The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-09-25
GREAT WASHINGTON FIRE.
a TERRIBLE CONFEDERATION In THE
BUILDINGS or THE DEPART
MENT OF THE INTERIOR.
valuable OfHcIa1 Papers, Models, ETC., de-
strOyed In the Patent OfIice--sev.
eral Lives Lost.

strOyed In the Patent Omce-Sev.
cral Lives Lost.
WASHINGTON. Sept. A.-The whole west
side Of the quadrilateral of the Interior De-
partment has been destroyed by fire, which
is still unsubdued.
In consequence Of the fire business in the
departments Is almost entirely suspended,
and the clerks, with thousands of citizens, are
crowded in the streets adjacent to the fire.
The fire broke out in the roof, in place
where the flowers are slowed in winter, and
it is supposed to be the result Of the intense
heat.
The model room is now on fire and the con-
tents will be entirely consumed.
Every effort is being made to prevent the
flames from spreading. The entire fire de-
partment is out and assistance has been
asked for from Baltimore. Business in the
different departments is entirely suspended.
The fire has extended considerably during
the last half hour showing that the fire de-
partment is unable to control 1t. The entire
north wing Is on fire from Ninth street to the
centre Of the building, and seems to be gradu-
ally extending west and south. 1t is said
that the building is fire proof up to the top OF
the second story. II this should prove true
the loss will be confined principally to model
castings and the furniture Of the model room,
as assistance from Baltimore has just arrived.
Ford, chief Of mining division, says he has
saved every paper Of Importance in his diyi-
sion. The destruction of the room on Ninth
street, in which the fire made its first appear
ance, seems to have been complete. This
floor has proved to be fireproof, and the fire
has not gone through to the room below An
engine Is still playing on this room To cool off
the iron floor; meanwhile the fire still ex-
tends on the north front, and the employees
in the building have commenced to throw out
models from the windows. The contents of
the model room are as dry as can be. From
present appearances the second story tier has
burned out.
The buildings ON the opposite side of the
street are covered with blankets, and people
stationed on the roofs with buckets of water
to prevent fire lodging. Notwithstanding
this, Waits building, on the north side, has
just caught. This building was formerly oc-
cupied by the government. The Baltimore
engines three In number, came over in thirty
three minutes. On their arrival at the Patent
Office they were greeted with tremendous
Z
Alexandria. The fire has burned out the up
per story on the north front, and is now
slowly coming on the west side. 1t is barely
possible that the reinforcements in engines
will enable the fire department to bring 1t
under control The greatest confusion ex-
listed In the department up to an hour ago.
Another train with engines left Baltimore
at / AT p.m M From present appearances they
will be needed, as new fire has broken out in
the vicinity of large number of frame build
ings, and should the fire get from under the
control OF the firemen the best part of three
squares would be in imminent danger of de-
struction.
LATER.--The livery stable is on fire. It is
rumored that two men have been burned in
the stable. One man jumped out of the win
dow and reports that two more were left in.
2:4O p. m.-Another fire has broken out on
E street, and another on First street near the
War Department. Many people express the
fear that these fires are the work of incen-
diaries.
Rumors prevail that six men were In the
stable and that only one man escaped Col.
Haywood, Capt. Titus Codiere and Leuts.
Goodall and Russell, with $50 marines, are on
duty and are around the Interior Department.
More troops are in readiness, If wanted
The fire In the Interior Department at this
hour Is fully under control, and no further
apprehension is felt that 1t can revive.
Among the models destroyed are agricultu-
raj, civil and all kinds and classes of rejected
models.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 2.-The fire in the In
terior Department is now under most com
plete control The interior of the building,
however, presents dilapidated appearance.
Water In immense quantities is leaking from
the upper room, damaging many valuable
papers. Other papers are scattered in utter
confusion through the halls, and models have
been thrown down stairs and may be found In
every hall and on the grass plats outside Of
the building and in the interior courts.
The loss of valuable papers will beimmense,
and 1t is thought that the loss cannot be re-
paired. The timely arrival Of the marines
put stop to this sort of thing; they took all
government property under charge and are
piling 1t up safely; they are helping the fire
men and making themselves generally useful
$40 D. m.-The walls of the brick stable
have just fallen In with great crash, and il
Is reported that three Baltimore firemen arc
buried in the ruins.
$40 D. NIT is ascertained that none of the
Baltimore firemen were hurt; none of them
were working on the G street fire.
$3.50 p. m.--The fire on E street and in first
ward have been subdued; another small fire
just broke out in the northeast part Of the
city; will not amount to much.