Philadelphia, May 14

About eight o’clock on Friday evening last, the wind blowing violently from the west and north west, a FIRE burst forth from a wooden building, situated back of Dock-street, between the bank of the United States and the Bank of Pennsylvania, and in a short time the whole range of buildings, on both sides of Relief-alley, from Dock street to Carter’s alley, was enveloped in flames.

Every exertion that could prompt the zeal and activity of our citizens, was used on this occasion – and considering the violence of the wind, the narrowness fo the alleys, and the many combustible materials, (being chiefly carpenter’s shops) ti is some consolation that the whole block was not entirely destroyed.

Such an awful scene has not been witnessed for many years in the city of Philadelphia – for two hours it appeared as if no human skill or exertion could check the destructive progress of the flames – they extended their sparks to a vast distance, and the attention of the citizens was called to many quarters. In Front street , between Walnut and chestnut streets, the house occupied by Mr. Valance was nearly destroyed by one of the combustible materials.

On such an occasion, requiring the utmost activity and exertion of every citizen willing to be useful, it might be expected that accidents would occur – but the solemn and melancholy one we have to relate may be attributed to idle curiosity. On Saturday morning a man and a boy were crushed to death by the falling in of one of the walls, a long time after the wooden part of the building had been entirely consumed.

Mr. Stone, who volunteered his assistance on the roof of one of the houses in Third street , was so enveloped in the flames, that he with difficulty made his escape, and, we are informed, now lies very dangerously ill. Another person had his leg broke, by the falling of a ladder, wan was conveyed to the Pennsylvania Hospital , where every attention will be gratuitously paid, that humanity can dictate or require.

It is said that stakes of fire were carried by the wind quite across the Delaware to the Jersey shore, in such quantities as to render it necessary for the inhabitants there to keep the roofs of their house wet.

It is remarkable that just fifteen years ago, Friday night, the same district of the city was laid to ashes by the most destructive fire which Philadelphia had ever experienced, and this is the third conflagration which has happened in the same spot in the in the month of May*.

*The following is an extract from the Gazette of the United States , of Wednesday, May 11th, 1791.

“Monday night (the 9th) between the hours of 10 and 11, the city was again alarmed with the cry of fire, which broke out in a stable near Dock-street; the building was instantly inveloped in flames, which were rapidly communicated to those adjacent; and a great destruction of property was the consequence of this disastrous event; 10 or 15 houses, shops and other buildings fell a sacrifice to the flames.

The spirit and activity of the citizens were never exerted to better effect – the weather being calm, their exertions prevented the fire from spreading beyond the buildings immediately connected, and many of those, tho’ partly burnt, were saved from total destruction.”

List of houses damaged and destroyed:

James Kerr’s house, corner of Dock Street and Goforth alley partially damaged.
Two small brick houses, adjoining the above, occupied by Mr. Dubois and Mr. Ward, damaged.
A warehouse, full of hides and oil, owned by James Molony, destroyed.
A brick house of the east side of said alley, owned by the widow Todd, damaged.
Two brick buildings, corner of said alley and Carter’s, owned by Mr. Lamar, destroyed.
A currior’s shop, brick, in Dock street , occupied by A. Lowber, destroyed.
A large brick house, occupied by Joseph Beale, cabinet-maker, and Mr. Hamilton, teacher, destroyed.
A ditto, in Dock street , corner of Relief alley, occupied by Bonfall and Son, and William McPhail, destroyed.
A ditto, in rear of the above, occupied by Robert Kean, destroyed.
Three frame houses on the east side of Relief alley, extending northward to Carter’s alley, occupied by A. Ramage, Printer’s joiner, destroyed.
A large frame joiner’s shop, fourth-west corner of Relief alley, occupied by J. Aitken, destroyed.
Three ditto adjoining the above, and extending northward to Carter’s alley, in the first of which from Dock street the fire broke out, occupied by Joseph Burr, Windsor chair and trunk maker, destroyed.
One ditto, adjoining John Aitken, on Dock street occupied by Richard Loxley, currier, destroyed.
A three story brick house adjoining the above, occupied by Oliphant and Wilson, upholsters, destroyed.
A ditto adjoining, occupied by Mr. Baldwin, shoemaker, damaged.
Four ditto, on Third street – opposite the Bank of the United States , materially damaged.
A brick house at the head of Carter’s alley, south side, occupied by Mrs. Wetherill, destroyed.
A frame blacksmith’s shop adjoining, occupied by A. Ramage, destroyed.
Two brick houses in Carter’s ally, south side, occupied by Joseph Burr and John Payne, destroyed.
A three story brick house on the north side, and occupied by John Bioren, as a Printing Office, destroyed.
A small brick stable, the property of J. Wills, destroyed.
A brick house, on Carter’s alley, opposite Relief alley occupied by James Molony, damaged.
The ships, Xenophon , Connecticut , and several other vessels at the wharves, were also frequently on fire.

A general subscription is opened in the city for the relief of the sufferers.

ELECTRICITY NOT WHOLLY TRUSTWORTHY,

Councils' Committee on Gas Think It Unsafe to Remove the Old Lamps

When Chairman Loeblo told Councils' Committee on Gas yesterday that he had a communication from his Honor the Mayor relative to removing lamps superseded by electric lights, Mr. Monroe expressed himself. He wanted to hear the letter read. "Bring It before us," said he, "so that we can knock it out." After listening in company with his colleagues to the Mayor's views, Mr. Monroe declared that it would be "inadmissible to remove the lamps." There was no telling, he said, how soon it might be necessary to recur to their use, as electricity was not yet perfect as a means of lighting. Messrs. Graham and Newell seconded him, and, their views being adopted by the committee, it waa decided to report the ordinance unfavorably. The reverse was the case with the ordinance appropriating $25,000 for the new purifying house at the Nineteenth Ward Works, for which Director Wagner had approved a contract, and which Chief Engineer Park united with him in recommending to the committee.

After voting to recommend favorably ordinances for laying gas pipe on Bouvier, Van Pelt, Fremont, Thirteenth, Broad, Thirty-second, Siegel and Justice streets the committee adopted a motion made by Mr. Hammett to refer such ordinances hereafter to the Gas Bureau for information.

Before the adoption of the motion Mr. McMurray wanted to know If the reference invested the Chief Engineer with absolute right to say whether or not pipe should be laid. It so, he was opposed to giving anyone man such power.

"By no means," ruled the chairman, "the reference is solely that the committee may be Informed as to the necessity for the laying of pipe. The directing power belongs to this committee. It belongs to us to say whether or not pipe shall be laid.

IT HITS THE COPS
'LA GRIPPE' PROSTRATES PHILADELPHIA POLICEMEN

OVER TWO HUNDRED OF THEM SICK

New York, January 6.-Vital statistics for the twenty-four hours ending today, show the number of deaths to be 110, a decrease of nearly 100, as compared with the previous twenty-four hours. The principal causes of death were: Pneumonia, 31; plithisis, 26; bronchitis, 13; influenza 1. It is believed at sanitary headquarters that the worst of the influenza epidemic is over. The sick list in the police department, however, shows no abatement, but the reverse. At 6 o'clock this morning 415 disabled policemen were reported.

GROWING WORSE IN PHILADELPHIA

PHILADELPHIA, January 6.-The "grippe," which was thought to be decreasing among members of the police force has taken a fresh start, and after a few days' rest, it has renewed its work with increased vigor and alarming severity. Reports of the police lieutenants this morning show that the force is very much crippled, and that the renewed attacks of the "grippe" are so extensive that if it continues steps will have to be taken to keep the force to its standard sufficiency, as the policemen are overworked and unable to take the places of the sick patrolmen. In all there are now 231 patrolmen on the sick list.

Three sudden deaths, which are thonght to have resulted from one of the many forms of la grippe, were reported to the coroner this morning. In many of the cases, where the disease has made its appearance, heart failure has resulted before the symptoms were fully developed and the three deaths this morning, which the coroner will be called upon to investigate, are supposed to be from this cause. There seems to be no abatenieut in the progress of the disease throughout the city.

Deaths in the city for the week ended at noon Saturday, was 492, an increase of 126 from the previous week, and an increase of 88 from the corresponding period of last par. The principal causes of deaths were: Consumption of the lungs, 67; disease of the heart, 34; inflammation of the lungs. 71.