The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-02-04
Two Million Dollars Worth of
Property Destroyed,
BY A FIRE IN PHILADELPHIA
Valuable Books and Works OF
Art Burned.
HOTEL LAFAYETTE DAMAGED
The Two Hundred and Fifty Guests
Removed in Safety to the Other
Hotels in the City and
Cared For

Philadelphia Feb. 3-Chcstnut
street, above Broad, was visited early
yesterday morning by one of the
tiercest fires this city has known for
years. The big seyen-story building
of Charles II. HaseItine, Nos 14l6 and
1418 Chestnut street, and the adioin-
ing tivc-stOry structure of the Ameri-
can Baptist Publication Society and
the American Baptist Historical So
ciety, No. 1920, were totally destroyed.
The building damaged by fire and
water and falling walls were the four
story dry goods house of Homer, Le-
Bontillier d Co., Nos. 1412 and 1414; the
dwelling-house at 1922, owned by the
Wistar estate, and the Hotel Lafayette,
at Broad and SansOm streets. On either
side of the main entrance to the Hasel-
tine building were the piano ware
rooms of IIallett d Davis. at 1416, and
of SteinWay d. Co., at 141S. The two
Baptist societies lost large and valu-
able collections of paintings, books
and curios. The detailed losses have
not yet been made up, but conserva-
tive estimate places the aggregate at
close to two millions Of dollars. 1t is
thought that this is almost fully cover
ed by insurance.
1t was shortly before three o'clock
when policeman Rice and Howard,
while patrolling their beats at Broad
and Chestnut streets, detected the
smell Of smoke. They straightway
ran to the Lafayette Hotel and went
from floor to floor, looking for fire.
When they reached the sixth, a fierce
blaze met their sight 1t was in the
rear of the Halestin building, which
reached dangerouly near to the back
of the hotel building. An alarm was
struck Immediately, but before the fire
engines could reach the scene, a strong
west wind had carried the flames
throughout the entire building.
The upper part of the building was
known as the Haseltine Art Galleries.
Many leading artists had studios there
and the art collections stored under
the roof aggregated in value thou
sands of dollars.
At 4 o'clock the walls began to col
lapse and the flames spread on the east
to Homer, LeBontiller & Co., and on
the west to the Baptist Publication
Society. A general alarm was turned
i'm and the firemen directed most of
their engines to preventing the de-
struction of the entire block which
was for a time threatened.
The upper portion of the Lafayette
Hotel was ignited by sparks flying
from the burning buildings on Chest
nut street, but the blaze was confined
to the eighth and ninth floors. The
fire was not controlled until long after
daybreall
The Haseltine Building was valued
at 100000 and insured. The loss on
paintings on the second floor is be-
tween $4,000 and $40O,O00; uninsured.
Among those destroyed were two by
G. II. Selous, valued at 100000; one by
Roberts-Fleury, valued at $4,000.
There were 80 offices in the building,
occupied mainly by artists, lawyers
and dentists. Drs. Edwards and Cur
rV. dentists. on the third floor, lost
a collection of South American curios
valued at 10000; partly insured
Other tenants lost sums ranging from
$50 to $1,000. smRn
The valuable stock of pianos in the
stores on the first floor was destroyed.
The Baptist Publication Building
and stock were valued at $400, 900; in
sured. The Historical Society lost
10000, valued at 100000, and insured
for $4,000.
DR.. Wayland, the eminent divine,
also lost n valuable private library, on
which there was no insurance, and DR..
r. C.. SteImOver lost $4,000