Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-02-03
EATS UP MILLIONS.
Flame Works Terrible Havoc in
the Quaker City.
BIG BUILDINGS SWEPT BY FIRE.

baptist Publication and Historical Societies
Burnt Out, Losing Many vsiuabIes That
Cannot Be Replaced d-Artists Also Suffer
Heavy Losses-Hotei Guests Routed Out,
Some In = Panic Goodness Of the Mayor
of Atlanta and Actress Nethcrsolc.
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 3-Chestnut 3 street
above Broad has been visited by one Of
the fcrcest fires this city has known for
years. The big seven story building Of
Charles II. Hascltinc, 1ilG and l4ls. Chest
nut street, and the adjoining fvc-story
structure of the Baptist Publishing So
oicty and the American Baptist Historical
society, Iiao were totally destroyed. Tho
buildings damaged by fire and water and
falling wall were the four-story dry goods
house of Homer, 10 Boutil.icr & Co., 14l3
and lili; the dwelling house mt 14g2,
owned by tho Wistar estate. and the
Hotel Lafayette, at Broad and SAMSON
streets. On either side of the main en-
trance Of the Haseltinc building were tho
piano warcrooms Of Hallet & Davis, Mt
lil6, and OF Steinwny & Co., mt 1918. Tho
tho two Baptist societies lost large and
valuable collections Of paintings, books
and curios.
Loss Is Close to Two Millions.
The detailed losses have not yet been
made up, but n conservative estimate
places the aggregate at close 20 e, ,OO0, 600
1t Is thought that this Is almost fully
covered by insurance. There were about
t5o guests in the Hotel Lafayette. which
Is In the rear of the destroyed buildings
Among these were Porter King. mayor Of
Atlanta. Ga, and tho others of his party
who escorted tho Liberty bell home and
.caehed Philadelphia Saturday. They
nrc Albert Howell, T. Is. Neal, w. II.
Block, John T.. Ryan, w. L. Bell, II. L.
Culberson, W. A. Hcmphill. A. ID. Adair,
W. Il. Dumnock, VI. l., Tabcrt, j. Dam
icl. and +. III. Harralson. Olga Neither.
sole, tho actress; her brother, Louis +.
Ncthcrsolc, md Madge Meadows and
Maud Clayton, Of her company, wero
also guests Of the Lafayette. While there
was considerable confusion in tho hotel the
guests, barring IL few fainting women,
kept cool heads and all wero removed in
safety.
Got - Ride In u Patrol Wagon.
The Atlanta party was carried in pa
troll wagon to the Continental hotel, five
blocks away. and the Ncthcrsole party to
tho Mctropolc. opposite tho Lafayette
Every other hostlcry in tho city was
thrown open for tho reception Of the dis
turbcd guests. Only the eighth and ninth
floors Of the hotel were burned, although
the back part Of tho building fror, cellar
Co roof wis badly damaged by smoke and
water. IL had only recently been opened
by new management, after thorough
renovation. IL was shortly before A. m
yesterday when Policemen Rice and How
ar,l, while patro.ling their beats at Broad
and Chestnut streets, detected the smell
OF smoke. They strnightway ran to the
Lafayette hctcl and went from floor to
floor, looking for fire When they reached
the sixth fierce blaze mot their sight.
Destructive To Artists studios.
Ii was in the rear of the Hascltinc build
ing. which reached dangerously near to
the back Of the hotel building Ar alarm
was struck Immediately, but before the
first engines could reach the scene q
strong west wind had carried the flames
throughout the entire building. a dozen
lines of hose were turned on the Chestnut
street front. but the light wood and paper
which stocked tho second, third and
fourth floors were easy food for the flames
The upper part Of the building was known
ns the Hascltine Art galleries. Many
leading artists had studies there, and the
art collections stored under tho roof ag
grcgatcd In value thousands Of dollars
At 4 o'clock the walls began to collapse
and the flames spread ON the east t.
Homer, Lc Boutillicr & Co., and on thu
west to the Baptist Publication society.