The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-02-03
TWO MILLION BURNED
Magnificent Buildings in Philadelphia
Destroyed by Fire.
FINE PAINTINGS RUINED
Valuable Stocks OF Pianos Lost
The sacrificing Disposition OF
Guest at the Threatened Ho-
tel-Largely Insured.

Philadelphia, Feb. "A disastrous
fire broke out this morning in the Ha-
zeltine building, Nos. 1916 and 1918
Chestnut street, and destroyed that
structure and the adjoining building of
the American Baptist Publication so
ciety. The upper floors of the La Fay
ettte hotel were also badly damaged.
The total loss will aggregate 1000. 900
and over. possibly double that amount.
The big seven-story building OF
Charles II. Hazeltine. Nos. 1416 and
141S Chestnut street. and the adjoin-
ing five-story structure OF the Baptist
Publication society and the American
Baptist Historical society. No. 1910.
were destroyed. The buildings dam
aged by fire and water and falling
walls were the four-story dry goods
house of Homer. Leboutillier * Co.
the dwelling house at No. 1872. owned
by the Wistar estate and the Hotel La
Fayette, at Broadway and SAMSON
streets. On either side of the main en-
trance to the Hazeltine building were
Ahe piano ware rooms OF Hallet & Da-
Wis. at No. 1916 and of Steinway & Co.
at No. 14lS. The two Baptist societies
lost large and valuable collections of
paintings. books and curios. The de-
tailed losses have not yet been made
up. but a conservative estimate places
the aggregate at close to $2,000.000. IL
is thought that this is almost fully
covered by insurance.
The upper portion of the La Fayette
hotel was ignited by sparks flying
from the burning building on Chestnut
street, but the blaze was confined to
the eighth and ninth floors.
Mayor King OF Atlanta, aroused
from his bed by the fire. refused TO
leave the threatened hotel until he
saw that every member of his party
had escaped. Many of the other guests
rushed from their rooms and would
have continued into the street had not
assurance been made that the lower
part OF the building was in no dan
ger. Among the guests were Jennie
Steele of Terre Haute; ]. n. Campbell.
Spokane. and John W. Delano, Salt
Lake city.
The Hazeltlne building was valued
at 500, 900 and was fully insured. 1t
was erected I'm 1858 and the first two
floors were fire proof. The loss on
paintings on the second floor Is be-
tween $500. 900 and 100000. uninsured
Among those destroyed were two by
IL. G.. Selbus. valued at S3O.0O0 each;
one by Robert Fleury, valued at &c.,
000 There were 80 Offices in the
building. occupied mainly by artists.
lawyers and dentists. Drs. Edwards
and Curry. dentists, on the third floor.
lost a collection of South American Gu
rious. valued at $4,000. partly in
sured. Other tenants lost sums rang
ing from $50 to $1,000. The valuable
stock of pianos in the stores on the
first floor was destroyed. but the
amount OF this loss has not yet been
estimated. The Baptist Publication
building and stock were valued at
$400, 900. insurance not given The
Historical society lost 10000 volumes
valued at 100000 and insured for $685.
600 The losses on the Homer -Lebou-
tillier and La Fayette hotel buildings
have not yet been approximated. The
origin of the fire has not been learned.