The record-union., 1897-01-27
Wanamaker's Esta blishment Narrowly
Escapes Destruction.
Flames Break Out in the Tower and
Roof, But Were Subdued Before
Any Great Damage Was Done
Two Firemen Badly Injured by
Falling Walls, and Several People
Have Narrow Escapes From Death
One Man Drops Dead From EX-
Citeneut
Citenent.

citement.
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 26.-One OF
the most destructive fires that has Wis
dted this city in recent years broke out
shortly before o'clock this morning in
the wholesale and retail grocery store
of Hanscom Brothers, 1917 Market
street This firm occupied a portion Of
the large building of Hirsch Brothers,
umbrella manufacturers, which ex
tended from 1909 to 1917 Market street.
The flames spread rapidly through the
building and to the adjoining properties.
all of which were occupied by mercan-
tile establishments.
The location is in the heart of the
city, and directly opposite the Hirsch
building was the extensive and famous
establishment of John Wanamaker, and
within a few hundred yards stands the
spacious City Hail. In addition to the
thousand or more employees of Wanna
makers, which includes several hun
dred girls, there were many thousand
other tOilers at the time moving toward
their respective places of business, and
the result was that the streets in the
vicinity soon became choked with i'm
mense, surging crowds. The proximity
of the City Hall also added to the crowd
the great army of city clerks and other
officials.
Mayor Warwick, Director of Public
Works Thompson and other executive
officers at once began the direction OF
the police and firemen. The weather
was intensely cold, and this in a meas
ure deferred the efforts of the firemen
in checking the flames. The Wanna
maker establishment was once in flames
on the Market street front, but a detail
Of firemen was quickly put to work on
the building, and soon checked the
progress of the fire there.
The entire block on the north side Of
Market street, from Thirteenth toFJuni-
per and from Market to Filbert street,
is practically in ruins.
The fire started in a bakery which
was operated by Hanscom Brothers in
connection with their grocery store,
and which was located in the basement
thereof. Hanscom Brothers occupied a
portion Of the lower floor and basement
of the story building used by Hirsch
Brothers, and the flames We're first seen
by an employe of the latter firm. Two
employees of the bakery, dazed from
the effects of the smoke, We're rescued
and taken to q drug store, which was
subsequently destroyed.
The Hirsch building was also occu-
pied by Dennets restaurant, where
thirty girl Mattresses We're employed
all of whom escaped in safety Hirsch
Nf
part of the structure and all of the
upper stories as a salesroom, and en-
ploy nearly 800 hands, a large percent
age of them women and girls. Owing
to the early hour however, but six
workmen were in the place, and they
left before the fire became general
TIL intensely cold weather and a high
wind was a barrier to the firemen and
although six alarms were sounded an1
abundant fire apparatus soon appeared
on the scene, the flames spread with
alarming rapidity. In half an hour the
whole block of business establishments
was in danger of destruction. The fire
men worked heroically, but their eff
forts were futile. The spray from the
streams of water fell over them and
froze, and huge icicles were formed on
the walls and roofs of the burning
structures.
At s O'Clock it was clearly evident
that the block was doomed. and some
attention was turned to surrounding
property. AT this time the wind carried
the blazing 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 communicated to the roof.
but it was held in check, and in COM
paratively little time was practically
extmguished. The Market-street from.
of the store was badly damaged.
AT o'clock, while the flames were
at their hight Chief Baxter sent two
engines to the vicinity of Filbert and
Juniper streets, and several lines of
hose were run into Silver street a small
thoroughfare between Market and Fill
bert streets, and directly in the rear of
Market street properties. The firemen
stationed there did efficient work TO
prevent the flames from spreading to
the building occupied by the Dunlap
Printing Company and the Collins Car
riage Company. The crowd saw the
walls totter and cried for the firenren
to run for their lives. The brave and
fce-covered workers started to run, but
two of them were struck by the debris
and severely hurt. The Market-street
front of the Hirsch building fell about
$50 O'Clock, but no one was hurt
The flames ragged fiercely until IL 80
o'clock, when they were got under con-
troll.
The Hirsch building was owned by the
Henry c. Gibson estate.
The streets in the vicinity of the fire
were covered with ice, and the myriala
on the trolley and other wires in the
neighborhood We're broken down. The
efficient police regulations, however, in
keeping the crowds at a distance, pre-
vented possible accidents by contact
with the wires.
Mr.. Wanamaker carries his own in
surance. When it was feared that his
establishment would also be destroyed.
600 of the employees We're organized into
brigades, and under Mr.. Wanamaker' S