Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-08-15
TWO LARGE PLACES DESTROYED

Reputable Hesident- OF the Neishbood.
Despite the Damage Done. Took Great
Delight In the Discorniitare OF the Dsmi
Monde-Loss About 100000, Nearly
Covered by snsurance-Detaiis OF the
Blaze.
Philadelphia, Aug. 10. -One Of the
hereest fires that has visited this city
Tor some time started at 8, 80 O'Clock
this morning in the rear OF the paper
box factory of Brown, Bailey d Brown.
at No. 412 Franklin street
The building was five stories In
height and extended through to Eighth .
street 1t is a complete loss. The fac
tory was completely surrounded by
small dwellings. The flames leaped
across Willow street TO the dwellings
on the south side of that thoroughfare
and rapidly burned their way through
to Callowhill street, one block south
The dwellings Nos. 410. Ala, 416 418,
APO, 422 and 424 Franklin street are
now no. 30 a. m. burning, with little
chance to save any of them. A strong
breeze from the northwest is tanning
the flames and ii seems almost impnss
Hiblo to save any Of the dwellings on
the south side of Willow street between
Franklin and Eighth streets.
The dwellings and stores on Eighth
street north of Willow are burning
tiercely. II is reported that three EN-.
ployes were burned to death in the box
factory, but this cannot be verified.
The tiames are spreading rapidly and
the block bounded by Franklin, Will
low Eighth and Callowhill streets win
probably be a total loss.
In the rear Of Browns factory and
facing. on Eighth street was Buck a
Co.'s big gas fixture and chandelier
factory, This firm carried big stock
and the loss will be heavy.
Yeager & Davis big coal yard, on
the southeast corner of Eighth and
Willow streets. is burning.
Several flremen who were overcome
by the heat were removed to hospitals.
The loss at this writing is about
$500, 600.
The fire originated on the first fioor
of the building at No. 4l2 Franklin
street at s. 30 o'clock, but 1t was nearly
8 O'Clock before an engine had respond
ed TO the alarm. The delay proved I
disastrous as the inflammable matter
in the box factory went up like flash
and the entire inner portion Of the fac
tory was mass of flames before the
firemen arrived. They then turned
their attention to saving the adjoining
buildings, but the supply of water was
inadequate and il looked for time as
if the whole block bounded by Frank !
lin, Eighth, Willow and Callowhill
streets would be swept away. The
firemen worked heroically until 10.45
when the fire was gotten under con-
troll.
The principal losers are Brown &
Bailey and Buck & Co. The formers
loss will reach $3.50, 600, with an insur-
ance OF 500, COO; Buck 4 Co. g loss isl
between 500, 900 and 1925, 600, with an
insurance between Of $50, 200 and
$50, 600. Yeager Bro, coal dealers,
place their loss at about $40, 600, while
the loss Of the burned dwellings, will
reach in the neighborhood of $50, 600. q
The dwellings were nearly all occupied
by prostitutes and the reputable resi-
dents OF the section seemed to take
great delight in the discontinue Of
| the demi monde.
Policeman Walker of the Twenty
second district had leg broken while.
assisting in carrying fireman from a
burning dwelling.
Fireman William Boston of Engine
Co. No. 26 had his leg broken by falling
through the floor in the dwelling at
No, 422 Franklin street, and two mem
bers Of Co. No. % were burned about
| the faces when the walls of the box
factory fell.
Driver Joseph James of Engine Co,
No. "a had leg broken while en- routt
| to the fire, caused by his engine upset
| ting, while attempting to turn out Of %
street car track. II is thought the
fire was caused by spontaneous com
bustion.