Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-12-28

Brauleboro', Dec. 5, 1886.
The GENERAL PosT-OFrICE AND
PATENT-OFFIcE IN ASHES 1t is with
no ordinary regret that we perform the
duty Of announcing the destruction, by
fire, Of the building in the central part of
this city, which has for many years been
occupied by the General Post-Ofice and
Patent Office, and the City Post Office,
with an important part of the contents Of
those buildings, including the entire con-
tents ofthe two latter.
The calamity, great as it is, has long
been feared by those old residents of Wash.
ington who knew the combustibIe nature
of the building, the floors being all of
wood, and some Of them not even counter
sealed,) and The custom of slowing fuel,
not only coal but wood, in the vaults un-
derneath the first floor. The calamity
has come at last, and affords the second
demonstration, within four years, Of the
utter absurdty and improviaence of the
structures to which the public archives,
records, and Government accounts have
been hitherto for the most part con6ded.
The first alarm of the fire was given by
Mr.. Crown, Messenger who usually
sleeps in the room connected with the City
Post Office the Postmaster's own room.
The clerks had been at work, asserting
the mails, until half past two o'clock, when
one Of the persons belonging to the office
mr. Lansdale) past out of the east door,
and along the whole front of the building,
without discovering anything to give rise
to suspicion Of danger. Not long after
three o'clock, Mr. Crown was reused from
a light slumber by the smell Of smoke
Opening the door Of the City Post Office,
he perceived dense smoke, without any
visible appearance Of fire. He gave the
alarm instantly, first rousing Mr.. Cox, one
Of the clerks, who slept in the back room
adjourning the Post Office, and who, COM
ing out Of the door Of his room, passed
along the whole ofthe long room with diff
6culty, through the smoke, hearing the
FIRE cracking, but being able to see moth
ing. The watchnen in the body Of the
building. some distance from the City
Post Office. had perceived nothing of the
smoke, until they, also, were alarmed by
Mr.. Crown.
The hour Of the night when all this
took place being one at which the whole
world is buried in the deepest sleep, it was
found almost impossible to spread the
alarm of fire. One ofthe church bells be-
gan to ring. but the ringer, not seeing any
fame, ceased ringing almost as soon as
he began, and it was full half hour be.
fore the alarm bells were rung, and more
than that time before an engine or buck
ct of water could be commanded. AS ii
was, the fire had Its own way, and was al
last seen in the vault or cellar immediate
ly under the delivery window ofthe City
Post Office; followed shortly afterward:
by flames from the windows of the latter
and, within five minutes afterwards, BY
flames from the roof, the fire having crep
up along the staircase or partitions to the
top Of the binding before it broke out be
low
From the moment of the flames burst
ing out from the lower windows, it wa
obvious that all hope of saving the build
ing was in vain. In little more than al
hour the whole interior of the building ant
its contents were destroyed.
The books of the General Post Otfic'
were all, or nearly all, saved, exertion
having been made for their safety from
} nearly the first moment the alarm bu
a mass of papers, &C. belonging to the Of
fee were destroyed. Not any thing wa
saved from the Patent Office or the Cit.
Post Office, the volume ofsmoke prevent
ing any body from penetrating the latte
, 50 as 10 save any thing
As to the origin Of the FIRE, it is impos
. sible to say any thing, for nothing seem
to be known Of it, except that it was in
cellar or vault, in which pine wood an
| coal were slowed, all which were proba
, bly, in a state of ignition before the fir
disclosed itself to the eye. We the NOR
: willingly forbear any conjecture as to tn
. cause Of the FIRE, since both Houses
: Congress have taken steps, through CON
mittees. to investigate it. and in one Hous
e with power to send for persons and pr
s pers.
/ Most fortunately the night was calf
# and comparatively serene, or the destruc
E ton Of private property would have bee
It inevitable and great. Had it occurred o
n the night previous, when the wind ele'
II almost hurricane, several squares OF va
5 liable buildings must have been destroy
L. ed. The means of the city for eKtIngu'sl
II ing fires are wholly inadequate TO u
ID value of the properly at stake. ana u
III sources for the supply Of water for the o
be g'nes are limited in their extent, as we
a. precarious. We trust that the lessc
- we have just received will not be lost
&C. those who have It in their power to app
the remedy. So 49,.
Ofall the amount of loss Of papers al
Mt property sustained by this disaster, ID ;