Arousing scene after the memory of Spieler showing the city's volunteer fire companies battling the July 7, 1850 fire at Peter Wright & Sons glass store on the north side of the 500 block of Market Street. Shows firefighters, in full uniforms, congesting the street around the market houses and in front of the burning building. Members, including an African American firefighter, from the United States, Vigilant, Diligent, Southwark, Pennsylvania, Weccaco, Liberty, and several other companies battle the blaze using hand pump engines and hose carriages. The men run and connect hoses, transport the vehicles, and spray streams of water at the smoking building that also contains the businesses of Hieskell, Hoskins & Co., dry goods and James Smith & Co., booksellers and publishers. Other firefighters pump the engines, blow trumpets, and stand on the roof of the storefronts. Several lines of hoses, several weighed down and or leaking water, criss cross in the street in the foreground. Clusters of spectators, including men, women, and children gather near the firefighters and under the market sheds. Also shows the neighboring buildings on the block, including Pennington's Merchants Dining saloon, which sounded the first alarm bell., Not in Wainwright., Copyrighted by Chas. H. Spieler., Philadelphia on Stone, POSP 250, Historical Society of Pennsylvania: Bc 814 S 753. HSP copy contains handbill describing the provenance of the scene. Transcription of handbill included with LCP copy of print., Free Library of Philadelphia: Oversize - Philadelphiana - Fire Companies
Creator
Sched, H., artist
Date
c1882
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department **BW - Events [P.9504.5]
