Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1883-01-31
DESTROYED BY FLAMES.
A Fire on Nor,n broad Street.


Between eight and nine o'clock Tuesday
evening fire broke out on the second
floor of the three story brick building Nos.
$50 and 252 North Broad street, Philadel-
phia, and in a few moments the entire
structure was vast sheet of flame,
throwing up brilliant illumination that
was seen in the remote parts of the city.
When the firemsn arrived the building
adjoining on the north had also taken fire,
and still brighter light was reflected by
attracting crowds of people to the scene.
The building Nos. $50 50 was occupied
entirely by Levi Knowles & Co., dealers
in flour, hops and salt. On the first floor
they had six thousand barrels of flour
stored on the second floor three car loads
of cloverseed, also flour and hops, The
third floor was rented by the firm as a
furniture storage apartment. Knowles d
Co., estimate their loss ON the stock at
$40, 900, but can give no estimate of the
value of the furniture on the third tioor,
which was the property of private parties,
and in the aggregate worth several thou
sand dollars. Much of the storage is be-
lievcd to be insured The loss on Knowles
stock is fully covered by insurance.
In the adjoining building, No. 254 ami
256, which was destroyed AS quickly rs tho
former building, J. Allen Il Co, flour
commission merchants, occupied the first
| and second stories, where they had several
thousands barrels of flour. They estimate
their loss on the stock at 5000, which,
they say, is covered by insurance. An
apartment in the rear of the first floor is
also occupied by E. IL. Graham & Co.,
| HpYrr rpnrob arotS Uhn carried small
stock, valued at $500, which was totally
destroyed, Their loss is covered. On the
second floor E. w. Seigman, agent for the
manufacture of plowshares and grain
mills, had an Office. A small sample lot
was destroyed, incurriuy L loss Of $500.
The third floor was occupied by E. Hill 4
Co.. agents for the sale Of cotton making
machinery. Their loss will probably no,
be more than few thousand dollars,
| which is insured.
The buildings were quite old, and were
owned by the estate of James Eushong, OF
Reading. They extended 200 feet ON Broad
street, with depth of 110 feet, and Were
valued at $4,000. The loss is probably
half that amount
| The origin of the fire is a mystery, but
it is attributed by several of the occupants
| to incendiarism. Mr. Levi Knowles, who
Was iDterrogated by Fire Marshall Wood
said he had heard the fire Was first discov
cred among the bags of clover on the sec
ond floor of tho building occupied by hi
firm. lie stated, emphaticaily, his belle
! that the fire had an iEceLdidry origin
and that it could be traced to some o
the bad characters which that locality Wal
noted tor. There was no fire on tht
second floor Of the building, and Glove
would not ignite of itself, nor would t1ou
packed in barrels. Mr.. Knowles said tina
some of the notorious individuals wht
belong to gang in the neig ghborhOOd haC
repeatedly threatened to fire the building;
| and there was evidence that Oh one Uc
casion they attempted to carry out thei
threat.
About ten days ago Z. W. Slegman
who occupies all apartment in the adj"in
ing building. called upon tho fire marsha
and informed him that burnt candle ant
some paper had been found in his place
which were apparently left there by som,
one who had iuteuded to set fire to th'
building. He related that some time age
he appeared as witness against SOM
associates of the Reading hose gang, ant
he afterwards learned that they had made
threats of vengeance against him. Ill
had heard it reported that they intended
to get square with him, and the dis cover
OF the candle and paper caused him som
apprehension.
The vivid illumination which, owing t.
the clouded sky, was reflected for d Ion!
distance, led many to suppose that the fir
was larger than it really was. Specula
tions were induiged in as to the locality
some believing it was the Reading ralroa
depot, others the Baldwin locomotiv
works, and still others the art building.