West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1889-02-28
PHILADELPHIA'S Big FIRE.
A Half-a-Million Dollar Blaze I'm
the Business District.
Twelve Buildings, Occupied by Fif-
teen Firms, Destroyed.

Tho five-Story yarn and wool importing
house OF Rudolph Blankenburg & Co.
At No Is Bank street. Philadelphia, extond-
ing through 10 numbers Is and 20 Strawberry
treet, has boon burned ont. The fire started
TN tho basement and tho first intimation
lhe employees had OF IL was when "A
nerco body of flame broke through
tho hatchway ON the first floor. The
men, women and girls were compelled 60
leave everything behind them To save their
hVeS The fire was 80 rapid that seven girls
On the NTH floor were about 10 Jump from
the windows, whom prevented by a work
man, who compelled them 10 take tho stair
way, down which they fought their way
through the flame and smoke reaching the
street in safety, although all OF them were
considerably burned aud partially suifocated.
In less than flvo minutes tho huge struc-
cure was n mass OF flame from basement 60
roof. Tho fire spread TO the building No. II,
the first aud second floors Of which wero oc
Suped by Thompson Foust a. Co, wool
commission merchants, and the upper floors
by Rudolph Blankenburg a Co. This
building was speedily consumed. Mean
time the fire ate its way into the
tour-story iron building No. - Bank street.
and in a twinkling the entire structure was a
mass OF fire. Additional alarms were sent
out. and fresh ilremen woro put at work. In
thirty minutes after the fire started
seven large Wholesale houses In Bank
hhN hbldNbtlEJ htIetNt MtfN on nfos III
the latter street tho houses of James
poak, Dr., wool merchant; the Jewell
Knitting Company; M. II. Raleigh AZ Co.
yarns, and Philip j. Walsh, notions, wore
burning. William Murphy, colored, and
Joseph Atkinson. who were working ON che
tifth floor OF the Blankenburg building, made
a rush for the hre-escape but before they
reached II they were surrounded by flames.
They finally got out on the ilre-escape and
called To the firemen below Edward Dono-
hue, Of Engine No. 30, raised sixteen
foot ladder, down which the men climbed in
rafety. While the hremen were battling
with the fire I'm Bank and strawberry
streets Philip j. Walsh's store. Nos 80 and
"a South Second street. which extends
through TO Strawberry street, caught fro
and was badly damaged. The drygoods
store OF +. s. " Hall q Sons, No 20 South
Second street, was also partially destroyed.
Rudolph BlanlSenburg said "I think tho
IRE was caused by the explosion OF the gas
engine which runs the elevator, as a loud re-
port was heard Just before the fire was dis.
covered. am insured for s221 900, but
don't think that will cover my lossn
A rough estimate OF the total loss placed
II at $500 900, which was covered by lnsur-
ance 20 n two-thirds extent
The origin Of tho fire is n mystery, but II
was stated by ono OF the employees OF Rudolph
BlnnlSenburg ~ Co., after the fire had been
,ot under control, that n bag OF waste paper
IN the engine-room I'm tho basement caught
IRE and communicated 20 the woodwork.
There was strong draught through the
basement at tho time. which carried tho
flames 10 tho elevator and set tho upper
floors ablazo.