Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-01-28

hho army Vi uTe ubuterb 10 bcurfy away
with their engines.
between 3 and a. m. an alarm
brought the department to No. 533
Chestnut street, where flames had
broken out in the 9th story Of the
building occupied by o. S. Bunnell,
Wholesale stationer. The fire was ex-
tinguished with loss OF about $40. 600.
Shortly before 6 o'clock fire started
on the sixth floor OF the big carpet
store OF John and James Dobsop, Nos.
80S, 80 and 8l2 Chestnut street BY
hard work the flames were confined to
the sixth story, but the water soaked
through every floor to the basement.
The store was filed with expensive car
pets, rugs aud upholstery, and the loss
caused by water and smoke exceeds
SlU0, 600.
At 10. 30 a. m. defective fue started
fire in Cochran's oyster house, No.
300 Filbert street, four blocks from
where the big fire was raging on the
same street. This proved to be only a
minor affair, the flames being confined
to the third story and the loss to 50, 600.
1t was while almost the entire de-
rartment was battling against the fire
at Dobson'H that an alarm was sounded
hoib - biTlceutH huu Oubbtuut bbTtbtb'
Everybody IN Philadelphia who hears
lively cries Wanamaker's. The
bounded by Chestnut, Market, Thir-
tenth and Juniper streets, and as the
building was constructed years ago,
many OF the firo.proof features OF more
modern structures are lacking. The
haf m
flames had attacked the block opposi to
from the big store by Market streets
width of 100 feet. When it was appar-
ont that tho block originally attacked
was doomed squads Of firemen, with
long lines of hose, were detailed TO try
and save Wanamaker's. This structure.
with the goods piled up within it's four
walls, represented money value of
over $40, 900, 600. Despite the, efforts
of the city firemen, reinforced by
Wanamaker's fire brigade. the high
wind prevailing forced tho flames across
Market street after they had been
fought of for an hour and half. The
fire first caught in the high tower. on
the Market street corner. THE sup.
ported big clock ana chimes, which
rang out every half hour. Little
patches Of flames made their appear
ance along tho edge OF the roof Of the
main structure. and tho excitement
among the firemen was intense. All
knew that II the flames in Wanamaker's
once got beyond control there was no
telling where the conflagration would
stop. All breathed a deep sigh Of re-
lief, therefore, when the announcement
was made that beyond the destruction
Of the tower, the scorching of paint
and woodwork ON the Market street
front and the cracking Of the big plate
glass windows the fire would not fur.
ther damage Wanamaker's. Smoke
penetrated almost every portion OF the
store. and the damage to delicate dry
goods from this cause will be hea Wy.
| Had the flames enyeloped Wanamaker's
nothing would possible have prevented
| the destruction of scores of big build
ings on Chestnut street, which is mar
row and closely built. Mr. Wanamaker
| does his own insuring and his loss,
| is therefore, covered in this way.
The heaviest lossers are: Hirsch
| Brothers. who suffer to the extent Of
about $500, 600. They had an immense
stock on hand. preparing for summer
trade. Walter Hirsch, a member of the
firm, said that the stock was fully GOV.
cred by insurance. This iirm employed
$50 hands. Hirsch Brothers occupied
the top floors of the building which
extended from No. 1909 to 1915 Marke,
street. inclusive. The building was
owned by the estate of Henry @. Glib
son, q distiler, and was valued al
about $500, 600. Blum Brothers, who
occupied No. 1913, will lose about
$50, 600 on stock; Hanscom Brothers,
Sl25, 900 on stock; Dennett's restaur.
ant, stock and fixtures. S75, 600
Sterner & Ball, $50, 600: Mizpah res
taurant, $4,000; Hillman's Drug Co.,
SIS, 600; Marshall's restaurant, s25, 600
George b. Wells, S25, 600; Shovel &
Fryer, $50, 600; James Goodwin, STAINED
glass, SIS, 600; James Dickson, heaters
and ranges. 5000; Dunlap Brothers.
$780, 600 on building and machinery
Furlong's $40, goo; John Wauamaker,
800. 900; Nickolacky's. SIS, 900; A.
McCune & Co., $40, 900; s. Fl. Shull
drugs Sl5, 600; Budd q Kite. So, 600
The loss on the small buildings viii
reach in the neighborhood of $500, 900.
Nearly all the sufferers from to.day't
fire arc fully protected by insurance.
Thrilling incidents were not wanting
While the fire was at its height an en-
ploye Of the carpet firm of Wins, Diets
& Magee, whose building is in th,
block below that devastated by th,
flames, on Market street, was overcome
by excitement and dropped dead
james Furlong, proprietor of the saloon
at the corner Of Juniper and Fiber
streets, is critically i'll with pneu
monia. When the flames began to ca
their way to his place a squad OF fire
men carried him from his sick bed int,
the bleak streets, and he was hurrietll,
taken to nearby hotel, The excite
ment and shock may cost him his life
Shortly before noon another fireman
was injured. He is William German
aged 80 years. assistant foreman o
company No. ]. He was struck b.
falling bricks and timhers and badl,
hurt about the head and neck.
Had the fire occurred an hour or tw
later the result might have been appall
ing The burned district is In the YER
heart of the business centre of the city
across the way from the mammoth Cir
Hall and around the corner from tn
Pennsylvania railroad station. Th
blaze hau not been under way half al
hour before thousands of employees O
the destroyed business houses bega
flocking to the scene to begin rhei
daily work. Many OF the larger estab
lishments, including WHnamaker' s
employed large majority of wome
and girls, and had the disaster com
during business hours a panic, wit
its consequent loss of life, might hay
.oa,,.raI