The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-01-26
Thirty Large Structures En-
tirely Gutted.
Loss Now Estimated at Nearly Three
Million Dollars.
Part Of John WanamaIrer's Immense
Establishment Badly Scorched.

PHILADELPHIA, fds, jan. 20. - Inc Dig
gest fire that has visited this city In years
is now raging in the block bounded by
18th, Juniper, Msrke;, and Filbert
streets. Already the loss has reached
100000 and the confisgration Is not
under control.
The flames originated in the basement
of Hsnscomb Brothers big.grocery store
at 1917 Market street. The flames quickly
jumped to Dennett's restaurant on the
east and the big um orella store of Hirsch
Brothers on the West. All OF the build
ings are six stories high and nothing but
the walls are left standing. The cloak store
of Blum Brothers adjoining Hirsch
Bros. is now on IRE and cannot be saved.
The flames communicated to the eight
story building OF Dunlop Brotners, fancy
printers. 1916, 1918 and 1920 Filbert street,
and are fast eating their way through the
big store. Tue roof and tower of John
Wsnamaker's big dry goods store on the
south side of Market street, directly oppo-
site. is ab:aze and the firemen have turned
their attention to saving the Isrgest dry
goods house in the country. Ihe weather
is bitter cold and this renders the work
of the firemen difficult. A general alarm
has teen sent in but there are several
small Tres in other parts OF the city and
the W / ole department cannot be got to-
gethtr as yet.
AT $3.50 a. M, the fire in Wanamaker's
was confined to the Market street end
and unless something unforeseen occurs
the flames will do comparatively little
damage to that immense stucture. The
big ornamental tower at the 18th and
Market streets corner of the store 10 COM
pletely Quilted. The tower contains .
handsome clock and chime OF bells.
These fell with a great crash through to
the basement at 8 q. M. The roof OF the
building which covers the large block
bounded by Chestnut, Market, 18th and
Juniper streets Is filled with city. nre-
men, and members of Wanamaker's Fire
Brigade.
MIR. Wanamaker, was on the scene early
this morning before the high wind had
carried the flames across Market street
from the building IN which the fre
originated to his store. At the present
time, he employs 400 people ana a. many
of the men in this army Ct employees 40
could tie of use in fighting ths flames,
we're admitted to the store. The admira-
Bile precautions that the inflammable na-
ture of the structure had made necessary
made the work of the trained nrs brigade
effective.
Mr.. wanamaker said to an Associated
Press reporter at $3.50 a. m.: "Tns nrs
is confined to the Market street end of
the store and three hours after the fire.
men are out of the place, seven eights of
the store will be ready for business"
MIR. Wanamaker was apparently the least
concerned of ell in the great crowd, a.
he made his way from one part of the
establishment to the other. Meanwhile
the fire men hal tbeii hands foil, connu-
ing the flames to the block In which the
fire originated.
Al $3.50, between 10 and 20 structures,
some OF them Of immense size, had been
completely eutted.
Shortly after O'Clock two firemen were
hurt by falling walls.
At 10 o'clock the IRE was under control
although still burning on the Filbsrt
street side. Thirty buildings were guttsd
and the loss is estimated at ~. .O0o, 900.
Among the losses sustained sre the fol-
lowing: Blum Brothers 100000; Han
comb Brothers, si25, 900, on stock: Dem
ver's restaurant stock and fixtures. s75, 900;
Steiner * Ball, 1000; Mispsth rsstsu-
rant. $4,000; HilImsn's Drug Company,
5000; MarshslI's restaurant, s25, 900;
George B.wolls, s25, 600; James Goodwin,
stained glass, si3,00o; James Dickson,
heaters and ranges, 5000; Dunlop Broth.
ere, 600, ,00o on building and mschinsry;
furlongs, $4,000: John wsnamsker.
100000; Nickolalays, 5000; A. NcCue
a Company. Ho. 900; ). ~. Shuil. drugs.
$4,000; Budd x Kite, 5000. The loss on
the building will reach In the psie bor-
hood OF s3D.00O. Nea.iy ell the sufferers
from todsy's ire sre fully protected by
lusurans.