Great Philadelphia Fire

FEBRUARY 25, 1865.]

HARPER'S WEEKLY.

117

THE GREAT FIRE IN PHILADELPHIA--CORNER OF WASHINGTON AND NINTH STREETS.--[SKETCHED BY J. L. GILES.]

THE RECENT CONFLAGRATION
IN PHILADELPHIA.

ON the 8th instant there occurred the most terrible conflagration that has taken place in Philadel-

phia since the great fire of 1850. The fire originated about half past two A.M., in Washington Street, near Ninth, where there was an open lot on which BLACKBURN & Co. had between two and three thousand barrels of petroleum stored on ac-

count of various owners. The flames starting here spread almost with the rapidity of explosion through the yard. Says the Philadelphia Bulletin:

" The blazing oil that escaped from the burning barrels poured over into Ninth Street and down to Federal, fill

ing the entire street with a lake of fire, and igniting the houses upon both sides of Ninth Street for two squares, and carrying devastation into Washington, Ellsworth, and Federal streets, both above and below Ninth Street.

"An eye witness, who was upon the spot when the oil poured out into the street, describes the fierce body of (Next Page)

THE GREAT FIRE IN PHILADELPHIA--VIEW IN FEDERAL STREET, LOOKING UP NINTH.-[ SKETCHED BY J. L. GILES.]