Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-01-27
100000 LOSS
By Fire in Philadelphia Bust.
ness Blocks.
Several Narrow Escapes from Death
by the Inmates and Firemen.
Wanamaker's Store Badly Damaged The
Losers Another $4,000 Blaze.

Philadelphia. Jan. 26.-One of the most
destructive fires that has visited this
city in recent years broke out shortly he
fore o'clock this morning. in the whole
sale and retail grocery stoDe of Hanscom
firm occupied portion of the large
building of Hirsh Brothers, umbrella
manufacturers. which extended from 1909
to 1917 Market street.
The fame spread rapidly throughout
the building and to the adjoining prop
erty. all of which was occupied by mer-
camille, establishments. The. location is
in the heart of the city and directly oppo-
site the Hirsh building was the estab-
lishment of John Wanamaker. and with
in a few hudred yards stands the City
hail.
The weather was intensely cold. and
this in Il measure deferred the efforts of
the firemen in checking the flames. The
Wanamaker establishment was at one
time in flames on the Market street front.
but the firemen soon checked the prog
ress of the fire there. The loss by fire
and water to Wanamaker's, however
will be considerable.
The entire block on the north side of
Market street from 18th to Juniper and
from Market to Hilbert streets is prac-
tically in ruins. The fire toward II
O'Clock. was well under control and was
confined to the block mentioned. though
constant work of the firemen was neces-
Sary for several hours.
The fire started in a bakery which was
operated by Hanscom Brothers in con-
nection with their grocery store and
which was located in the basement there
of. Hanscom Brothers occupied a por-
ton of the lower floor and basement of
the six-story building leased by Hirsh
Brothers. and the flames Were first seen
by an employee of the latter firm.
1t being rumored that several bakers
were confined in the Hanscom bakery
the stairway. The smoke was too dense
however. and they were driven back
FINALLY TWO young men dashed down the
stairway and succeeded in reaching the
peared with two bakers who were dazed
from the effects of the smoke. The res
cued employees We're taken to a drug
store which was subsequently, DESTROYED
where they received medical attention.
The Iiirsh building was also occupied
by Dennetts restaurant where 80 girl
waters were employed. all of whom es-
capped safely. Hirsh Brothers utilized a
portion of the lower part of the structure
and all of the upper stories as Il sales
room and mandatory. nearly 500 hands
being employed. a large percentage of
them women. and girls. Owing to the
early hour. however. but six workmen
were were in the place. and they got out
Although six alarms were sounded and
about all of the city's fire apparatus soon
appeared on the scene. the flames spread
with alarming rapidly. In half an hour
the whole block of business establish
from Market to Filbert streets was in
danger of destruction. The firemen
worked heroically but their efforts were
futile.
At this time the wind carried the blaz-
ing embers across Market street to
Wanamaker's store. and the clock tower
was soon ablaze. The fire engines did
not have sufficient force to send the
water to the tower. and after burning for
some minutes it fell. The fire then COM
municated to the roof but it was held
IN check, and in comparatively brief
time was practically extinguisheu. The
Market street front of the store was bad
~ damaged, but the interior of the es-
Enlistment escaped the ravages of the
fire. though considerable damage was
done by water.
At o'clock. while the flames were at
their height. Chief of the Fire Depart
ment Baxter sent two engines to the vi
entity of Filbert and Juniper streets and
several INES or hose We're ran into Silver
Market and Filbert streets and directly
in the rear OF the Market street proper
ties. The firemen stationed there would
have prevented the flames from lcommu-
nIcating to the seven-story building
fronting on Fflbert street and occupied
by the Dunlap Printing Co. and the Col
iings Carriage Co.. had not a portion OF
the walls of the Hirsh building fallen,
People saw the walls totter and Cried for
the firemen to run for their lives. The
iiremen started to run. but two of them
were struck by the debris and severely
hurt. The Market street front of the
building fell about $50 o'clock 1t was
reported that three employees of the Dun
lap Printing Co. were injured.
The Hirsh building was owned by the
Henry c. Gibson estate and it's approxi-
mate value was $500,OO0 The property is
believed to have been fully covered by in
Surance.
The total loss. it was estimated at noon
will aggregate probably $2,000,000.