Delaware gazette and state journal., 1884-03-06
THE PHILADELPHIA FIRES
CCLD IND 4 GdLA OF WIND TO
AJGHT AGAINST.
simultaneous Fires Cripple the Fire
DEPARTMENT - A Terribly Fright
eu"h NFlEisborhO0d - fears fbat
Women aud iiIidren HUuId Freeze


Department A Terribly Fright
enrh seIgnborhood = Eears rbat
Women aud tiiIidren Would Freeze
iHlLAhELPHA Fab. 20 Five fires oo-
ourfed duthy tns night in this city. The
Wind was almost q gale and owing TO this
csu59 aud ths great distance between the
various alarms, the fremen found much
trouble in keeping the flames under
control.
The mosI destructive was that ct the
ehsuai5e works OF Powers & Weightman,
The largest of the kind il the country,
which pere totally destroyed. The loss
a this place will be over 81, ,000,0 900.
The store of Conn Bros. & Co, produce
oonmissi.n n merchants, 20 South Water
atreet. was damaged to the extent of
$10,O 600. About the same time the Echo
carpet mill at Lehieh avenue and Pale
thorpe street, and three or four dwellings
adjoining, were destroyed, involving
ioss OF S25, 600.
TAe other fires, with the exception
of that at Powers & Weightmsn's, were
not so 7eYious, bat the frequent alarms
served 10 distract the fTemsn Sud test
the department TO it's fullest csI acity. t.l
livery fire. ompauy il the city wsa II
service 81 oae tiMy "ish one exception, 2
company st Frtnktord, left ss = prscsu-
tiauSry messure to protect ths great
number ct niia in that section.
The Gss at Powers & Weightman's
chemical works, number Of brick build
ings, covering the entire block bounded
by Ninth, Parrish, Brown and Knox
atreets, was tirst discovered at IL 40 am,
but the alarm YVES not responded to, be-
cause TIE only engines in that fire district
were already engaged in combating
similar fire in the wool mills at Second
and Lehish avenue. One of the two en-
gines which answered the first call came
from Washington avenue, a distance of
nearly two miles.
One alarm after another was struck,
aud at 2,15 a. N. q general alarm was
sounded. The frsmen responded as
promptly as possible, but they were
weary after their continuous efforts, and
the fires burning in various sections
OF the city made it appear that their work
was endless, They were benumbed with
cold, but wers successful in keeping the
ueighboring buildings we'll soaked with
water a. the wind enveloped them in
perfect storm OF sparks and oinders.
BY 8 o'clock, the chemical works
seemed to burn with such extraordinary
ieroeness and the fire was evidently
spreading 30 rapidly that the residents
ia the nelghborhood left their houses in
alarn and sought refuge in the houses
of their neighbOrs. These people in turn
fled as the fire progressed but the police
teariue that the flight of 30 many people
would result seriously, exerted them
selves to keep them in their houses.
So many, however were under the i'm
PRESTON that terrible explosion WAS
liable TO occur at any moment in come
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 even by the iremen that
il the flames reached the building at
Ninth ead Parrish streets, which was
said TO be packed with explosive ehemi-
Gals, the oity ior many squares around
would be shattered. soon after 3
o'clock the entire square occupied by
Powers & Wsightmsn seemed TO bs one
vast sheet of flame, and en- explosion Of
fusil oil took place. The burning fluid
ran through the streets, and the firemen
called upon the citizens to help them in
reaGung their engines and hose carriages
from the river of blazing oil.
Tho oil soon burned itself out, but the
hams had spread across an alley way to
TIE five storied brick building, known
as tue chemical department, stored with
a large qusntity of oomoustible material.
II WAS in this building that bismuth,
morphia, potash, soda and other preps-
tions we're made and stored, The build
irg, together with all its contents, WAS
entirely destroyed. Up to o'clock the
flames steadily triumphed over all oppo-
sitiop, lighting up this entire city, while
The AsigA boring streets were blocked
With pAlie-stricken residents removing
their goods to places of safety.
From O'clock until noon the progress
Of the fte was simply that of a gradual
destruction OF all ipdsmmable material
within the confines already described,
and there was no fear OF it's spreading.
The Wslls have been crashing down dur
ing the early morning. But as hese
accidents were not unexpected
aud the streets have been
properly roped off, no one has
been hurt Some Of the neiRhboring
houses had their roofs aud fronts damaged
by fire or by falling walls, though the
way they ~ers drrnohed with water dur
lug the ui7ht prevented thair total de-
structiou. Some OF the walls are still in
a very dangerous condition and will prob.
ably be blown down during the day
snUuld the high wind continue.
That portion ot the building still stand
ing is covered with ice and though the
fire is still burning III the ruins, at noon
there can be no dagger OF an outbreak OF
the flames 1t has been impossible so far
10 obtain from any one connected with
ths firm any idss OF the value of the
machinery or stock either i'll detail
or rCuod figures. The general estimates
however, vary from million to mil
lioN aud half OF dollars. From other
sources It is learned that the buildings,
msch,ney aud stock were insured for
ovsr $500, 900, Of which S2l5,000 was
ps1ed in this city sud the remainder in
Nav York, eastsrn aud foreign offices.