Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-11-30
PHlLADELPHlA's GREAT FIRE.
NEARLY TWO MILLION DOLLARS
GO UP IN SMOKE
Ny Telegraph to virginian- Pilot)

~ AN'N sip' W IL
Philadelphia, Pa, Nov. 29.-Nearly
two million dollars worth of property
was destroyed by two fires In the heart
OIL the business section OF the city early
to-day. The greater az the two fires
started In the big department store of
cartridge e Richardson, at the south
east corner of Eighth and Hilbert
streets. the very centre of the shopping
district, at G:3O n. M, and before the
flames had been put under control they
spread to adjoining property and caused
n loss or about S1.I0O.Uo0. While this
fire was In progress and spreading
every moment another fire broke out
TOUR blocks away on the fourth floor of
NO 4l9 Market street. The loss at this
fire is estimated ut 100000. The losses
OF the two fires are more than covered
by insurance.
a STUBBORN BLAZE
The Eighth street fire was very
ugly one for the firemen to handle.
Eighth street and Hilbert street are
very narrow thoroughfares There was
strong wind blowing at the time and
the fire fighters had great difficulty in
preventing the flames from getting D
good head way on the building on the
opposite side of the street. AS 1t was
many structures and their contents
were badly scorched and damaged by
"otci. II LOOK lOuT hours TO get the
flames under control.
AN ELECTRIC SPARK.
The fire started in the basement of
Partridge IL Richardson's store from
an electric spark, and soon the entire
building was Il mass of flames The two
stores TO the south of Partridge g. Rich
ardsons were soon Quilted and then
the flames attacked the big building of
the j. B. Lipplncott Publishing Co,
on f1lbert street, east OF the burning
department store. This publishing
house Is one OF the best known i'm the
country, many high class reference
Doors periodicals. and numerous other
publications being produced by the
firm. The building was completely ruin
ed In this building, stored away in
vaults is nearly q half million dollars
worth OF manuscript. plates, and other
material for reference books, and 1t is
not yet known whether they were de-
stroyed
Lit Brothers. large department store
which ad1otns the Lippincott building
and which Is valued With its contents
at over one million dollars. was saved
nut only after the contents of ono cor
ner OF the building. had been damaged
Strawbridge & Clothier, another large
department. store. on the west side of
Eighth street, also had a narrow es
cape and the building and contents
$50. 900.
number of other business houses
adjoining Llppincott's and P,rtriS,,n
ana Richardson's. We're either entirnIv
destroyed or partly damaged.
SUMMARY OF LOSSES.
The estimated losses are:
partridge and Richardson, $500. 00o
j. Ii. Lnppincott Publishing COMPANY
SdOo,0o0; Artman &, Trelchlcr. whole
sale house furnishings. 500, 900; Lit
EROS, $4,000; Strawbridgeg &c Clothier.
100000; Bailey's and 10 cent store
sao,ooo; Rosenburg's millinery. $50.
coo; Partridge e Sons restaura nj
$4,000; Wcstcott & Thompson. electro.
typers. $4,000. Additional losses ar
gregating about $4,000 are divided
among a number of firms, all the losses
of which are covered by insurance.
The second fire was discovered Mt
1880 o'clock In the four-story building
at No. 4l9 Market street. occupied by
several manufacturing and whoIesaIe
dealers. The entire building was gut
ted. as was also the adjoining building.
No. All. The estimated loss is $40. 900.
The loss on the buildings Is estimated
at $4,000.
Over two thousand persons are
thrown out of employment by the fires.
but proprletors of otherN department
stores offer temporary employment to
all the Partridge & Richardson's Gao
employees Mt the salaries they received
from the burned -out firm.
Although the big fire ragged for over
four hours, there We're no casualties be-
You'd few minor injuries received by
a half-doZen fremen.
Q LAS T @ ia.
Sears the line Kind You !!as A!Ms,s Hsrsh'