Details
Contributor Magee, John L., publisher.
Title The terrible conflagration at Ninth and Washington Streets, Philadelphia. [graphic] : On the morning of Wednesday February 8th 1865.
Publisher Philadelphia: J. L. Magee, publisher, 305 Walnut St
Publisher PA. Philadelphia. 1865
Date 1865
Physical Description 1 print: lithograph, hand-colored; 24 x 38 cm. (9.5 x 15.13 in.)
Description Disaster print showing the scene at the "disastrous conflagration commenced in the storage yard [of Blackburn & Co.] at Ninth & Washington Street" in the early morning hours of February 8, 1865. In the foreground, displaced and panicked residents of all ages attired in their night clothes, many holding their few possessions, run down and gather on the snowy streets. Amongst the commotion, police officers assist residents with their possessions (trunks, bedding, and cookware) and direct firefighters toward the blaze and burnt ruins of and surrounding the coal yard. The firefighters transport a ladder, hoses, and hose carriage toward the burning buildings as other volunteers rush to smother a man on fire and comfort a fleeing girl. Others depicted at the scene include two men laying an unconscious man attired in a nightshirt on the ground; a man and woman clutching their children to their chests; and a woman falling and dropping her baby in her flight as a dog runs past them. In the background, a small number of survivors and firefighters carrying victims, run down the 1100 block of Ninth Street that is lined with burning and destroyed buildings. Across from the coal yard, presumably the proprietor, James McManus, holds a bundle, and prepares to exit the doorway of the "Lager Beer Saloon" on the northeast corner of Washington Avenue and Ninth Street. Furniture covers the sidewalk in front of his establishment, the upper floors visibly on fire.
Also contains several lines of text explicating the economic and human cost of the fire, including "loss of property" at "$400, 000," the "property destroyed" at about "one hundred structures," and the "List of Dead and Missing - Mrs. Barbara Ware, aged 43 years. Miss Annie Ware, 23 years._Emma Ware, 20 year._Helen Ware, 13 years._Isabella Ware, 4 years._Rebecca Ware._Albert Ware, 17 years._Clayton Ware, 10 years._The Scott Family is missing._Samuel McMenamin Fleetwood". A barrel of coal oil ignited through arson stored at Blackburn & Co. started the blaze shortly after 2 A.M. The fire destroyed the coal yard, which then caused a stream of burning oil to flow down Washington Avenue and Ninth Street that spread the fire to neighboring blocks of Federal and Ellsworth streets.
Is referenced by Wainwright 397
Notes Philadelphia on Stone
POS 746
Wainwright retrospective conversion project, edited.
Reaccessioned as P.2215.
Historical Society of Pennsylvania:
Fire described in the Philadelphia Inquirer, February 9, 1865, p. 8.
Subject Fires -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia.
Fire fighters -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia.
Police -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia.
Lifesaving at fires -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia.
Firefighting -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia.
Victims -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia.
Ruins -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia.
Winter -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia.
Geographic subject Washington Avenue (Philadelphia, Pa.) -- 800 block.
Washington Avenue (Philadelphia, Pa.) -- 900 block.
Ninth Street (Philadelphia, Pa.) -- South -- 1100 block.
Genre Lithographs -- Hand-colored -- 1860-1870.
Printer Magee, John L., publisher.
Location Library Company of Philadelphia| Print Department| *W397 [6549.F]
Accession number 6549.F
P.2215