13 Feb 1885
Page 1
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Newspaper
Philadelphia Times
Location
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Date
Feb 13, 1885
Page
1
Fire devastates Blockley Insane Hospital with many inmates perishing in cells as guards struggle to reach terror struck patients. Rescue attempts meet fierce resistance from locked wards amid dense smoke and flames.
The Philadelphia Almshouse insane department housing 676 inmates was destroyed by fire last night with an estimated 75 deaths. A lack of water and no fire alarm box hampered response, delaying alarms until after the blaze began. Firefighters battled in limited supply as the roof collapsed and crowds gathered.
A fire in a hollow square of Almshouse buildings trapped and suffocated many inmates on the third floor near the stairway. Seven bodies were recovered from the hospital area while others perished unseen as flames spread through the old main wing before dawn.
Rescue efforts by keeper Joseph Schroder and night watchman William Hanna saved many inmates as fire alarm spread through a hospital wing. Attendants and firemen aided, with several injured including Samuel Eagan of engine No. 5 and Police Sergeant Moore in the perilous stairways.
In the fire at the Almshouse, chaos erupted as madmen fled through a breached fence under police escort. Nurses led by Miss Alice Fisher redirected violent patients to the chapel while guards secured entrances and residents salvaged belongings amid the inferno.
Washington February 12. Rep Randall plans a single proposal to finance naval expansion. A seven member board including the Secretary of the Navy would seek designs from ex-officers and builders, then award 20 000 15 000 and 10 000 for top designs and build one vessel per class.
The fiftieth annual report of the Philadelphia Gas Works Trustees to Councils shows gross profits of 814132.27 for 1884, down from 1883 by 15858.80 due to public lamp maintenance 127811.91 and public squares gas 9615. Revenue fell as gas price dropped from 1.90 to 1.70, reducing receipts by 169260.50. Net profits reached 396269.19, with accumulated profits totaling 5267354.41 at year end. 789 miles of street mains and 107865 feet of service pipe laid. 2557678000 cubic feet of gas manufactured. 13555 lamps supplied. improvements included rebuilding a gas holder at the Twenty-sixth Ward Works. average light power 17.20 canes.
Springfield February 12 Republicans refuse to recognize Democrats voting for Senator. Few members present, House adjourns after Democrats file into Senate. Only one vote recorded amid fears of a GOP majority. Albion February 12 Senator Brown carried ill to Grayville for trip to Springfield. he is paired with Senator Bridges and may affect the United States Senate election.
A Democratic banquet at the Monongahela House in Pittsburg drew over 250 attendees including prominent locals and guests from abroad. Letters from Cleveland and other leaders were read, Governor Hoadly spoke, and ex Senator Wallace critiqued tariffs. The event stretched past midnight.
Special Dispatch reports Susan Stiltz a Roaring Creek cook attempted to poison Emma Mumberger a country school teacher boarding there by dropping powder into her cup at breakfast. The landlord halted the act by tossing the cup from a window as Stiltz confessed with no arrest reported.
Duncan Ross the wrestler, defeated by Graham, led a drunken party into the Fifth Avenue Hotel office in Louisville. He and three companions smashed furniture and threatened staff, firearms flashed as a clerk drew a pistol. Ross fled to New York before arrest.
A Wellington telegram to a London paper says New Zealand is tense over Germany’s alleged annexation of Samoa. The German squadron acted amid protests from English and American consuls, though the report’s accuracy is questioned and published with caution.
Special Dispatch to The Times from Porrsville reports Rev. John Jones filed for divorce against his wife after she left him amid accusations of beating and cruelty. He claims her actions destroyed his ministerial usefulness and slanderous reports. Papers sent to Pittston to serve.
Representative N. F. Northup of the Seventh district died this afternoon at his Glenburn home in Lackawanna county. He was in his sixty third year, born in North Abington township, and a member of one of the region’s oldest families. He had served in multiple borough and township offices and was a leading community figure.
Manager Barnie of the Baltimore Base Ball Club refuses consent to amend the National Agreement for an Eastern League Club here unless under his management. A second club location failed last season, so Baltimore is unlikely to be represented in the Eastern League.
The army appropriation bill reported to the Senate by the appropriations committee totals 238,949,052 dollars, 2,161,487 less than estimates and 470 less than the House bill. The sole increase by the Senate committee is 5,000 dollars for the Library of the Surgeon General's Office.
United States Collector Joseph Kalbfua caused the arrest of Owen Hughes in Mauch Chunk after a hearing before Commissioner Hahne. Hughes was charged with manufacing tobacco and rare spirits without a license and was committed to prison to await transport to Pittsburgh for trial.
Mrs Walden's suit against her husband for one hundred thousand dollars for support and maintenance was today dismissed in London. The action of Mrs Walden against her husband was withdrawn.
London february 12 report details general earl killed while leading british to victory at birti as six hundred Arabs die in terrain of koppen and rocky ridges. the black watch and staffordshire regiments drive rebels from positions with heavy losses on both sides. continuity notes woolseley kor-ti dispatches and gordon fate unsettled.
A hundred prominent Philadelphians arrived in Atlanta to host their own banquet for the city, arranging elaborate preparations and carriage arrivals while refusing to let Atlanta spend on their reception. They were hosted at Kimball House with a Governor's reception at the Executive Mansion, marking a reversal of Atlanta’s earlier hospitality.
The first winter reception of the New York Press Club, led by Amos J. Cummings of the Sun, drew crowds across every floor. Notables included Governor Hill, Attorney General O'Brien, State Treasurer Maxwell, Roswell P. Flower, Chauncey Depew, Police Superintendent Alling, and others, with carriages lining the streets and rooms packed for the event.
Tremont bells rang at eleven as word spread that Mrs. George Dick, about forty, an invalid with white swelling, had vanished from her home. Fears rose that she may have suffered a perilous fate.
A large refined silver bar weighing over 85 pounds and stamped Omaha and Grant Smelting was offered for sale by jeweler Benjamin F. Cohn of Maiden Lane. It matched a Mint shipment and was later identified as government property, suggesting theft by a visitor at the Philadelphia Mint.
February 12 in Harrisburg reports several measures. Haspel of Philadelphia seeks a 31 member Philadelphia Board of Education elected by wards for three year terms. McCaffrey pushes civil service reform with three examiners and a $1000 salary. Colburn proposes broad tax exemptions while real estate stays taxable. Senate also considers natural gas company incorporation and extending elk and deer season to December 15.
Senate advances repeal of the pre-emption and timber culture laws after debate over land titles. Palmer defends the measure aiding farmers while West and Edmunds dissent. The bill includes protections for valid rights and bona fide claims before next July. Army appropriation bill also passes with committee amendments.
Princeton board of trustees met in the library to discuss a 50 000 fund needed to retain a large professor corps and raise salaries. The school of fine arts is in order with 33 000 subscribed for an art museum. An architect will be hired to design the building site, and staff changes include naming W C Prime Marquand and General Mc Clellan to the architectural committee. J J Turner of Washington is to succeed George Golde as master of gran sports. H B Fine is appointed assistant professor in mathematics.
The House foreign affairs committee decided to report that American citizens could not be connected with a crime without charges. It said it was unbecoming to presume guilt and would not ask any government officer to search for proof where no charges exist.
Samuel Vansant of 2223 North Eighth Street was arrested at Thirteenth and Vine streets while en route to a masquerade ball. Annie Daily of 726 Min ster street swore out a charge accusing Vansant of stealing her dress and pawning it to obtain masquerade attire for two women. Vansant wore female clothing when seized, and Daily identified him despite the disguise.
The Great snow blockade on Western railroads eases as storms hit the deep south and midwest. Fires destroy six brick and five frame buildings in Princeton Missouri with losses around $75,000. Other items include business moves, rail accidents, and court actions.
Special Dispatch reports Representative Bayne criticizing the committee on appropriations for delaying bills. He cited Mr Randall's summer promises about early reporting, notes Democratic objections to maneuvers to gain patronage, while the House fixes inland mail funding and railway post office costs. The debate extended near midnight with the measure still pending.
Special officer Joseph Justice was stabbed in the left side during an ejectment at the National Theatre. Theodore Williams and two companions were detained. Williams was captured near Ridge avenue and Willow street and jailed. Justice survived after hospital treatment at Pennsylvania Hospital.
Camden Republicans held primaries selecting candidates for Council, Freeholders, and Board of Education and choosing delegates to the Assessors convention. Names listed include J G Howard, George Barrett, John W Rogera, John Campbell, Henry M Snyder Jr, Thomas W Beattie, Dr Er R Smiley, Isaac C McKinley, George W Ealer, R W Birdsell, William A Holland, William Ireton, John D Leckner, George Bundick, E J Dougherty, Harry B Yard, John R Wolf, Eugene Roberts, John Blowe, Edward A Martin, Franklin H Drake, William C Clark, Charles Helmbold, William Drake.
The finance committee favors reporting an ordinance to move 229500 from June 21 1882 surplus for Market Street bridge work to the Highway and Water Departments. An ordinance approving Bernard Malone sureties on intercepting sewer contracts 7 and 8 was read. Malone refused contract 6 due to a miscalculation, but Smedley noted completing 7 and 8 could save about 15000. the case was referred to the finance chair and City Solicitor with instruction to require Malone to take all three sections.
General H L Abbott of the United States Engineer Corps told the Military Service Institution at Governor's Island that high explosives are used for war and piracy and must be dealt with as crimes against humanity. He urged international agreement to arrest operators and abettors wherever found.
Five men died in a sewer on Kinsel Street as foul gases struck workers cleaning the line. Two rescuers heard cries, saved five others, but four were dead as they were brought to the surface and one died later. Names listed: Michael Laski, Joseph Gill, James Grady, Daniel Curtis, Matthew Mason.
Steamships arrive with voyages from Liverpool Glasgow Havana and Kingston to New York and from Baltimore to Bremen and Hamburg Suevia. Vessels pass Fastnet Scilly Isles Dover and Kinsale on routes from New York and Philadelphia.
A broken rail on the Pennsylvania Railroad at Red Hill caused twenty-two eastbound Empire freight cars to derail at one o'clock this morning. The track was torn up for over two hundred feet, but the cars suffered only slight damage and travel was blocked for seven hours.
A Tonquin dispatch says General Briere de Lisle leads a French column advancing toward Lang-Son with three days of hard fighting in mountain defiles. Losses on the French side are heavy, but the troops maintain steady resistance and progress.
The Delaware House passed an act incorporating the Ferris Reform School and the first divorce bill of the session divorcing Jeannette Chambers from her husband. Most members traveled to Selbyville in Sussex County this afternoon, leaving little business accomplished.
Fire destroyed the paper mills owned by Charles R. Colwell at Weymouth twenty five miles from Atlantic City. The blaze began about three o'clock this morning. Loss is at least 10000 dollars. Insurance and origin of the fire could not be learned.
At a meeting in Indianapolis the Western Base Ball League was formed. Participating clubs include Indianapolis Cleveland Kansas City Nashville St Paul and Milwaukee.
Coroner's jury in Camden returns verdict that Emma Woodward died Tuesday from chronic alcoholism following alleged assault by Burley and Fisher.
Elijah Parker and Rust Johnson were executed by hanging at Shrine Rock Arkansas. Parker had killed Lewis Fox in December and Johnson killed John C Wall in August. Johnson proclaimed his innocence from the scaffold.
John Kennan of 206 Centre Street was found dead in Christian Dougherty's saloon on Patton Avenue in Germantown after an evening of drinking. The coroner continued the case yesterday as investigators review circumstances surrounding the death.
Special Dispatch notes Trenton February 12 with the Delaware river conditions largely unchanged after rain. The report mentions ongoing inclement weather and potential impacts for Tuesday.
A sworn confession by Sadie Souder, niece of Lizzie Goersen, asserts she lied at both Goersen murder trials and was coerced by Joseph Souder. The confession could lead to a commutation from hanging to life imprisonment for Dr. Goersen, with further deposition and property records to be reviewed by the Board of Pardons.
An address prepared for voters in the city argues a corrupt cross party coalition aims to defeat the Republican ticket by inserting objectionable Democratic nominees among party names. The memo, drafted at 523 Walnut Street by William H. Browne and his committee, urges vigilance against fraud and urges voters to avoid being misled by apparent Republican ballots.
Increasing cloudiness with light local snows and variable winds. Southwesterly to variable, slightly cooler weather. In New York and Philadelphia colder air with fair skies followed by light snow. Temperature at the Signal Office yesterday highs near 25, lows around 8.6, mean 18.3.
The notice lists Democratic Common Council candidates in the Nineteenth ward Charles F Linde Peter Murphy and John B Geisa Maggie McPherson 14 of 2509 Federal street was treated for burns at Pennsylvania Hospital after her clothing caught fire from a kitchen range. The Third Regiment under Colonel Bonnaffon will attend divine service tomorrow at the Church of the Holy Trinity with a line forming at the armory at 815 PM. A Board of Surveyors meeting appointed Cranmer as Surveyor of the Third district vacancy caused by D Hudsonaker’s death. Frank P Richards of No 8 Bush place near Eighth and Arch streets was found dead at the foot of the stairs. presumed fall. District committee chairs of Councils’ gas and lighting met and planned lamps for districts and gear for others. Local Assembly 3393 Knights of Labor met at Union Hall Kensington. committee authorized to negotiate with manufacturers. Quiet day services held at St James Episcopal Church Twenty-second and Walnuts led by Rev Frederick Courtney. Evening meeting at United of the Epiphany Fifteenth and Chestnut streets. The Guardians of the Poor deliberate over rest of Marquis a nurse in a separate note.
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