The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-03-01
A NIGHT OF FLAME.
Five Fires in Philadelphia on
Thursday Night.
Extensive Chemical Works Burnt-Losa
Over Night Of Hardship
for the Firemen, and Alarm for the
Citizens.

| PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 29.-Fige Rres occurred
duSSng the night in this city. The wind blew
almost gale and owing to this cause and the
| great distance between the various alarms, the
firemen found much trouble in keeping the
flames under control. The most destructive
was that of the chemical works of Powers q
Weightman, the largest of the kind In the
| country. which were totally destroyed. The
| loss at this place will be over ST. ,000,000
The store OF Conn Brothers s. Co.. produce
commission merchants, No. % South Water
street. was damaged to the extent OF 600.
| At the same time the Echo carpet mill at Le-
| high svenue and Palethorpe street and three
or four dwellings adioiuing were destroyed, In
volving loss of $25, 900. The other fires, with
| the exception of that of Powers & Weight
mans, were not 80 serious. but the frequent
alarms served to distract the fremeu ana test
the department TO its fullest capacity. Every
hre company In the city was ia sesyice at Que
time with one exception-a company at
Frankford, left there as precautionary meas
uro to protect the great number of mills in
that section. The fire at Power g. Weight
mans chemical works, q mum bers. Of brick
buildings, covering the entire block bounded
by Ninth. Parrish, Brown and Knox streets,
YVES first discovered at 1910 a. M, but the
alarm was not responded TO because the only
engines in that fire district were already en-
gagged In combating similar fire in the wool
mills ut Second and Lehigh avenues. One of
the two engines which answered the first call
came from Washington avenue, q distance of
nearly two miles. One alarm after another
was struck, and at 2l6 a.. m. a general alarm
was sounded. The firemen responded az
promptly as possible, bat they were weary
after working at one fire after another, and
the fires ourning in various sections OF the
city made 1t appear that their work was end
less. They were benumbed with cold, bat
were successful In keeping tie neighboring
buildings well soaked with water as the wind
enveloped them in a perfect storm OF sparks
and cinders. By 8 o'clock the chemicals
seemed to burn witt such extraordinary fierce-
ness and the fire was evidently spread
ing 90 rapidly that the residents in the neigh
borhood left their houses In alarm and sought
refuge in the houses of their neighhors. These
people, in turn fled as the fire progressed, but
the police, fearing that the fight of SO many
people would result seriously, exerted them
selves to keep then, Ia their houses. So many,
however, were under the impression THAT
horrible explosion was liable to occur at any
moment in some part of the works that it was
difficult to calm them and induce them not to
risk the lives OF their children by taking
them out on such night. 1t was believed,
reached the building at Ninth and Parrish
streets. which was said to be packed with ex-
plosive chemicals, the city for many squares
around would be shattered. At this time the
entire square seemed to be one vast sheet of
flame, and soon after 8 o'clock an explosion of
fusil oil took place. The burning fluid ran
through the streets and the 6remen called up
on the people to help them in rescuing their
engines and hose carriages from the river of
blazing oil. The oil soon burned itself out,
but the flames had spread across an alley way
to the five-story brick building known as the
ohemica! department., stored with q large
quantity of combustible materials.
That portion of the building still standing is
covered with ice, and though the FIRE is still
burning in the ruins there can be no danger Of
an outbreak of flames. 1t has been impossible
SO far to obtain an idea OF the value OF the ma
chinery or stock In detail General estimates,
however, vary from 81 900 900 to 81 500 900.
The buildings, machinery and stock were it,
sured for over $4,000, of which S215, 5,OCO
was placed il this city and the remainder in
New York. Eastern and foreign offices.