Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1889-02-16
WORK OF THE FLAMES.
Philadelphia Visited by a Most
Disastrous Fire.
One Fireman Killed and Several seriously
Injured by Failing Walls-The Total
Loss Estimated at Over
SS00,OO0.
A NIG BLAZE.

Dig BLAZE.
PH1ApEL PHIA, Peb. Ii. The most do.
structive fire which has visited this city for
a long time broke out shortly before noon
Sunday In the basement of the large build |
ing Nos. l,4l9 and l4l4 Walnut street. and |
the whole place was destroyed, nothing but |
the trout and rear walls being left standing. |
While the firemen were at work portion |
of thefront wall fell inward killing one
man and seriously iniuring two others. The
following are the names Of the killed and
injured:
George Showers, thirty.six years old,
hoseman OF Engine COMPANY No. t. iu-
stantly killed, and his body burned beneath
the debris.
Abraham Lacey, hoseman of Engine Com.
pany No. l3, badly bruised about the body
and limbs, but no bores broken.
William Buzzard, of Engine Company No.
4, badly bruised about the side and leg.
The fire broke out under the drug store OF
r. b. Morgan, located on the first floor of
the Walnut street front, and in very short
time had burned through TO the roof. The
first floor and basement were occupied by
the drug store and the remainder by Messrs
Wyeth.& Bro. as laboratory for the manu-
facture of drugs and chemicals. The fro
had gained firm foothold in the upper por-
ton of the premises before the iiremen
could be summoned, and owing to the IN
tiammable contents OF every room the flames
gained upon them with frightful rapidity.
Near the front OF the building next the roof
was a large water tank, weighing over four
teen tons This was supported by large
timbers resting on the main walls, and as
these beams were weakened by the lam95,
the whole thing came down with crash.
By this time the firemen had worked their
way throug h the large doorway on the first
floor and two lines of hose had been taken
inside. They were manned by six men, all
of whom were stan ding inside the front
wall. As the la rye tank fell "a portion OF
the top OF the front wall was torn loose and
fell inward with a crash. The fall was so
sudden and unexpected that the men insd
! could not be warned OF their danger. IN
, whole of the first floor was at once enNeI-
| oped in smoke from the burning timhers aud
| Il cloud of dust There was a sudden dash
from those on the outside and dozen brave
men, led by Director Stokely and Lieuton'
ant Irssilton. rushed TO the rescue. One BY
No the imprisoned men made their escape
or were dragged out by their rcscuer. aud
as the smoke lifted, Lacey was found pinned
down to the floor by heavy timbers.
A stream of water was turned onto tho
men ne they worked to save them from the
intense heat and after several minutes
which seemed like hours to those on the
outside. Lacey was released and carried &c
the street A dash was made for tho spo
where Showers had been seen but moment
before he wall fell, bnt the spot was GOV
erred bv mountain Of bricks, mortar ant
heavy timbers An attempt was made tC
reach his body, but after working for som'
time and not being able to obtain sight o
him he was given up for dead, and as thosC
at work were in momcntary danger of be
ing killed, the search was abandoned for tn
time. His body was recovered about hv'
O'clock ., ,,o,,
In the Hotel Stratoru, III 'ne saaie o'o."
nearly all the rooms wers saIa'Ju' .,'n, "n'
aides in their wraps ana eehlienion i" '"''
oyercoats gathered III 'he lower iooiho . ,o"i
to make their escape az soon as ~ ""1 ,nnm ,Onm