The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-02-20
LURID DESTRUCTION.
HALF A MILLION DOLLAR FIRE IN
THE QUAKER CITY.
Observers Treated to Display Of Iyro-
technics-Two Men Killed and Three
Injured-List of LOSSES
Other BlaZes.

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 90 AT $50 O'Clock
| Thursday morning fire was discovered IN
| the five story brick structure at l25 Chest
| nut street, occupied by Stevenson & Co,
Getz & Stratton, Richard A. Blythe, GaIsed
| g. Co, all dealers in cotton and wool Soon
after the flames were discovered tire burst
| forth from the upper windows AMI tins
| front Of the three upper floors fell out
with a era h. Many supposed that IN ex-
plosion had taken place When the wailfsi1
! q lahorer, who was engaged IN removing =
safe from an adjoining building, was in
| stantly killed by falling brick, and several
persons were also injured. The hor-e st
! tached to a hose cart standing in froat Of
| the building, was also killed The flames
spreed quickly to 193 and l2l Chestnut
| street, ami burned fiercoly The former
was occupi d by Irwin C. Beatty Il
| Co, dealers in worsted yarus, and the lat
ter by George H. McFadden & Co, cotton
dealers The adjoining building on the west
was the Corn Exchange National bank,
northeast corner Of Second and Chestnut
streets, the roof OF which took fire. A
| general alarm was sounded. Two men were
| killed as follows: John Mccormick, driver
of hose cart No. ~; j. c. Blyr, aged IS
| years, who was passing at the time Biyr
resided at the American hotel
The flames extended across the back build
! ings to A South Second street occupied by
Homer & Son, toy merchants. In the upper
floors of this building there were stored q
large amount Of fire crackers, rockets,
roman candles, bombs and other kinds Of
fireworks About half past 10 O'Clock the
! crowd of people on Second street were
startled by e series of explosions. Al in
slant later sky rockets and roman candles
were shooting their colored lights out of ali
of the windows into the street.
The following werei injured by failing walls;
James Hackett, a clerk, aged Is; henry
Seavers, a laborer; Phillip Strong, residing
in one of the burned buildings
| 1t is estimated that the losses viii aggre-
gate not less than from $3.50, 900 to $500, O0A.
The business establishments damaged b.
the water with whica they had been
| deluged for their protection We're: Thomas
Dolan, liquors; L. NJ Whndn & Long
William Simpsons Sons & Co, prints, etc.
Samuel Riddle & Co; j. B. Creigh & Co;
| Richard Williamson Il Co; James W. Nog
des fancy goods-damagsd by water and
fire in theirrear; Pitkin & Thomas, harness
etc; damaged by water; the Corn Exchange
bank had its roof burned but sus
tainsI no other damage but was
| compelled to close up for the day. Taussig
s. Taylor, woods; James 4 Mitchell, THE
lens & Co. 5 stock oi yarn goods was com
pletely destroyed; Schelbaca Il Coz
| aHiiine dyes, etc, were also de
stroyed Beidle 4 Weiss dye stuff.
and chemicals, damaged by water II. <
| Bennett a. Co, yarns, etc. damaged by va
ter; Camden Wooden company, also dam
aged; this Arm had large stock IN the build
ing, III Chestnut street, which was de
stroyed; John Lamonds tea store com
pletely deluged; an establishment for tn,
manufacture Of signs, also washed out
After the alarm had been struck AMI lie
fore the fremen arrived there was great ex
ctement in the neighborhood, and the cry
o. Fire was shouted down the street Mr
Balls, of the firm of j. H. Ellington, ant
Mr. Biddle Of the firm of Bidjle & Weiss
procured half dozen hand sTenaies, bot
ties of chemical substance which, whel
thrown into a fame, are supposed t.
explode and extinguish il. Witt
these they reached upstairs @
125, and on TO the floor where The fire wa
making rapid headway. They piled on tn
grenades but they we're without effect il
qaenching the flames, and Mr.. Bidile mad
narrow escape through a second stor,
window
The flames are supposed to he under con
troll, though many OF the bull lings are stl
on fire.