The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-09-17
DISASTROUS FIRE At THE BALTIMORE
CUSTOAE-HOUSE.
IFram .he baltimore Exchange, Sept. ID. !

From lhe Baltimore Exchanges Sept Iol
Yesterday morning about twenty minutes To four
clock fire, which resulted very disastrously broke
out in the custom house at the corner of Gay street and
Exchange-pace In brief time after Its discovery the
who'd range OF offices the west side of the corridor,
hall of the buildng, enveoped in flames, which
burst forth in so terrific manner that those
watch aud those first upon the ground unable to
either the books papers contained in these
The fre Is attributed to accident AT the time, watch
men John Reynolds Emanuel Wyneman, and James
Gothrop duty and the two latter had ascended
into the upper portion Of the building stop leak in
the roof when their light became extinguished and Cor
throp returned to the messengers room where the fire
broke out to religh it Having done SO he went TO the
upper stories again, leaving Reynolds alone watch
1t is supposed that in lighting the candle Gorop had
either dropped lighted match spark among some
papers in the messengers ROOM which also used
storage room for the papers Of the department Rey-
nolds discovered the fire in few minutes thereafter and
called his companions down. when they made attempt
to extngush the flames by means of buckets, but her
efforts of avail the heat had become intense
that they compelled to retire from that portion of the
custom house, when they gave the alarm which soon
became general from the ringing of the wnclock bell
At about tho same time VIM. Waltz, the watchman OF
the postoce, sne the fire, and proceeded to the Lom
bard 'front.' where he found policeman Pndel and
they also joined in spreading the ALARM and in the effort
to check the flames In short time the entire contents
the messengers destroyed, when the flames
swept through round hole about three feet in diameter
tho south side of the room into the adjoining
containing the records of the foreign and American
ports together with large number Of valuable papers
running back to 1852, were placed All these de-
stroyed. with the exception OF five volumes of exports
of 1854 and some few important papers, which, being
placed in desk and closet the side of the wall
preserved from destruction by the efforts of the hose
pipeman of the Liberty Fire Company, constant stream
being kept thereon.
From this the flames communicated to the
pied by the warehouse clerks Here the books and pa
pcs all either destroyed rendered useless except
in few cases, matters Of reference The next
Office occupied by the deputy and clerks of Mr..
Bowen the naval officer. Here the consequences were
most serious, records for five years back de-
stroyed OF all the books and papers contained in the
naval department., escaped either entire destruction
being rendered valueless as even those which were
not entirely burned charred to be rendered,
for tho most part egible.
The private office Of the naval officer next adjoining
also suffered considerably, both by fire and water All
the furniture in the frst-named entirely de-
sroyed, whilst in this latter il seriously dam
aged
The range of offices from the messengers to the
end Of the building is of framework the partition be-
tween each only being about ten feet high and leaving
vacuum above, under the ceiling through which the
flames had easy AS the fire bells
nicated the alarm the fire department hasened prompt
ly to the spot aud bored for three hours with
ceasng exertions to eItingush the hanes which had
gained such headway that they threatened the safety of
the sntire building. The flames spreading upwards
caused tho pastcng OF the ceiling fall by which the
lath rld wood work of the flooring sboye exposed
The sices the cast side Of the building not in
jured by the fire. the water necessarily throws did some
lits damage TO the books and papsr Beyond this and
the breakisg of che window panes other loss Will be
sustained
Owing to tho placing of zinc and mortar underneath
the flooring OF the second story and the eneasny OF the
rafers with the metal is to be attributed the pres
eryation of the upper stories from any considerable dam
age.
1t Is impossible to estimate the loss which must cnsuc
to the government from this disaster The cost of
h,,i1R
the several rooms, will not fall far short of $40 O00
while it will be necessary to have the damaged books
transcribed, which will be heavy item of expense AS
consequence natural to the destruction vast num-
Der OF books and papers considerable Inconvenience will
be experienced in the transaction of the business of the
house. while it is not improbable the loss of
the records will result in future expense from litiga
ton. &c.
Collector Mason summoned to the scene Of de-
struction as soon possible, also number of
the attaches of the custom house. but they could effect
but little in their efforts to the books &C. AT an
early hour in the morning, Fire Inspector Boyd had
number of men employed to clear the premises of the
ruins, preparatory to their immediate repair Through
out yesterday all the clerks and other employees there
actively engaged in preparations for speedy
sumption of business of which but Iittle as yet could
be transacted Information of the disaster once
despatched to the Treasury Depar tnen at Washington
and prompt action may be expected with view to tenn
poraIy arrangements for the discharge of the public
business, but under the most favorable circumstances
several days must eapSe before anything like order can
be restored in the several departments.
Watchman Wyneman made narrow escape from
death by suffocation. He had returned to the building
after being driven out by the hames and being over
come by the heat and smoke, fell to the floor. His cries
for help heard for time before assistance could
be afforded him, but finally Inspector George Reilly
Watchman Washington Goodrich, Officer Pndell, and
Messrs Gray, Shaw and Jones, of the Mechanical Fire
Company, succeeded in rcsouing him when almost ex-
hausted and after receiving the professional services of
Dr. Hintze he removed to his residence Inspector
Reilly also seriously injured by being caught by
large mass of the falling ceiling by which he pros
tratcd and much bruised whilst the arteries of his
arms severed and the acerated in painful
manner.
The building the property of the government and
uninsured.
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