meanwhile, the alarm had been
ounded from the City Hall, and the
Phoenix engine house, and by twelve
o'clock all the engines of the depart
ment we're on the ground and in activ,
service, taking their water from the tail
race that runs along Sixteenth street, in
front of the mills. But by this time
the entire interior of the mill was in
danes, and the best the fremen could
DO was 10 keep the fire within the limits
| OF the mill. Almost adjoining the mill
on the west, Is the city mill, containing
the valuable Worthington pump and
other machinery, and for awhile this
bdilding was in great danger. But for
tunately, owing TO the skillfully-directed
| efiolts Of the hremen, the flames were
strictly confined TO Pennypacker u Co.'s
mill and the city mill was not even
scorched.
| Notwithstanding the unreasonable
hour at which the alarm was given,
large crowd quickly collected and
watched the exciting scene with the
greatest interest. The flames burned
iiercely, and for awhile with great bril-
liancy, lighting up the sky and casting
a reflection over half the city. From
the burning grain arose a dense smoke,
and a sickening smell that at times
was almost oveIpowering TO those In
the immediate neighbt rhood.
| hn nd fAf
the heavy timbers of the building had
fallen in and it became apparent that
all danger of the flames spreading TO the
adjoining buildings was over. This as
suIance was largely due to the fact that
there was no wind prevailing at the
time, the night being unusually calm.
Great showers of sparks arose when the
umbers fell, and scattered all around,
nut fortunately did not jeopardize the
safety Of any Of the adjoining property.
Considering the fact that the building
was Of stone, II was surprising what a
brilliant blaze the fire made. The TIM
beIs, however, were large and dry, while
the floors were thoroughly seasoned and
At many places saturated with the oil
that had dropped from the machinery
These, with the many barrels that were
IN the mill at the time, made the materi
al for brilliant blaze, that continued
until the floors and roof fell in.
The firemen continued in active sell
vice until five O'Clock, by which time the
flames were reduced to smouldering
heaps of embers. The engines were
then withdrawn from service and plug
stream left handy to be used in case OF
any sudden renewal Of the fire.
The mills, this morning, presented a
miserable aspect. They were, to use a
homely phrase, completely gutted. ."rhe
track Uf the fire spread from end TO end
and from top to bottom, while broken
and charred timbers and ruined machin
cry could be seen on every hand. Bar
rels of -four and corn meal, completely
ruined by smoke and water, stood here
and there, while the saddest sight OF all
was the piles of soaked grain and corn,
damaged TO such an extent as to be COM
pletely unfit for any use whatever,
which were scattered all over the build
ings. Great clouds of smoke still rose
from the ruins, and altogether the scene
was one of the completest desolation.
THE LOSS BY THE FIRE.
The loss by the tire cannot at present
be ascert aimed, but II cannot help being
very heavy. The mill, or mills,as there
were two OF them united under one roof,
! were owned by James f. Price, at least
they were insured in his name. They
were very old structures, having been
erected about 1898. The machinery,
which is also owned by Mr.. Price, COM
,, prised five ''run of stone," and the usual
propelling machinery, including steam
; engine. There is an insurance of $l5,-
} 600 on the mill, but Mr.. Price says II
D will take $4,000 to rebui d IL and put
! it in good running condition.
The loss to Messrs. Pennypacker 4
Co. Is also serious. They saved abso-
lntely nothing of their stock only few
barrels being saved, which were not OF
= much account Their books and papers
y however, were all safely taken out
II In the mill, at the time of the file
were 25,O00 bushels of corn, 15,00t
t bushels of wheat and about 1900 barrels
!. of corn meal and -four. The loss OF
d this stock, at the lowest estimate, Mr.
1t Pennypacker says, is 100000, on whicl
s,Na aUUrQUafinD G10 Ol0