The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-07-14
A QUAKER CITY FLARE UP
TWO BIG EMBELLISHMENTS IN
RUINS AT ALOss OF 5000, 1000.

OOOOgOSOa
A Planning Mill the Starting Point OF
the Blaze, and a Wall Pepper Manu-
factory the Next to Go-Both Struct-
ures Blazed Up Like Powder and
tie Firemen Powerless.
PHILADELPHIA, PA, July 13.-One Of
the most destructive fires that has occurred
in this city for several years broke out
about o'clock this morning in the turning
and planning mill of H. T. Atkinson at
Tenth street and Susquehanna avenue. The
wind was blowing from the southwest, and
carried the flames across Tenth street to
the east side, and Atkinson's lumber yard
also caught fire. While the fremen were
at work the wind veered around to the
southeast, and the flames, fed by the sheds
and dry lumber which surrounded the
planning mill, were carried against the ex-
tensive wall paper manufacturing estab-
lishment of Carey Bros, which was sepa-
rated from the Atkinson mill property by
q narrow street.
BURNED LIKE POWDER.
In anticipation Of the flames attacking
the wall paper factory, about dozen OF
the employees who had been summoned to
the building stood with hose in hand ready
to pour water upon the blaze, but as soon
as the fire gained entrance to the building
it spread with such startling rapidity that
the men were compelled to drop the hose
and flee for their lives. The upper floors
were filed with paper which bad been
printed and spread on racks to dry, and
thus burned almost like powder.
The long flaming sheets were caught
by the wind and carried blazing through
the air distance, in some instances, Of half
mile Inside of half an hour Carey Bros
magnificent building was a complete mass
of ruins. The building extended from
Tenth to Eleventh streets, Il distance of 300
feet, and from Nevada to Colono streets, 1870
feet, aud was five stories high. The Nevada
and Colona street walls fell, leaving the
east and west walls towering in the air.
The walls standing will have to be pulled
down at once.
WORK OF THE FIREMEN.
Scarcely any attempt was made by the
ffremen to check the flames in Carey Bros.
building as they realized that the efforts
would be of no avail. They devoted them
selves to saving the property which
surrounded It Rows Of small houses, occuN
pied mainly by employees OF Carey Bros,
stood to the east and north of the
blazing structure, and it was only
were saved. The fronts Of all of them
were scorched and blistered, aud the furni-
ture in those on Nevada street was soaked
with water.
When the north wall fell bricks piled all
up against these houses and the frightened
occupants mhde their escape from the rear,
and women and children, half dressed. ran
through the streets terror stricken. Thou
sands of people surrounded the burning
property and gazed at the gorgeous effect
produced by the combustion of the coloring
materials used in the manufacture of the
wall paper.
THE planning MILL RUIN.
Meanwhile the planning mill had been
completely destroyed The firemen sue
ceeded in quenching the flames in the lum-
Der yard after it's contents had been partly
destroyed. No such complete destruction
by fire has been seen here for years.
Carey Bros estimate their loss at $780,
600, the building costing 100000 and their
stock, machinery, patterns, ETC., being
worth $500. 900. Their insurance is $202,-
000
Mr.. Atkinson places his loss at between
5000 aud $68, 900 on his mill property
stable and lumber yard. His insurance
foots up SIG, 800
The dwelling houses on Nevada street
were damaged to the extent of $4,000, and
other small losses to surrounding property
will aggregate $1,000 more, making the
total very near 100000.
IT'S ORIGIN a MYSTERY.
The origin of the fire is a my stery.
Carey Bros factory was probably the
most complete establishment Of its
kind in the United States, If
not in the world. The firm
consisted of Theo and Travis Carey of Phil
adeph,a and Thomas A. Young of New
York, the latter being a special partner
All grades Of wall paper were manufactured.
The storeroomS were packed with
goods intended for the trade Of the coming
fall and spring. A great effort was made
to save the designs John Trumpey, fore
man Of the designing department., rushed
into the burning building determined to
rescue his sketches and designs, but he was
overcome by smoke and had a narrow
escape from the place. About two
hundred men and women were en-
ployed by Carey Bros The firm considered
the building about as near fre-proof as it
was possible to make 1t. The stairways
and elevator shafts we're solidly bricked
up, aud iron doors separated the rooms. A
complete fire brigade was maintained by
the company, and it was a portion OF this
brigade that stood ready TO battle with the
flames should they make their appearance.