The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-24
BIG FIRE IN PHILADELPHIA
One of the Most Destructive Conflasra-
tions the City Has Experienced.
Several Large Millinery Establishments De-
stroyed, the Flames Spreading to Other
Business Houses-Loss, 81, 100000.

PHILADELPHIA. Jan. 23.-An alarm of fire
was sounded from Eighth and Arch streets at
o'clock tonight, and the fire department re-
sponded promptly. The fire proved to be in a
chimney, and. as thought. was put out without
bringing the department into service. At IL
P. NJ. another alarm was sounded from the
same locality. In short time the
entire structure of Marks Brothers mil
linery and ladies'-wear establishment
was reduced to ashes. The fire swept across to
the east side of Eigh tn street. and Adolf Heller
& Bros millinery stock and ladies' wear, with
two or three adjoining stores were also de-
stroyed At midnight the fire was still burning
fercely, and seemed to be extending northward
from Arch and Eighth streets The loss will
probably reach from $3.50, 900 to 100000.
130 A. M.-The FIRE has spread to other build
ings, both on the north and east, and at this
time eight business houses are a mass of ruins
and the flames are not yet under control The
loss will foot up at least 81, 50O.0 900.
The confederation spread with almost incredi-
BILE rapidity. and the heat most intense, the
contents OF the buildings being in the highest
degree infammable. In very few minutes the
fire had made such progress that the flames
leaped across Warfeld place. a little alley sepa-
rating Marks Bros building from that of
Shoneman Bros, extending Eighth street
from No. 116 to 122. and seized upon it. Their
ferceness checked, however, by the fire.
men, and, though the building was badly
Quilted. it was not entirely destroyed as that
of Marks Bros.
At the same time the intense heat and the
flames set fire TO the buildings the east side
of Eighth street. These were occupied by
Adolf Heller, importer and dealer in milliners'
goods. No. 1O1 to 113 and Strause, Tnanhauser
& Co.. Nos lib and lis, also dealers in millinery
goods. The buildings were old three-story
structures and were filled with the same class
of goods as the buildings first on fire. Strause.
Thanhanser s. Co also had a front at No. 1873
Arch street, and the of this building also
caught. z. RadrieO, dyer. occupied portion
of No. lis North Eighth street, and he, too, was
burned out.
Shortly after II o'clock violent explosion oc-
Cured, said have been caused by chemicals in
RadEigo's establishment. After the walls
either side OF Eighth street had tumbled in, the
fire began to exhaust ITSELF and the fremen
were better able to put IN some effective work.
The heat from the fire for some time so in
tense that it was impossible to stand within sew
eral hundred feet of the burning buildings. The
flames shot out of the Marks building and across
Arch street with great ferceness. setting fire
to the building the southwest of
Eighth and Arch streets, occupied by Frederick
kuapple, confectioner 1t was with the great
est difficulty the building and several occupants
of the structure were saved Knappel's loss will
amount to several thousand, covered by insur-
ance. No. 802 Arch street is Shuster's cafe and
c confectionery store. The roof and woodwork
on the Arch-street front of the house was
burned. Mr.. Shuster has an insurance of 49, O0O
At 2:30 A. NJ. the fire seems to be we'll under
control. The estimated losses foot up a million
and half dollars.