The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1901-10-30
NtNETEEN KNOWN DEAD
And Many More May Be In
Ruins of Philadelphia Fire.

Crowds Saw Men and Women Roasted to
Death ON Fire Escape, While Others
Jumped or Fell and Were Crushed on
Pavement-Cause of Connagration Is
Unknown.
PHILADELPHIA. Oct. 26.--Ninetecn
known dead and property loss amounting
TO upwards Of 100000 is the awful re-
suit Of fire which occurred yesterday
in the business portion Of the city. The
number Of injured is not known definite
ly, hut fully score of victims We're
treated at various hospitals.
Police and frcmen are delving into
the ruins in search Of bodies supposed
TO have been buried beneath the debris
as it is feared that others besides the
lnown dead may have lost their lives in
thc flames.
The buildings destroyed were the eight
story structure at 1919 and 1921 Market
street, occupied bv Hunt, Wilkinson &
Co., upholsterers and furniture dealers,
and three thrce-story buildings occupied
by small merchants The big furniture
building extended back half block 10
Commerce street, and was owned by
Henry C.. 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 and
one hour later the horrible sacrifice of
hnA Ia,
of property had been accomplished. The
origin of the death-dcaling contlagratiOn
is unknown. II is said that an eXplo-
sion Of naptha or gasoline in the base
ment was the cause, but this is denied by
Mr.. Wilkinson. who says there never
was sufficient quantity Of either cXplo-
sive about the building to be responsible
for the terrible disaster. Rumor has it
also that an elevator constructor at
work in the basement permitted the
flame of his lantern 10 communicate with
some Of the gaseous liquids stored in the
basement and that this was the cause Of
the conaagration.
Such a disastrous fire. attended with
so great a loss Of life in such brief
period. was never before known in this
city. Men and women died lingciua
agonizing death in the presence Of thou
sands Of spectators who were unable to
lift hand to their assistance.
The rear Of Hunt. Wilkinson & Co. 5
building faces on Commerce street, n
small thoroughfare On the fire escapes
at this end Of the building two men and
one woman were slowly roasted to death.
while the horror-strickcn throng on the
street below turned sick at the sight
One woman who lcaped from window
fell astride of an awning pole and her
body was torn almost in half The
corpse hung in the air many minutes be-
fore the iiremen could recover it.
In front Of Market street a woman,
driven to desperation, leaped from win
dow on the top floor and was dashed to
death on the pavement. These are but
a few Of the hearirendng scenes attend
Ing the conflagration Firemcn claim 10
have seen men and women unable to
reach the windows or fire escapes burned
TO death in the interior of the building.
II this he 50, little or nothing remains
these victims and il is doubtful il any
portion of their bodies will he recovered.
Scventy-nine Of the 100 persons In
Hunt Wilkinson 4 Co.'S building when
the fire started were employees and the
remainder were customers and outside
workmen who were engaged in putting
the finishing touches ON the new eighth
floor. More than half of the firms em-
ployes were on the upper five floors, anl
il was among these that the greatest
number were killed and injured. With
the possible exception of the engineer,
who is missing. all persons on the first
three floors got out of the building
safely. The members of the firm had
their offices on the third floor and their
familiarity with the exits is all that
saved them from suifocation.
Mr.. Wilkinson said the smoke came up
the stairway and the elevator shaft in
such great volume that he and Mr.. Hunt
had much difficulty in reaching the
street.
Most of those killed were at work on
the sixth floor. where women were en-
gagged in sewing. They were at work in
the rear Of the building close to the fire
escapes. but became confused by the
great quantity Of smoke that rushed up
through the building. II was reported
that goods were stored against the win
dows which prevented the women from
getting ont on the fire escapes. but this
was positively denied by member of
| the firm.