New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-27
BIG FIRE IN PHILADELPHIA.
SIXTY BUILDINGS IN THE BUSINESS SEC
TON DESTROYED OR DAMAGED.

GREAT wANAMAKER STORE SAVED
AFTER DESPERATE BATTLE
WITH THE FLAMES - ONE
LIFE LOST.
Philadelphia Jan. GA fire which started at
Gao o'clock this morning from Overheated
oven In the basement OF the sx-story iron build
ing Nos 1909 to 1877 Market-st. burned over
the block bounded by Thirteenth and Juniper.
and Market and Hilbert SITS, destroyed or dam
aged sixty buildings and consumed property
valued at S1,0OO.0OO. Many small storekeepers
lost their all, and several thousand working peo-
pie were thrown out of employment. The dam
aged buildings generally fully insured
The fire was the worst which been expert
enced in Philadelphia in a generation. The
scene OF the destruction was in the very heart
Of the city. Many OF the properties destroyed.
especially in Thirteenth. Juniper and Silver SITS.
the latter small thoroughfare between Mar
ket and Hilbert SITS. were small old fashioned
dwelling houses and. aside from the loss to their
tenants. their destruction will probably be to the
ultimate good of the city, IL newer and more
modern buildings are erected on Their sites.
Surrounding this section. there are many
handsome wholesale stores and on the south
side Of Market-st.. directly opposite where the
fire ragged the fercest, is the famous general
store of ex-Postmaster- General John Wanna
maker Though fire time and again. while
the frontage on Market-st. was badly damaged
the store was saved from destruction. To the
west OF the fire. but separated from 1t by the
great width Of the street and pavement at this
point, Is the great pile OF white marble buildings
used as the City Hall. Beyond the cracking Of
some OF the plate glass windows by the intense
heat, the Hall escaped unsca thed
While there a number Of minor casual
ties among the fremen no one was seriously
hurt. One death however. Is chargeable to the
fire John a. Felt, a bookkeeper In the employ
Of business firm in the neighborhood dropped
dead from heart disease. produced by the ex-
element attending the fire.
WHERE THE FLAMES STARTED.
The building at No. 1900 to 1877 Market-st.
occupied on the upper floors by the UNI
bree mandatory OF Hirsh Brothers. They
also occupied the lower floor OF No. 1909
a salesroom. Dement'S restaurant occupied two
other rooms the ground floor. and the west
ern room Of the building. No. 1877 Market
St. occupied by Hanscom Brothers, grocers.
The Hanscom Brothers used the basement OF
their store as a bakery and in this basement
two bakers were at work this morning Their
furnace was overheated little spark flew out.
a blaze followed. and, almost in instant.
the two workmen were stretched half-conscous
on the floor by the overpowering smoke. The
smoke curled it's way up through the floor and
a porter az work sweeping ont the room dashed
into the street shouting Fire policeman
at the corner turned In an alarm. and tncn
went back to the building to investigate the
fire Some thought Of the two bakers. and
two young men employed In the establishment
bravely descended through the smoke ana
dragged the half-suffocated men out. The first
engine was on the scene three minutes after
the larl, was struck but the fire was already
bursting through the floors.
HARD WORK FOR THE FIREMEN.
II was a fearful night to fight a fire. The
mercury was near zero and the first line Of
hose as It was unreeled burst and covered every
thing surrounding with water which turned to
ice tho moment It struck. The flames gained on
the fremen. and alarm after alarm was rung
in until every engine IN the city was hurrying
10 the scene Thousands Of workers on their
way 70 their places OF business were attracted
bv the fire and the streets in the neighborhood
speedily became impossible from the curious
and suiging throng TIL police forced the
crowd back by mighty efforts and got their
freropcs up. and the fremen were able to work
mt 2 better advantage The trolley-oars in Mar
ket Thirteenth and Filbert SITS. were stopped
and the deadly wires by which they are run be
gan to snap and hang down into the stree.
threatening death to all who came in contact
with then, The current turned off.
and this danger averted. The flames in the
mean time had ca ten their way up through the
Hirsh Building. and broke through the roof.
Hirsh Brothers employed about 800 hands.
mostly girls but few OF them had arrived when
the fire broke out and those who were there
easily made their way TO the street before the
flames reached the upper stories.
THE FLAMES FAMED BY WIND.
A strong wind from the west famed the IRE
and carried burning brands Of destruction to
the roofs Of the surrounding houses. The fire.
men worked under the most discouraging con-
ditions the hosemen and laddermen taking
their lives In their hands they crawled eau
,iousy up the ice-coated rungs Of their ladders
dragging after them their lines of hose. which
we're incased in a solid covering Of ice.
The streets around the scene were coated with
Ice and neither men nor horses could maintain
heir footing except by the exercise Of the great
,st caution The fronts of the surrounding
buildings on which the water had been thrown /
presented a beautiful spectacle. as they flashed /
back from their icy walls the rays Of the morn !
ng sun. The fremens rubber coats stffened /
around them. and frequently some benumbed /
nan was borne away by his comrades and hur- /
Red to the hospital by the waiting ambuances.
A popularity Of the fire as 1t grew larger was /
he great quantity Of smoke This further han
iicapped the fremen This smoke at times
would descend to the street in an almost solid /
loud and the hremen were driven back gasping
'or breath.
II was seen that the Hirsh Building was
doomed. and the firemen turned their attention /
o saving adjoining properties. At first this. too.
seemed 10 be a hopeless task. Building after
building along Market-st. crumbled beneath the
ouch Of the fiery tongues Of flame enwrapping !
hem. and when the rear wall Of the Hirsh Build /
ne fell into Silver-st. the fire leaped across and
inferred the seven-story double iron building