Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1896-02-07
PlIILADELPHIA'S BIG FIRE
The Greatest That Occurred in
Many Years,

Baptist Publication aud Haseltine Build
ings Completely Dtt'royo.l l-Lzas mO1e
Than 81 800, ,OOO-Elcven of the Fire
Department Injured.
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 3.-Chestnut street
above Broad was visited by one of the
flercest fires this city has known for years.
The big seven story building of Charles II.
Haseltine, 14iG and 14lS Chestnut street,
and the adjoining five story structure of
the American Baptist Publication society
and the American Baptist Historical So
ciety, 1920, were totally destroyed. The
buildings damaged by fire and water and
falling walls were the four story dry goods
house of Homer Leboutillier a. Co., 1112
and 1414; the dwelling house at 1922,
owned by the Wlstar estate. GSld the Hotel
Lafayette, at Broad and SAMSON streets.
On either side of tho main entrance to
the Haezltne building were the piano
warerooms of Hallett & Davis, at 1416,
and of Steinway & Co., at 141S. The two
Baptist societies lost large and valuable
collections of paintings, books and curios
An estimate of the losses places the ag
gregate at close to 81 900, 600. 1t is thought
that this is almost fully covered by insur-
ance.
There were about $50 guests in the La
fayette hotel, which is in the rear of the
destroyed buildings. Among these were
Porter King, mayor of Atlanta and the
others of his party who escorted the Lib
erty bell home. They are Albert Howell,
T. b. Neal, W. II. Block, John f. Ryan,
W. l.. Culberson, w. A Hemphill, A. d.
Adair, W. r. Dumnock, Nj. l.. Taburt, j..
Daniel and p. II. Harralson.
Olga Nethersole. the actress, and Louis
F. Nethersole and Madge Meadows and
Maud Clayton of her company were also
guests of the Lafayette. While there was
considerable confusion in the hotel most
of the guests barring few fainting wom-
en-, kept cool heads, and all were removed
in safety.
The Haseltine building was valued at
$500, 600 and was fully insured. 1t was
erected in 1883, and the first two floors
were freproof The loss ON paintings on
the second floor is between $500, coo and
s40O, 900; uninsured Among those de-
stroyed were two by G. II. Selous valued
at $50, 900 each; one by Roberts Fleury,
valued at $4,000. There were 80 offices
in the building, occupied mainly by art
lists, lawyers and dentists. Drs. Edwards
and Curry, dentists, on the third floor,
lost collection of South American ourios
valued at $40, 600; partly insured Other
tenants lost sums ranging from $50 to
81, 900.
The Baptist Publication building and
stock were valued at 100000 insured.
The Baptist Historical society lost 1000
volumes, valued at 5000, 900, which were
insured for S25, 900
DR. Wayland, the eminent divine, also
lost valuable private library, on which
there was no insurance, and DIR. 7. C.
Stelmoyer lost $4,000.
The loss on the Lafayette hotel is esti-
mated at 500, 900. Homer, LeboutillieI
& Co. s loss is S75, 900. The tenants OF
the Publication society's building lose
about SEQ, 600.
Eight or nine flremen were injured by
falling bricks but none of them were dan
gerously hurt Frank Hines of Pittsburg,
a guest at the Lafayette hotel, in descend
ing the stairs, tripped and fell and broke
his arm and several ribs. These were the
| only casualties.