The Great Explosion And Conflagration On The Philadelphia Waterfront, July 9, 1850

THE GREAT EXPLOSION AND CONFLAGRATION ON THE PHILADELPHIA WATERFRONT, JULY 9, 1850 Compiled and Written by Harry Kyriakodis Unit 241, Pier 3 Condo The first great fire in the history of Philadelphia began in the afternoon of July 9, 1850. Surely the city's most destructive conflagration during the 19th century, it started at a warehouse on the east side of Water Street, near the Vine Street Wharf on the Delaware River. The five-story structure between Vine and Race Streets (closer to Vine Street) was reportedly located at what then may have been numbered as 39 North Water Street and what is today approximately 237 North Water Street. Known before the Revolutionary War as King Street, Water Street ran between Front Street and the wharves along the Delaware River—and later Delaware Avenue—for quite a distance. It passed through what was one of the most densely-populated places in the Philadelphia at the time. Philadelphia's 1793 yellow fever epidemic began and was concentrated only two blocks to the south along Water Street and the nearby docks.

As the immense fire happened before the 1854 Consolidation of Philadelphia, the congested commercial/dockside area was partly outside the original city limits of Philadelphia, which then had its northern boundary at Vine Street. About half of the zone of devastation was thus in Northern Liberties.

The fire began when pressed hay stored in an upper floor of the warehouse somehow combusted. This itself did not cause much alarm, but several violent explosions of saltpeter— stored in the Water Street warehouse's basement—spread the fire. Burning hay and flaming embers from the destroyed building flew in all directions; the wind carried bits of smoldering sulfur (stored at an adjoining building) all the way to Broad Street. The hot dry weather of that July certainly did not help matters. Very quickly, the resulting inferno extended southwards to Race Street, westwards past Front Street to Second Street, and northwards to Callowhill Street. Many people who lived within half a mile of the district packed their things and prepared for a sudden evacuation. The entire city was at risk of a devastating catastrophe that night. Mass confusion prevailed. News of the blaze was telegraphed across the United States and was even later reported in England. (Other big news of that day was the death of President Zachary Taylor in office.) More than 100 firemen from as far away as Newark, New York, Wilmington and Baltimore arrived to relieve native firefighters who had became exhausted by the heat and their efforts. The inferno—its light seen for thirty miles around—was subdued sometime during the night. The calamity injured about 100 people and took at least 28 lives (accounts vary), including some killed in the street and in adjacent buildings as a result of the first great mighty explosion. Others were trampled in the chaos. Yet others drowned in the Delaware River from the shock of the main explosion or from purposefully jumping into the river to escape the devastation. Some firemen apparently died too. Property damage was variously estimated at between one and 1.5 million dollars. Three hundred and sixty-seven buildings, including an old Quaker meeting house used as a school, were reduced to ashes in some 18 acres. About 300 of the destroyed structures were small rowhome dwellings, leaving many poor families homeless. In a fairly uncommon civic action in that era, the Philadelphia City Councils appropriated $10,000 for the relief of survivors, and the Commissioners of Northern Liberties did the same. Local citizens also contributed some $31,000 for the assistance of those injured. Almost all of Water Street as it existed in the 18th and 19th centuries has been obliterated by Interstate 95 and the Vine Street Expressway. But the part of Water Street between Race and Callowhill Streets still remains (as well as in South Philadelphia). The block that was ground zero of the explosion and fire was rebuilt and resumed being as congested as before. Some of the smaller buildings there were later replaced by larger warehouses. The area became very rundown and deserted by the mid-20th century. An empty lot now occupies the entire block, which is immediately north of the Philadelphia anchorage of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. Plans for a condominium development at the site fell through, but it seems likely that the lot will one day be used for residential or recreational purposes, given its proximity to Penn's Landing and the entire Delaware River waterfront. The nearby block along Front Street (between Vine and Callowhill Streets) does contain residential housing and today comprises the core of the River's Edge Civic Association. All of these structures were built after 1850, some using the foundations of buildings destroyed in the colossal blaze. The basements of a few of these structures reputedly go back to an even earlier era in Philadelphia's history: the time when pioneers dug caves into the muddy embankment of the Delaware River as their initial shelter upon reaching the new settlement of Philadelphia in the 1680s. These shallow caves were later incorporated into some of the basements of the original houses and shops along what became Water Street. The following excerpts are from several sources as indicated.

This is from 1849 map of Philadelphia. The fire was centered at the center-lower right but spread one to two blocks north, south and west.

****************************************** On Third-day afternoon about 4 1/2 o'clock, a fire broke out in an extensive block of stores owned by John Brock & Sons, situated on Delaware Avenue, south of Vine street, where was stored a large quantity of saltpetre. The block was variously occupied. A tavern,—a dance-house,—a place for storing hay,— &c., &c. It is not positively known how the fire originated. The "Daily News" says, "The flames spread with fearful rapidity, and it was with difficulty that the clerks could escape with the books. The intense heat made by the hay, fused the saltpetre, and an explosion was the result; a terrible one, after several of no consequence, except that they served to warn those near of the danger that might be apprehended from a too close proximity to the burning building. The noise was terrifying, and the effect was appalling. Burning embers were thrown about in all directions, among the firemen and citizens, and in the effort of all to escape, many were trampled under foot, and a large number were crowded into the dock, and narrowly escaped drowning." "The effect of the explosion in spreading the fire, was immediately seen. The splendid storehouse on the south of that in which the fire originated, occupied by Ridgway & Budd, flour dealers, was at once enveloped in flames; and in a little while the large block of buildings on the north, in the occupancy of the Lehigh Transportation Company was in a like condition. The flakes of burning hay were carried to the westward, and fired the dwellings on the west side of Water street, which extended to Front street, and which were occupied by a large number of poor families. In consequence of the weather being warm, and the roofs dry, the fire spread in a fearful manner, so much so, that several of the inmates were burned to death in their attempt to escape. The intensity of the fire prevented the firemen from approaching it, so as to render much efficient service, and the wind blowing fresh from the south-east, the flames continued to spread to the west and north. It was not long before it had crossed to the west side of Front street, and to

the north side of Vine street. The whole range of dwellings on the west side of Front street, extending from Vine halfway to Race, were soon in flames. Many of these were new fine edifices. The one on the corner of New and Front, was owned and tenanted by Thomas Wattson, biscuit baker. All these are in ruins. The flames continued to spread towards Second street, on a line parallel to the extent of the conflagration on Front street. The buildings on New street, many of them handsome edifices, and the Public School on the same, were all burned, also those on Vine street, from Front to Second. All these buildings were tenanted, and the endeavour of the inmates to save their property, and to escape to a place of safety, added to the confusion. Household goods were piled upon the pavements in all directions, and in many instances handsome furniture was thrown from the upper windows of burning dwellings, and destroyed in this way. The scene was awful beyond description. Many parents were running about wringing their hands, and uttering lamentations for a missing child; wives weeping for their husbands, and husbands in the search of their wives, contributed to make the scene more painful. The fire continued to spread, and at 8 o'clock, had extended almost half way from Vine to Callowhill on Front and New Market street; from Front to Water street, it was burning just as rapidly, and along Delaware Avenue it had reached the extensive storehouse of A. Wright & Nephew, salt dealers. On Vine street wharf, there were several hundred cords of pine and oak wood, which could easily have been removed before fire reached it, but which was permitted to burn, and contributed to the flames. After darkness had set in we took our station upon an elevated position from which we could survey the whole scene, and a sublime and fearful one it was. On went the flames, cracking and roaring, enveloping some of the finest edifices which our city could boast, and rendering them in a short time, a heap of ruins. To the west and the north all was one vast sea of fire, while ever and anon the falling of the walls, and the shouts of the multitude thereat, served to render the scene fearfully terrific—awfully sublime!" The conflagration was subdued by 12 o'clock. It was bounded on the north by Callowhill street, except a few houses east of Front street; on the west by the east side of Second street; on the south taking in both, sides of New street; and on Front street running somewhat further south, and thence east to the Delaware. This large area is now a heap of ruins or tottering walls. But the most lamentable part of the dispensation is the maiming and loss of life. The morning papers give lists of the dead and wounded—from 30 to 60— and since their accounts were written other dead bodies have been found, 17 in all. The building in New street in which Friends' meeting for the Northern District was formerly held, but which has been recently occupied as a public school, was destroyed. A number of Friends have been burnt out, and others have had much valuable property destroyed. During the raging of the fire, a telegraphic despatch announced the death of Z. Taylor President of the United States. From the "Daily News" of 10th instant, we extract as follows:— "He breathed his last at about half-past tea o'clock last evening, surrounded by his family, the Cabinet officers, the Mayor of Washington, the District Attorney, and the Physicians who had been attending him." --From The Friend, vol. 23(?) at 344 (Seventh Month 13, 1850). ****************************************** Conflagration In Philadelphia.—Our paper of last week being in type when the awful conflagration with which our city was visited, on the afternoon and night of the 9th inst., commenced, a very brief notice of this appalling event was inserted in our Summary of News. The building in which the fire originated was a large double store on Water street on the south side of Vine. The northern half was occupied by Gordon & Berger, hay dealers; and the southern by John Brock, Sons & Co., for storage. According to the accounts furnished to the coroner, there were stored in the apartment occupied by Brock & Co., about 250 bags of saltpetre, averaging about 200 lbs. each; about 80 barrels of brimstone, weighing about 350 lbs. each; and about 50 hogsheads, 10 tierces and 70 barrels of molasses; and 91 hogsheads of sugar. The saltpetre and brimstone were on the first or ground floor on Water street, and the sugar and molasses on

the lower or cellar floor, immediately underneath. There was a large hatchway, which was open at the time, communicating between these apartments. The fire commenced in the northern part of the building where a quantity of hay was stored. As the brimstone and saltpetre were fused by the fire, they ran down and mingled with the saccharine matter below. As this matter was subjected to an intense heat, the materials of gun powder were brought into proximity. Water was, no doubt, added to these ingredients; and very possibly the decomposition of that compound may have contributed to the awful and destructive explosion which ensued. However it may have been produced, the explosion scattered the burning materials over the neighbouring houses, and set a number of them simultaneously in flames. The number of persons thus suddenly deprived of life is not ascertained. Several appear to be missing, whose fate of course is yet unknown. The killed are estimated from twenty to thirty; and those seriously injured are doubtless more numerous. As the wind at the time set in from the southeast, the flames spread with appalling rapidity, until the night was far advanced. Fire companies, with their apparatus, poured in from the villages in the vicinity, including an acceptable and efficient force from Wilmington. But it is questionable whether the united exertion of all the firemen could have arrested the conflagration, if their efforts had not been assisted, and in some measure superseded, by a change in the direction of the wind. We are informed that the current of air, on every side, was apparently directed toward the fire. An effect which would be necessarily produced, in a tranquil atmosphere, by the intense heat of the fire, and the consequent rarefaction of the superincumbent air. Aided by this favourable event, the toiling and exhausted firemen, and the numerous citizens whose lives and property were exposed to imminent danger, had the satisfaction, before morning, to find the destroying element arrested in its course. The number of houses consumed is reported to be three hundred and sixty-three. Hence we perceive that numerous families have thus been suddenly rendered houseless and homeless, except so far as their wants are supplied by the liberality of their friends. Of these families, there are certainly not a few who have lost nearly all they possessed. The rapidity with which the flames advanced, the number of houses at once exposed to the danger, and the uncertainty where the destruction would terminate, presented nearly insuperable difficulties in the way of those who laboured to remove any portion of their furniture to places of safety. A public meeting of the citizens was promptly convened, and measures adopted for extending the requisite aid to the sufferers. Any estimate of the amount of property thus consumed, must be exceedingly uncertain. Probably a million and a half of dollars would hardly cover the whole. It is believed that the insurance offices are fully competent to meet their liabilities. This event, following so quickly those of a similar character at New York and Brooklyn, has excited an inquiry as to the explosive capabilities of saltpetre, in such combination as may be suddenly formed in the building where it is stored; and it is to be hoped that the subject will be fully investigated before this conflagration shall be allowed to fade on the memory. If it should be ascertained that the materials which are said to have been stored in the building where the explosion took place, are actually capable of producing that effect, or if a reasonable apprehension of such capability remains, there can be no doubt of the necessity of adopting some regulation to prohibit, under adequate penalties, the storing of such dangerous and destructive articles in the same building; more particularly in the interior of our city. The exposure of property and life to such appalling danger is too serious an affair to be passed negligently by. --From Friends' Review, vol. III, no. 44, at 696 (Seventh Month 20, 1850). ****************************************** PHILADELPHIA, TUESDAY EVENING. - A fire broke out in a five story warehouse on the wharf below Vine street, entirely consuming every thing through to Water-street, demolishing Ridgeway and Budd's establishment, and seriously damaging a number of stores and dwellings on the west side of Water street. A large quantity of gunpowder and saltpeter stored in a cellar exploded, blowing fifteen or twenty persons into the river. Ten or twelve are seriously injured. The fire is raging terrifically. At least one

mile square is in a blaze, and from 150 to 200 houses have already been destroyed and several lives lost. Morse's telegraph line has been cut off by the conflagration, and Bain's is in jeopardy. --From The Anglo Celt, an English (Liverpool) newspaper (July 26, 1850). ******************************************

The Southeast Prospect of the City of Philadelphia, c.1720, by Peter Cooper. This work gives an idea how congested Philadelphia's waterfront was even 130 years before the 1850 fire.

****************************************** July 9th, 1850. A fire broke out in a five-story warehouse on the wharf below Ninth[sic; i.e. Vine]-street. When it was discovered it had made considerable headway, and but a short time elapsed before the whole building was enveloped in flames. The fire extended through to Front-street, from there to Race-street, thence above Callowhill-street through Vine-street to Second-street, thence through John-street to Newmarket[i.e. New Market]-street, thence to Callowhill-street, and also destroyed a few houses on Buckskin Court, West's Alley, Courtland Place, and a number of courts and alleys adjoining. Two explosions of saltpetre occurred in the building where the fire originated, rending the walls asunder, and throwing the burning timbers in every direction, by which means the fire was communicated to a large number of houses. The firemen hastened to the scene of destruction, and were soon engaged in combating the flames. The first explosion caused but a little alarm. The firemen worked on; the fire began to spread, and in a short time a startling explosion took place, quickly followed by another, spreading havoc in all directions. Beams of wood, scantling, bricks, metal roofing, and blazing shingles, were thrown into the air, spreading to a greater extent the flames of the already disastrous conflagration. The scene presented was appalling in the extreme, and such as our pen cannot describe. On the eastern front of the stores, where the last explosion occurred, the rush for life was terrific. Men and boys, firemen and bystanders, rushed away from the conflagration, and as they endeavored to escape from the danger, hundreds rolled over, and trampled upon each other, running and jumping over the large piles of cotton and other goods on the wharves. Several were knocked down as if dead, and hundreds were rushing over their fallen bodies, causing legs and arms to be dreadfully broken, and inflicting wounds of a serious nature. In the fright some were thrown into the Delaware river; while a large number voluntarily jumped in, to shield themselves from the bricks and timbers thrown from the burning stores. Frightful indeed was the loss of life, and still greater dangers threatened, yet the noble exertions of the firemen continued unabated, excepting when a pause in their perilous labor was required for their safety. At night the scene became still more fearful. The heavens presented a lurid glare, and the light of the conflagration was distinctly seen for thirty miles around. Large volumes of smoke were borne along by the wind, and the alarm-bells were ringing every quarter of an hour, and word was passed from lip to lip that the furious element was sweeping everything before it. Falling wails and blazing buildings were to be seen on all sides. Alleys and streets were crossed by the fire, which for a time seemed to bid defiance to all human efforts. From Camden, on the opposite shore, the scene was truly grand; while the shipping in the docks, which escaped the flames, presented a picturesque appearance. From the Statehouse steeple the lurid picture could only be compared to the burning of Moscow. The sight of hundreds of families, for squares

around the fire, fleeing from their houses at the midnight hour, and removing their furniture upon every species of vehicles, amid the din of a thousand voices, and the roaring and crackling of the forked flames, was a scene that can hardly be described. Not for a moment did the noble and self-sacrificing firemen falter in their duty. Difficulty and dangers appeared but to stimulate their courage, and many of them encountered risks and perils far greater than those connected with the battle-field. After performing an almost incredible amount of labor till daybreak, the fire was subdued, and, prostrated by over-exertion, many of the firemen sunk to sleep beside their apparatus. By this awful conflagration thousands were turned houseless into the streets, and some with nothing but the clothing on their backs with which they escaped. The number killed was thirty, missing twenty-six,—total fifty-six; wounded one hundred; making a total of killed and wounded one hundred fifty-six. Loss $1,000,000. --From David D. Dana, The Fireman (1858), at 83-86. ****************************************** A conflagration, by which an immense amount of property was destroyed, took place in Philadelphia on the 9th of July, 1850. It began about four o'clock on the afternoon of that day in a store at 78 North Delaware avenue. The fire was beyond control when discovered, and soon spread, despite the most strenuous efforts to prevent it, to the store-houses adjoining. When the fire had reached the cellar of the building in which it had originated, two explosions occurred, which rent the walls of the building, and threw flakes of combustible matter in all directions, setting fire to many other buildings. Delaware avenue and Water street were crowded with persons who exhibited little fear at these evidences of dangerous substances being stored in the building. Suddenly a third and most terrific explosion occurred, by which a number of men, women, and children were killed, and several buildings demolished. This disaster caused a panic among the firemen and spectators, and in the efforts of all to escape from danger, many were trampled upon and injured. Some were thrown into the Delaware, and others jumped in to get away from the falling bricks and beams sent up from the burning building by the explosion. The number of persons who lost their lives by the explosion was about thirty, nine persons who jumped into the river in a fright were drowned, and about one hundred persons injured. The area over which the fire spread contained about four hundred buildings. Its locality was one of the most densely populated in the city, and, a large number of the residents having been poor people, the suffering caused was immense. The loss was about one million dollars, and the fire would be a comparatively small one had there been no loss of life. --From Alfred L. Sewell, The Great Calamity! Scenes, Incidents, and Lessons of the Great Chicago Fire of the 8th and 9th of October, 1871 (1871). ****************************************** 1850, July 9.—A great fire commenced on Delaware Avenue, near Vine Street, and extended south toward Race Street and west toward Second Street, and destroyed three hundred and sixty-seven houses. The firemen were so prostrated by the heat and exertion that Mayor Jones telegraphed to New York for several hundred of their firemen to come on to relieve the firemen of this city. --From J. Thomas Scharf & Thompson Westcott, History of Philadelphia, 1609-1884 (1884), at 1914. ****************************************** Philadelphia does not appear to have been visited by a great fire until July 9, 1850, when a fire along the Delaware River front, at Vine Street, extended over eighteen acres, causing a loss of life estimated as high as thirty-three, in addition to 120 wounded, and a pecuniary loss of $1,500,000. The memory of this fire is perpetuated in the slang of to-day. An explosion was caused by a coincidence in the contents of a warehouse which contained sugar in the upper stories and saltpetre below. When the saltpetre came in contact with the sugar a violent explosion ensued, and for a while spread the fire beyond all efforts to control it. This catastrophe and the controversies which followed it gave rise to the satirical

question: "Will saltpetre explode?" and was followed by an ordinance forbidding its storage in quantity in the city or on vessels in the river. This act was afterwards modified (April 14, 1851). --From C. J. H. Woodbury, "Conflagrations in Cities," in Journal of the Franklin Institute (August 1891), at 138; this was a lecture delivered before the Franklin Institute, Philadelphia, Jan. 23, 1891. ****************************************** This view from a 1875 Philadelphia atlas shows how the area recovered and reverted back to its former congested state. The fire began near the bottom center of the image.

************ A fire of great extent in ground burned over, in the number of buildings destroyed, and in the value of the property destroyed, broke out on the 9th of July, 1850, in a store at 39 North Water street, below Vine, on the East side, in the upper part of the building, which, with the one adjoining, was occupied by Gorden & Berger, whose stock consisted principally of pressed hay. The fire is believed to have originated from the friction produced by a wheel of a hoisting machine, in active use by the firm of John Brock & Co., who occupied the lower part of the store, and the wheel was in use all day, in lowering hogsheads of molasses into the cellar. The firemen were summoned, and soon were in service. During the operations of the firemen, some noises, as of explosions were heard. A witness afterwards before a coroner's jury testified that he had counted sixteen of them, before the last and most terrible in its force; (the noise made by the latter was exceedingly loud). In a moment the walls of the Brock and Gorden & Berger warehouses were blown out, and the bricks, stone and blazing timbers were sent high into the air. Upon the west side the fragments were with great violence blown into a house immediately opposite, which was occupied by several families. Of the inmates, Marcus Marcus, aged 18 years; Caroline Marcus, his younger sister, and Isaac Marcus, a younger brother, were killed; and the father of the Marcus' family very much injured by the explosion. Persons in the street were also injured and killed. A large number standing on the wharf near-by were blown overboard, and several jumped into the river. By the explosion, a fire which might have been local was rendered of general character. The falling walls crushed in the roofs of adjacent buildings and communicated the fire to their contents. Adjoining the Brock store, were the warehouses of Ridgway & Budd on one side, and of the Lehigh Transportation Company on the other. Immediately opposite a burning bale of hay and firebrands had been blown in the houses on Water street, extending to Front; they were soon in a blaze. In a short time, the flames crossed Front street and attacked dwellings on the West side. Extending South to New street, the flames swept along the latter to Second street. About the same time the houses on Vine street, between Front and Second, were on fire. Laborious efforts to prevent the flames from crossing the West side of Second street were successful. Above Vine street, they were carried along Second, Northward on the East side, and were only stopped six houses below Callowhill street by the parapet walls of the White House tavern.

There was considerable destruction on Front street above Vine, in New Market street--and upon Callowhill street. The following will give some idea of the extent of the destruction: Houses burned on East side of Water street and Delaware avenue, South of Vine 17 on the East side of Front to Water street 18 on the West side of Front, South of Vine 12 on the South side of Vine street, between Front and Second 26 on New street, between Front and Second 28 on the East side of Second, South of Vine 10 Houses burned between Vine and Callowhill, Delaware avenue and Second street 211 Houses burned North and East of Callowhill and Water streets 15 TOTAL 337 These were totally destroyed. Many other houses were injured by sparks and burning boards which were carried by the explosion and the wind far and wide. Pieces of brimstone from Brock's store were picked up in Broad street, and zinc from the roof of that building fell in Ridge avenue. About 300 of the buildings destroyed were dwelling-houses; the remainder were stores. The loss could scarcely be estimated accurately. It was supposed that it could not be less than a million dollars, and it might have been much more; the insurance amounted to $368,000. During the continuance of this fire the greatest consternation prevailed in the neighborhood for squares distant, and anxiety, all over the city. The volumes of flame and smoke were immense, and were visible from every direction. Many persons who resided or were in business at the distance of one-quarter or one-half mile from the place where the fire was burning, packed up their goods, and prepared for a sudden removal. The flames were gotten under control by the firemen about two o'clock the next morning, and were confined to the district already injured. The news being sent by telegraph throughout the United States, brought firemen from other cities; 100 of them came from New York the same night, some from Newark, and some from Baltimore. The City Councils appropriated $10,000 for the relief of the survivors by the calamity; the Commissioners of the Northern Liberties gave an equal amount. A meeting of citizens was held at which measures were taken to collect contributions for the assistance of the injured; they received about $31,000, which was properly appropriated. The cause of the explosion was for a long time a subject of controversy, and was never satisfactorily settled; the most general belief was that it was caused by the large quantities of saltpetre and brimstone in the store of the Messrs. Brock. Here were two of the ingredients of gunpowder; the other, it was suggested, could have been furnished by the brands and coal from the fire dropping from above into the saltpetre and nitre. There was great discussion on the subject in the newspapers, with ingenious attempts to solve the question, "Will Saltpetre Explode?" On the same day, when the fire was making its ravages, Zachary Taylor, President of the United States, died at Washington, --From The Firemen's Record: As Gleaned From All Available Sources of the History of Philadelphia From Its Earliest Incipiency, Covering a Period of Nearly Three Centuries: Also a Complete Account of the Large Fires of the World (1891), at 89-91. ****************************************** Fire in a warehouse in Water Street, below Vine Street, on July 9, 1850, was one of the most disastrous of that era. It began in the part of the warehouse occupied by a firm dealing in pressed hay and extended to other parts of the building in which quantities of sulphur and saltpeter were stored. There was a great explosion, which sent blazing timbers, bricks, stones and pieces of metal in all directions, some falling blocks away. Men were blown from the wharves into the river, and people were killed by the concussion in adjoining houses and in the streets. The flames and smoke covered a wide area like a pall; houses were on fire all about. People in that and adjoining sections prepared their effects to flee from a general conflagration. The entire fire forces of the city, aided by contingents from the fire departments of New

York, Newark, Baltimore and other cities, fought valiantly and had the fire under control on the following morning. There were 367 stores and dwelling houses entirely consumed, several more were badly injured and the burned area extended from Callowhill to Vine Streets and from the river front to Second Street. Twenty-eight persons, including some firemen, were killed and fifty-eight were injured in the fire. --From John St. George, Story of Philadelphia (1919), at 243. ****************************************** Water Street in the 1950s, more or less at the conflagration's ground zero. These buildings have long been demolished. An empty lot remains.

********** Behind these wharfs, and parallel to the river, runs WaterStreet. This is the first street which you usually enter after landing, and it does not serve to give a stranger a very favourable opinion either of the neatness or commodiousness of the public ways of Philadelphia. It is no more than thirty feet wide, and immediately behind the houses, which stand on the side farthest from the water, a high bank, supposed to be the old bank of the river, rises, which renders the air very confined. Added to this, such stenches at times prevail in it, owing in part to the quantity of filth and dirt that is suffered to remain on the pavement, and in part to what is deposited in waste houses, of which there are several in the street, that it is really dreadful to pass through it. It was here that the malignant yellow fever broke out in the year 1793, that made such terrible ravages, and in the summer season, in general, the street is found extremely unhealthy. That the inhabitants, after suffering so much from the sickness that originated in it, should remain thus inattentive to the cleanliness of Water Street is truly surprising; more especially so, when it is considered, that the streets in the other part of the town are as much distinguished for the neatness that prevails throughout them, as this one is for its dirty condition. --From Isaac Weld, Travels Through the States of North America... During the Years 1795, 1796 and 1797 (1807), 4th ed., vol. 1, at 5-6.