Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-29
HEAVY LOSS BY FIRE
Nearly an Entire Block Destroyed
in Philadelphia,
DAMAGE ESTIMATED At 100000
Lippincott Publishing Plant Com
pIetely Wiped Out.
MANY SMALLER SUFFERERS

PHILADELPHIA, November 29.-An
electric spark in the basement of Par
fridge & Richardson's big department
store. Nos. 10 to % North Sth street,
started a fire this morning that in less
than four hours laid in ashes nearly an en-
tire block of business houses. and caused
an estimated loss of over 100000.
The heaviest losers are J. B. Lippincott
& Co.. book publishers, 716 to go Filbert
street, whose big six-story brick building,
containing rare and valuable plates and
machinery, was completely Quilted, involv-
ing a loss estimated by member of the
firm at 100000.
Inc next heaviest loser was Partridge &
Richardson. extending south on Sth street
from Hilbert a distance of about 125 feet
and with depth of 100 feet Their loss on
building and contents is estimated at
5000 900.
Lit Brothers, whose department store adj
JOINS the Lippincott building estimate
their loss at 100000.
Numerous Smaller Houses Suffer.
In addition to the big houses mentioned
numerous smaller stores were either Quilted
or badly damaged. Chief among these
Were Balley's five and ten-cent store -
North Sth street loss, 100000; Rosen-
perg millinery establishment II North
oth street, $4,000. The estimated loss on
tneSe TWO buildings is $4,000. Various
other establishments We're slightly dam
aged by smoke and water
Inc burned district covers nearly an en-
TIRE block. Lit Brothers store has a
lrontage on Market street from Sth to
Witnih Ioo feet of It'll street. This portion
oI the pulldlng was not damaged but the
rear, winch adjoins the Lippincotr puh-
l45Hlhg mouse, suffered severely
,Cn Fllbert street between Partridge &
O. l,
plncotts on Filbert street were several
small buildings, which were DESTROYED. II
was from these that the flames COMMUNE
Gated with the publishing house on stb
street between Its and Psrtri6ge a.
RlchardSon were located the Bailey and
rosenberg stores. The blaze was discov-
ereo by Waterman Fannaning who OBJ
served an electric light wire in the ha
ment of Partridge & Richardson's store
emitting sparks. This was at G:25 o'clock
lie sent in an alarm, blS before the fire de-
partment responded the building was a
mass of flames. Owing to the inhammahle
nature of the stock the blaze spread rapid
~ Fire alarms were sent in bringing out
the entire fire department.
Firemen Hampered by Wires.
In the course Of an hour the big store
was in ruins and Lippncotts and the
smaller stores adjoining were in flames.
The firemen We're hampered in their work
by the mass of trolley. telephone and teIe-
graph wires over Hilbert street which is
narrow thoroughfare. To this fact is part
~ due the destruction of the publishing
house.
The firemen were more successful with
Lit Brothers place and confined the flames
to the rear. During the confederation sey-
eral fremen were slightly injured by falling
glass.
Strawbridge & CIothier's big drv goods
and millinery store opposite Partridge &,
Richardson's. was slightly damaged in the
rear The flames were quickly subdued
and the loss, which is not heavy, was oc-
casioned more by smoke and water than by
fire.
The number of men. women and children
thrown out of employment is estimated at
upward of 1000.
While the entire department was battling
with the big coRfiagratton another fire
broke out in the wholesale and retail boot
and shoe store of William H. Harris, No.
419 Market street, four blocks away from
the Sth street fire.
The adjoining building. occupied by A. S.
Dowie, stationery. was damaged by water
to the extent of S10G 900. The losses are
covered by insurance
Benjamin Bttan. who was on the third
floor of the building when the fire dis
covered was severely burned and was COM
PEELED TO leap from the second story to the
pavement, sustaining serious injuries. Fire
man Griffith was burned about the face
and body. When this fire discovered
every engine in the city was engaged at
the Sth street confiagration and the Cam
den fire department was brought into requi-
sitiOn