, 1864-03-15
DISASTROUS FIRE.
Destruction of Alston's Paint Oil and
Glass Warehouse-Loss Over One 8
Hundred Thous md Dollars.

The most destructive Gre that haa occurzed in
Chicago sincc April, '63. broke out at ~ O'CLOCK
yesterday morning in the store No. 1st Randolph
atrcet, occupied by John A1stou. 50 wholesale
paint, Oh and glass warehouse. when discovered
the fire bad made great headway smopg tho iu1an-
mable materials with which the center room on
the first floor. Was dlled. Tho building extended
back to tho hlley, 1870 feot and although the ste7u
era veze promptly on the ground, the inside ras
amoet entirely destroyed.
The front portion Of tho first floor Asnsod as .
retailing room, and contained dry paints, brushes,
white lead, azdEtes and paiutcrs' materials Of cv-
cry description, ca1s Of oils, varnsh, alcohol &c.
There goods wete damaged by heat and water, hut
not destroyed, though a largo portion arc useless.
The rear room on tho first floor Was faled with
boxes Of Elaee of all size6 and Of every manufac-
turc, including mirrors. It also contained several
tons Of white lead. The destruction Of those a1ti-
cles was complete. In the cellar were stored / 0
barrels Of linseel oil md large quantity OF Paris
white and white lend, which, unless damaged by
water, are probably eared. The front room of tho
second etory was used as an Office. The booss
md papers were rescued. In the rear Of the once
sa9ss ssss o d w Fsnss ss ard
either melted or fell into the cellar mass Of rub
,s;, NJ; yahn Miller. .hs bookkeepst Of the est.b-
When aroused. the frc prevented his egrcss by ws1
Of the stairs. and be was Obliged to wait for Id
Ger to DO raised 10 bis window before he could rel
out. IN the meantime. he was nearly snothefcd.
Mr.. II. lost valuable library. SJ0j piauo in the
came room was destroyed. The reminder Of he
third story contained boxes. barrels Of putty AND
Eue. kegs q paint, lead. and hundreds Of miscci.
hneous articles being general atoro-room. or
coafre everything IN 1t burned. Al least seven
Thousand boxes OF glass Warc stored in the building
Mr. Aston valued his stock at about S1DQ005. he
thinks that at least SIS Of this was utterly min
eu either by dee or water lie Is insured for S1a 500
as follows: Home, New York, $500; Providence,
Commonwealth, Nav York s3ooo; LorilsrSS. % SNS; Me-;
York; q too Niagara, New York, 81 500; Republic,
New York, $4000; Mercantile, New York, 3a,6O0:
Atns, New York, $s,5oo Resolate, New York,
$1,000; Liverpool 8 London, $10,Oo0 Metropolitan,
$500: Fi1emens, Chicago, s., 800; City Fire, Hart.
ford, 81 zoo; Relief New York, 5000 Home, New
Haven, $l,5tt; Merchants, Chicago, $ag 0: Gfratd
Philadelphia, $suo0; Charter Oak Hartford, Sa,0O;
Lenoz, New York, $500; American Exchange,
t00. ''''~~'' 3@@''''@~~' ~'"'0
The block destroyed was owned by William
B1alr, Whore loss a at least Of which 900
The building adjoinfng Mr. Elston's ssore On tho
caat-No. t79 Randolph--wns also owned by Mr.
Blnir, and occupied as Confectionery store, By G.
to hs 81 TS Ws
on fire.. inside and ont, soTcral times. but was
promptly sublued by the dte'nen. Damage slight.
The IrfgeB House on the west side, was also
slightly damaged Il was loud call'' for that
to neiEfborinE hotels with their bagS1se. How
ever nothing but. windows were broken, and rnfut
eharrcd. About 500 will fix 1t all right again.
The entire value Of the property destroyed may be
s ao0Tcndering the real loss SO t0V, all OF which
falls on MIR. Aston.