Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-11-30

PHILADELPHIA, November 29.--
Nearly two million dollars worth OF
property was destroyed by two fires in
the heart OF the business section Of the
city early to-day.
The greater Of the two fires started
in the big department store of Part
ridge & Richardson, at the southeast
corner of Eighth and Hilbert streets,
the very center of the shopping district.
at $3.50 a. M, and before the flames had
been put under control they spread to
adjoining property and caused a loss
of about $1,7o0,0O0 While this fire was
in progress and spreading every mo-
ment, another fire broke out four
blocks away on the fourth floor OF
No. 419 Market street. The loss at
this fire is estimated at $4,000. The
losses Of the two fires are more than
covered by insurance.
The Eighth street fire was very ugly
for the firemen to handle. Eighth
street and Filbert street are very mar
now thoroughfares. There was strong
wind blowing at the time, and the fire
fighters had great difficulty in prevent
ing the flames from getting good hold
on the buildings on the opposite sides
Of these streets. AS it was many OF the
structures and their contents were bad
ly scored and damaged by water. 1t
took four hours to get the flames under
control.
The fire started in the basement OF PART
ridge &c Richardson's store from an electric
spark, and soon the entire building was a
mass of flames. The two eOres TO tho
south of Partridge -Acnardson were soon
Quilted and then the flames attacked tho
big building of the j. b. Lppineott Pub
liShtng CO., on Hilbert street. east of the
burning department store. This publish
ing house is one of the best known in the
country, many high class reference books.
periodicals and numerous other pa1bnca-
tons being produced by the hrms Tho
building was completely ruined In this
building, stored away In vaults is nearly
half million dollars worth OF manu-
scripts. plates and other materials for ref
erence books. and 1t is not yet known
whether they were destroyed.
Lit Brothers large department store
which adjoins the LlppIncott building. ard
which Is valued with its contents at over
one million dollars was saved, but only
after the contents of ono corner OF the
building had been damaged Strawbridge
& Clothier, another large department store
on the west side of Eighth street, also had
q narrow escape and the building and con-
tents were damaged to the extent Of about
$4,000. A large number Of other business
houses adjoining LlpEncotts and PART
ridge e. Richardson's. were either entirely
destroyed or badly damaged.
The second fire was discovered at 100
o'clock in the four-story building at 40
Market street, occupied by several manu-
facturers and wholesale dealers Tho en-
tire building was Quilted, as was also the
adjoining building, No. All. The estimated
loss It $4,000 destroyed by fire.
over two thousand persons are thrown
out of employment by tho fires, but propri-
etors of other department stores offer tenn
porary employment to all OF Partridge &
Richardson's 800 employees at the salaries
they received from the burned out Arm.
Although the big fire ragged for over four
hours, there were no casualties beyond a
few minor injuries received by half dozen
fremcn-