The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-10-26
NREEILLS NINETEEN
Others Missing and Injured In
Philadelphia Blaze.
PROPERTY LOSS HALF 4 MILLION.
Flames In an Eight story Furniture
Establishment Spread With Won.
derful Rapidity-OriEip Of
Disaster Unknown.

I
Disaster Unkn0wm.
PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 2G-Nineteen
dead and a property loss amounting to
about $500. 900 are the awful results
of a fire which occurred yesterday in
the business section Of the city. The
number Of injured is not known def
nitely, but fully score ot victims were
troated at various hospitals. Police and
firemen are still .delving into the ruins
In search Of bodies supposed to have
been buried beneath the debris, as 1t is
feared that others besides the known
dead may have lost their lives In the
flames The buildings destroyed were
the eight story structure 1918 and 1921
Market street, occupied by Hunt, Will
kinson 4 Co, upholsterers and furni-
ture dealers. and thre" three story
buildings occupied by snIall merchants
The big furniture building extended
back half block to Commerce street
and was owned by Henry G. Lea.
Never In Its history has Philadelphia
experienced fire which spread with
such great rapidity. At 1920 o'clock in
the morning the blaze broke forth In
the building occupied by Hunt. Wilkin-
son & Co.. and one hour later the horri-
BILE sacrifice Of life had been made and
the immense loss of property had been
accomplished. The origin Of the death
dealing connagration Is unknown.
Such disastrous fire, attended with
SO great loss Of life In such brief
period, was never before known in this
city. Men and women died lingering,
agonizing death In the presence of
thousands of spectators who were un-
able to lift hand to their assistance.
The rear of Hunt, Wilkinson a. Co.'S
building faces ON Commerce street. a
small thoroughfare. On the fire es-
capes at this end Of the building two
men aud one woman were slowly
roasted to death. while the horror
stricken tllrong on the street below
turned sick at the sight.
In the front on Market street a wo.
man. driven to desperation, leaped
from a window on the top floor and
was dashed to death on the pavement.
These are but few of the heartrend-
Ing scenes attending the contlagration.
Firemeu claim to have seen men and
women, Unable to reach the windows
or fire escapes. burned to death in the
interior Of the building If this be so,
little OF nothing remains of these vic
tins, and It Is doubtful II any portion
Of their bodies will be recovered.
Far up. just under the caves Of the
roof. frail woman stepped cut Oh he
web like fire escape. Flames pouring out
OF every window threatened her even
there. She looked be ow and saw Chief
Baxter pointing to q net held aloft by
dozen sturdy fremen. She understood,
raised her hands as 10 prayer uad then
jumped. She landed In ths net, the CON
tact crushed her spino and she died before
the Surgeons a. IaunBmann saw her.
Eddie Blake WAS he hero yesterday He
's only an elevator boy, but be run his
cur to the top of tho building and cried
fire" at every landing. He was too far
from tho work psople. and the roar Of the
flames In the rear drowned his CALI. hut
no made tho effort and was none ths less
brave because that effort failed to save,
1t was test Of manhood evory minute.
aud every flroman did his duty. The brav
efy, tho quickuass and tho intsll igunca Of
tho men under Chief Baxter proved % rev
elation to the thousands who stood by and
watched the hardy fellows make war with
Death. Not y fireman WAS killed. and
mono were seriously injured. Iuch by
lncn the tlrenan were driven from tho
heart OF the lire and time aud again the
men returnod with new recruits. No such
honf Lad l,oSo
ut Point Breeze whore they saw thoc fol
lows die in a lake OF burning oil.
The dremeu yes erday made one OF tb,
bravest o0nq quests IN the annals Of this de.
partment. Famed by a strong wind. .hs
flre threatened the entire c0ntre CT the
city. and for ntime 1t was felt certain that
there would be nothing left OF tho ontlre
buildings Chief Baxter began the as.
sauit on The fire on four sides. Early in
the day lie was injured by u falling brick.
yet he refused to retro. When one half
o! he flremen were engaged In driving
bnck the roaring flames the other half
were performing feats OF daring In at
tempting rescues.
Get those women!' yelled tho Chief to
Assirtant Foreman Shi0lds of Engine
of some f9urea were seen through ths
donse masses of smoke and flames perched
on the rear FIRE escape just above the third
floor.
Every truck In tho Fire Department is
supplied with Q large life net and In the
instance OF full two score Of people i'm
prlsoned npon fire escapes thor were
utilized with success. Jump before tho
walls fall" yelled the fireman to the pale
faced trembling human beings who stood
mute and elpless while tho flames crackle
ed and runred.
Tho body Of tho twsntisth victim of he
fro was found at 8. Is O'Clock this morn.
ing. 1t was uncovered in II narrow III Icy
which Is Just across Commerce street, fr m
Hunt, Wilkinson Il Cos burned bIi'
Ing. No hing but the trunk was left. he
head arms and legs to the knees " ere
missing, and |, was impossible to iden tifY
tho sex OF the trunk.
Up to This time the police and flreme
have tho names OF ~ people, including
number Of womon. who are unacco united
for still. In order to correctly determine
the number Of missing, Secretary ia mes
Hoyt and Hiram Horter. oi the Depart
ment of Public Safety. b cRan q search
OF all the hospitals aud homes OF the en-
ployes Of the firm,