Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-14
HALF A MILLION LOSS.
MAMMOTH PAPERFAcToRY AND PLANNING
MILLS BURNED.

An Early Morning Fire Destroys Magnificent
Property In Philadelphia-Carey's Wall
Paper Manufactory Complete KUN
Other Buildings Damaged.
PHILADELPHIA, July 13.-One of the
most destructive fires that has occurred in
this city for several years broke out about 4
this morning in the turning and planning
mill of h. I. Atkinson at Tenth street and
Susuuehanna avenue. The wind was blow
ing from the southwest and carried the
flames across Tenth street to the east side,
and Atkinson's lumber yard also caught
fire. While the firemen were at work fight
ing the flames which were devouring At
kinson's two properties, the wind veered
around to southeast, and the flames, fed by
sheds and dry lumber which surrounded the
planning mill, were carried against the e1-
tensive wall paper manufacturing establish
ment of Carey Bros, which was separated
from Atkinson's mill property by narrow
street.
Inside of half an hour Carey Brothers
magnificent building was complete mass
of ruins. The building extended from
Tenth to Eleventh streets, a distance of 300
feet, and from Nevada to Colona streets, 12O
feet, and was five stories high. Scarcely
any attempt was made by the firemen to
check the flames in Carey Brothers build
ing, as they realized their efforts void be of
avail. They devoted themselves to saving
the property which surrounded it.
Rows OF small houses, occupied mainly
by employees OF Carey Bros, stood to the
east and north of the blazing structure, and
it was only by almost superhuman enorts
that these were saved. The fronts of all OF
them were scorched and blistered, and the
furniture in those on Nevada street was
soaked with water. When the north wall
fell the bricks piled up against the houses
and the frightened occupants made their
escape from the rear, and women and chill
dren, half dressed, ran through the streets
terror stricken. Thousands of people sur
rounded the burning property and gazed at
the gorgeous effect produced by the COM
bustion of the coloring materials used In
the manufacture of the wall paper.
Carey Bros estimate their loss at $780,
900, the building costing $20O, 900, and their
stock, machinery, patterns, designs, etc.,
being worth $500. 900. Their insurance is
S202, ,O00 Mr.. Atkinson places his loss at
between $75, 900 and $50, 900 on his planning
mill property, stable and lumber yard. HIS
insurance foots up $26, 500. Dwelling
houses on Nevada street were damaged to
the iextent Of sc, 900 and other small losses
to surrounding property will aggregate
So, 900 more, making the total near 5000, 900.
The origin Of the fire is q mystery.
Carey Bros factory was probably the
most complete establishment of its kind in
the United States, if not in the world. All
grades of wall paper were manufactured,
from the cheapest to the finest. The store
rooms were packed with goods intended for
the trade of the coming fall and spring. A
great effort was made to save the designs.
John Trumpy, foreman of the designing de-
partment, rushed into the burning building,
determined to rescue his sketches and de-
signs, but he was overcome by smoke and
made narrow escape from the place. the
only casualty befell John Hicks, employed
by Atkinson, who, while removing mules
from the stable, was kicked in the side by
one of them and three of his ribs were frac-
tured.
About 200 men and women were employed
by Carey Bros. The firm considered that
their building was about as nearly fire proof
as it was possible to make it.