Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-05-29
B AFTLESHIP PAINT
LOST in BIG BLAZE
Three Firemen Injured in
$4,000 Fire at Wetherill
Plant
WHOLE BLOCK MENACED

A great quantity Of battleship gray paint
for the United States navy was destroyed
IN a 100000 fire at the paint and varnish
factory Of George d. wetherill g. Co. Inc.
ilf North Front street, little before 1
o'clock this morning.
This material and thousands of gallons
OF other paint, alcohol, varnlsh and valu-
able dyes which cannot now be replaced
was destroyed by one Of the most stubborn
nres encountered in months.
There was great danger Of heavier loss.
~ all the buildings are old and were cram
med fun Of inaammabe material. The FIRE
men fought Off the flames from adjoining
buildings with a curtain" Of water -Four
alarms had to be turned in after the local
alarm, and IL was not until $3.50 that the
nremen were certain they had the blaze
under control
VARN1sH ROOM LOST
All Of the varnish building was destroyed
and the fire spread to the main buildings
The building used for packing in the rear
OF the main structure, was destroyed IT
was here that much finished material in
cluding the battleship gray paint. was
burned. Part Of the main office building
was also destroyed. Parts Of others went
and much alcohol dyes and other stock
were destroyed.
THREE FIREMEN HURT
Considering the determined fight the fire.
men made against the blaze and the fear
less manner in which they faced sporting
Chemicals which Knocked the appearance Of
the fearful "hammenwerfer" OF the Ger
mans, II is considered miraculous that many
fremen not hurt. only one was seri-
ousiy injured. Two others were slightly
hurt but were soon back at their posts
after medical attention.
Albert Cooper. Of Engine Company No.
g. stood his ground on the roof Of a bridge
between two Of the buildings until the
flames simply forced him to drop to the
ground a sheer twenty feet. lie was picked
up and taken TO the Roosevelt Hospital
His injuries are thought 20 have been slight
bruises and sprans.
Nicholas Baird and Hogan Quinn. Ot
pipe Line No. 1, were slightly injured and
treated at the Roosevelt Hospital Both
were soon back with their companies.
THREE EXPLOSIONS
Three explosions in rapid succession her
aided the beginning Of the fire. and they
routed the entire neighborhood. People
swarmed out Of the little houses in famous
old Appletree street and night watchmen
secuted their respective buildings hurriedly
Then the glare OF the flames showed. II is
thought the explosions started from sponta-
neous combustion in the alcohol room, but
some witnesses suspected plot
The cutters ran with valuable cooring
for red paint and other paints. Here and
there were slight mixtures Of many colors
Thousands Of valuable tin cans were lost.
MAY BE ABOVE $4,000
George Matlaclt superintendent Of the
plant a relative of the president. and Ben
tamin Cooper, secretary. were the first Off
cials Of the company on the ground. Neither
would estimate the loss. The estimate Of
$4,000 seemed low however, it ad-
mitted by nearly every one.
Considerable damage was done to the
buildings occupied by Bernard q. We'll 4
Co. rag dealers at ll2 North Front street
and by Meaves & Greeg dyestuifs, at 10
North Front street
one great burst of fame leaped over the
roofs of 116 and 1lS North Front street
and set fire to the building occupied by
william +. Allen & Co. 120 North Front
street At various sther times they threat
ened the building occupied by George IT.
Vickery dealer in novelty wares. 1l2 Arch
street, the rear Of which extends to a
blind alley beside the Wetherill plant; the
building of the Radishe Company dyestuffs,
at Ill Arch street, and several other struc.
tures.