The state journal. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1883-1885, 1884-03-01
FIRE IN PHILADELPHIA.
Powers s. Weightman's Chemical Works
DestrOyed-LOss Over One Million Dol
lars

| Powers s. weightman's Chemical work,
DestrOyed-Loss Over One Million Dol
By Associated Press.
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 29.-Last night
was night of fires in Philadelphia, five
fires being in progress in different parts
OF the city at one time and the
entire fire department engaged. The
worst ire was at Powers &
Weightman's chemical works, at Ninth
and Parrish streets. 1t broke out little
before l A. NJ, and is still burn
ing, though nearly the entire works
have been destroyed. The loss on
the building and stock will exceed
a million dollars. The chemicals
ablaze and the wind blowing almost
a gale, made the fire burn with
extraordinary ferceness. and the
entire square bounded bye Ninth
Parrish, Brown and Knox streets, was
one vast sheet of flame Frequent exrl)-
sions,and burning oil running through the
streets, caused a semi-panic among the
residents who crowded into the streets in
the biting windand then sought shelter in
the houses of neighbors. The latter in
turn hed as the fire progressed,
until the police directed their eff
forts to keeping them in their
houses, so as not to risk the lives of
their children, by EXPOSURE in the bitter
cold. The fire became so alarming that
notwithstanding the entire department
was at work, the firemen were forced to
call on the citizens for help and volun-
teers rendered them valuable aid, work
ing in a perfect storm of sparks and
frozen spray
The fire ragged in the building in which
bismuth, morphia, potash, soda and
other preparations were made and
stored. The building, together with
all its contents, was entirely de-
stroyed. Up to o'clock the flames
steadily triumphed over all opposi-
ton, lighting up the entire city,
while the neighboring streets were
blocked with panic-stricken resi-
dents removing their goods to places
of safety. From 5 O'Clock until
noon the progress of the fire was
simply that of u gradual de-
struction of all infammable matter
within the confines, already described,
and there was no tear of its spreading.
The walls have been crushed down
during the early morning, but as
these accidents were not unexpected,
no one has been hurt and the streets
have been properly roped off Some OF
the neighboring houses had theil roofs
and fronts damaged by fire or by
falling walls, though the way in
which they were drenched with
water during the night prevented their
total destruction. Some of the walls
are still in very dangerous CON
dition, and will probably be
blown down during the day should
the high wind continue. That portion of
the building still standing is covered with
ice, and though the fire is still burn
ing in the ruins at noon, there
can be no danger of an outbreak
of the flames. 1t has been impossible SO
far to obtain from any one connected
with the firm any idea of the value of
the machinery or stock, either in
detail or round figures. The
general estimates, however, vary from a
million to million and a half of dol
lars. From other sources it is learned
stock were insured for over $780,
600, of which 1915, 600 was placed
in the city and the remainder in New
York, eastern and foreign companies.