Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-07-14
FIFE AT PHILADELPHIA


PnILkDKIPHIa, July IS -one Of the
| most destructive fires in ihis city for sever
al years broke out sboG. 4 o'clock this
morning in the Turning and Planning mill Of
H. T. Atkinson, Tenrh street and Susqus-
| hanna avenue The wind yas blowing
from the southwest. and carried the flames
across Tenth street to the east aide, and
Attinsoas Lumber Yard cauya. IRE.
While the fremen were dghiing the are
here the wind sesred around to the south
east, and the flames. fed By sheds and dry
lumber which surrounded the planning mill.
was carried against the extensive vail
paper manufacturing estabA;hment of
Carey Bros. separated from Atkinson :
mill property BY narrow street. In an
| tieipaiion Of this about dozen empioyt :
stood with hose in hand ready to pour
water upon the blaze. As .oon as the fire
gained an entrance to the baildins il sp-es
with such startling rapidity that the men
we're compelled 10 drop the hose and dee
for their lives The upper 4 1or were alied
with paper, printed aad spread on racks to
dry. And it burned almost like powder.
Long flaming sheets were caught by the
wind and carried blazing through the air,
= distance, in some instances, of half q
mile or more.
inside half an hour Carey Bros estAb-
lishment was complete mass of ruins
The building extended from 10Th 10 lth
streets a distance of 800 feet from Nevads
to Coloua streets 40 feet ard was i've
stories high. The Nevada and Colona
street walls fell leaving the east aud west
walls standing. Scarcely any attempt was
made bv the tremen to check the flames in
Carey Cros. building as they realized the
efforts TO be of no avail. They devoted
themselves 10 saving the property which
surrounded it. Rows of small houses oc-
cnpied mainly by employees of Carey Bro..
which stood To the east and north of the blaz-
ing structure only by almost superhuman eff
forts were these saved. The fronts of all
were scorched and biistered, and the flrni
ture in those on Nevada street were soaked
with water.
When the north wall fell the bricks piled
up against these houses, and the frightened
occupants made their escape from the rear.
the women and children running half
dressed and terrow stricken through the
streets. Thousands of people surrounded
the burning property and gazed at the gor
geous effect produced by the combustion of
the coloring materials used in the manufac-
ture OF wall paper. Meanw lille the planning
mill was completely destroyed by the
flames. Firemen succeeded 10 quenching
the flames in the lumber yard after the
contents were partially destroyed.
The Carey Bros. estimated loss is $780,
0o0 the building costing $500 900, and the
stock, machinery. patterns, designs etc,
are worth $500 900; insurance S202 900
The Atkinson place loss is between S75 ,000
and $4,000 on the plauing mill property
stable, and lumber yard insurance S26, 800.
D~elling houses on Nevada street were
damaged to the extent of 81 600, and other
smAll loss to surrounding properly will ag-
gregate S5 900. making the total very near
$500. 600. The origin of the fire is mys
terry. Ii was discovered by the police
sergeant while making his rounds.
Carey Brothers watchmsn claims the FIRE
started 10 brick stable owned by Atkin-
sons, situated to the north of the mill. 1t
is rumored several men were drinking and
carousing in the stable and the fltmes broke
out after they departed. The fire marshal
is making an investigation.
The Carey Brother factory WAS probably
the most complete establishment of the
kind in the United States, if not in the
world. All grades of wall paper were man
ufactured, and the storerooms were packed
with goods intended for the trade of the
coming fall and spring. About two hun
dred men and women were employed. TIE
firm considered their building about as near
fire proof as possible to make it. A com
plete fire brigade was maintained.