New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-07-16
PROMINENT BUILDINGS DESTROYED.

PROMINENT BUILDINGS DESTROYED.
FEW BUILDINGS OF GREAT VALUE BURNED-THE RE-
MOvAL OF HOUSEHOLD GOODs-THE PANIC OF
1871 REPEATED ON A SMALL sCALE-NEARLY
EVERYTHING OF VALUE REMOVED FROM THE
POsT-oPFICE-D DESCRIPTIONS OF SOME OF TIE
EDRICEs DESTROYED.
TBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEl
CHICAGO. July l5.-As will be apparent from the
dispatches of last night the fire has destroyed few
prominent buildings and very few fine stores OF
houses The district which il ravaged was poorly
improved. The fine house of Z. g. Hail. on the cor
ner of Peck-court that of Miss Couch, the repre-
sentative of the Couch estate. and of Mr.J. Young
Scammon, on Michigan-ave., are the most valuable
dwellings burned. Mr.. Scammons most irreparable
loss was on his library. This was very large and
very valuable.% By superhuman exertlOns Mr.
Scammon rescued it from the conhagratlon OF lS'l.
Last night he was absent from the city, ana IL per-
ished unnoticed. There were not less than 2O'OOO
books on his shelves which represented the labor OF
collection of many years. Mr.. Scammon's house was
the only valuable dwelling sacrificed on Michigan
ave. but there was great loss incurred by people
who moved their furniture. They were 10th to move
tue elegant household furniture in the aristocrauc
mansions on that thorOughfare, which might almost
as well burn as TO be hustled into carts and con-
who offered their services in the act of removal.
But at length the conviction began to take posses
sion of every one that that portion Of the avenue
between Peck-court and Congess-st. was
sure TO burn, and then began repe-
tition on small scale IL Is true
of the panic Of the great fire. Massive mirrors were
hustled out and in the hustling were frequently
broken: magnificent Turkey carpets were torn up ;
t-edged books of the most costly sort were thrown
from upper windows 10 be carried oil and approprl-
ated in many cases by the spectators The lake
front was made rhe receptacle for the household
goods and for two or three blocks was covered with
the most elegant articles 1t made little difference
10 many of the occupants whether the houses were
consumed OF were saved. The furniture would
never be got together again. AS 1t was. the great
mass of II was bOpeessy ruined or lost IN the nasty
removal The following is list and description OF
some of the other valuable buildings burned:
THE PosT-oFTCE.
This building, which was once fashionable
Methodist Church. marked the northern line Of the
1871 fire. when it only toasted. costing orlgl-
naIy $4,000 It's value had very much fallen and
was later worth perhaps third OF that 1t was
hired nv the Government for five years AT $4,000
wear. When the fire was several blocks distant the
EMPLOYEES of the Post-Ofice were directed by Gen.
and when it became apparent that the building
would burn everything of value was placed in the
Government wagons aud taken 10 the West Side
station. Not a dollar was lost. The stamps and
stamped envelopes and the accounts Of the Money
Order and Registry Departments placed III one
wagon, and sent under a trusty guard 10 "a
place of safety. 1t was afterwards ascertaDed
that the value of this wagon load was S27S,0OO.
Many cases of stamped envelopes which are
sent TO the postmaSters in large wooden cases.
were left in the old building and burned. Their
nominal value is supposed TO be about 100000, but
they are all accounted for in the books of the De-
partment at Washington, and it will be easy
thing to relieve Gen. Macarthur from responsibility
by an act of indemnify. No mail matter lost.
Even the paper mails were carried away with great
success so that II is believed, not more than one or
two out of several hundred sacks were burned.
The public will experience little inconvenience by
the burning of the Post-Office building Before it
was fairly on fire, Gen. Macarthur took measures for
the immediate wants of the office, and before the
evening was over he had succeeded in leasing the
building of II. II. Honore on the corner of Adams
and Dearborn-sts The rescued mails were taken
there late in the evening and carpenters set work
TO prepare tor the resumption of business Thursday
morning The building constructed for hotel,
and will be commOdiOus and roomy for public bust
ness. The choice will be regarded a most happy
one. as the new Post-0fce is Immediately opposite
the Government building.
TIE MICHIGAS-AYE. HOTEL.
This hotel situated at the corner of Congress
St, aud was a relic of cid Chicago. 1t was called
the fremont House for year after the fire of 1871,
4 and marked the lake limit of the lire. There being
nothing between this point and the water but bar
rem lot, nothing was burnt This hotel will'b re-
melnbeTed as tall, oldfashioned, but elegant-ook
ing building.
IHE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
This was an lmInense stone structure ON Wabash
ave, between Peck aud Eidrdge-courts THE build
ing nine years ago, was probably the finest church
ntrpctnrs IL the city. II cost aDout al5uVv1 AND