The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-09-07
DESTRUCTION OF THE LEAGUE HOUSE
Daring Rescue Of the Flag
from the Flames.
APPEARANCE OF THE BUILDING

About Lall.past y o'clock last night the alarm
Of Ere was heard sounding through the city
While the great banquet Of the Press Club was
at its height an excited individual rushed in
and gave the tidings thst the Union League
House was on fire. Late as thethouf Sas there
was general hlrrying 70 Che scene of the con-
nagration. Soon an excited crowd had gathered
TO witness the grand and fearful spectacle. The
beautiful building was soon crowned with
mass OF flame that lighted up the heavens with
its glare. The flags 6uttered from the hallards,
and the glorious old star-spangled banner itself
waved dedantly over the burning pile There
was a hushed stiffness resting on the crowd,
and all eyes were turned upwards, and many an
anxious whisper went around about the flags,
Shall they be saved, or snail they too be sacrI-
iced to the deyouring flames.
But soon the question was answered. Seven
daring men ascended to the ROOT, and while the
suTging volumes of black smoke and living
flames encrcled them, menacing them with
destruction, they hauled down the flag amidst
the laundering shouts and cheers OF the excited
crowd below. The flag was saved, and all
seemed TO think chat that was a compensation
in part for the loss of the building. These men,
| Charles Darragh ard c. p Cunningham, OF the
| Franklin Hose, Thomas Roberts and James
! Powers, of the Faumount Engine, James Win
! ters, OF the Philadelphia Engine, and George
! Nelson, of the Warren Hose, and another whose
! name we were unable to obtain, stood cody on
! the roof Of the burning building until the aags
| were all secured aud in safety. Soon after this
! the flames burst through every part OF the roof,
! and appeared TO threaten the entire destruction
! of the building, hut the untiring and energetic
| efforts of the ire companies on the ground sue
| Ceeded IN subdUing the flames about bali-past
The fire started in closet in the laundry on
! the third floor. The Steward haJ left the room
at few minutes before midnight, and every
/ thing appeared TO be all right, and there was no
! fire burning anywhere From the laundry. the
| fire, as it gained headway, spread through the
| upper stories, and catching the light framework
and the beams supporting the root, it rapidly
| enveloped the whole upper part OF the struc-
| ture. Most of the furniture and the valuable
paintings were saved.
This morning the ruined building presented
| sad aspect. All the upper part was burnt tor
! some distance around the laundry-room. The
ceilings OF the lower and second stories were
! cracked and ruined, dripping with water, and
! the beautiful fTescoes utterly detaced. Papers
! and books lay scattered over the floors trOdden
! into a wet mass. The valuable furniture was
| scattered through the lower rooms in great con
! fusion. But with all this destruction, with all
| this waste of fire and water, the glorious old
! flag stIll floats trumphantly over the burnt and
! SCARED mass like PhcniX arising from Its
! nest Of ashes.
The loss on the building and furniture will not
| fall lar short OF S3O,OOO. The building itself
! was insured for $50, 600, divided among the fol-
! lowing companies
Insurance Co. OF State of Pennsylvania. s 900
American insurance company. lbOJJ
Enterprise Insurance Company. .............. Is 600
| Worth American Insurance Company. .,...... 10 900
Reliance Insurance Company. y............... Is 600
On the furniture there was about S25,O00 in
! suranCe in the following otfices:-
Insurance Co OF State of Pennsy vania .. SIS 900
| delaware Mutual Insurance Company. ..... 10 600
| North America Insurance Company. .......... 10 900
Preparations viii Immediately be made to
| restore the Union League House to more than
It's original spendOr 1t is an event that can
not but be deplOred; and at this time, too, Ofall
| others, it is a great misfortune
M On n, Ac,rl rtl,nrlo,.