Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1877-09-24
EXTRA!
A GREAT FIRE.
THE PATENT OFFICE IN FLAMES.
Destruction in the Upper Story.
THE BUILDING A WRECK.
Aid from Baltimore and Alexandria.
ORIGIN OF THE CONFEDERATION.
A GREAT FIRE.
THE BUILDING A WRECK.
ORIGIN OF THE CONFEDERATION.
ANOTHER GREAT FIRE BROKEOUT

took place in what is known as the ''3reen
House." just under the roof of the Patent Of
fee building and directly over the portico of
the west or 9Th street front. Instead Of turn
ing in an alarm at once, as should have been
done an attempt was made by the EN-
plOyes there To- subdue the flames, but the
fire rapidly gained on them, taking hold of
the roof timbers. Not until 1885 O'Clock was
an alarm turned in, and then by Sergeant
Arnold, of the police force, who saw the
smoke from the outside, and turned in box
131. corner nth and g streets. This quickly
brought out the fire department, ami Oh eff
Engineer Crouin. seeing the great danger of
destruction Of the pubic property, at once
turned in a general alarm, and telegraphed
10 AlcXand rIa and Baltimore for ass lSJauCe.
When our fire engines arrived the fire had
already made great Roadway and hal envei-
OFed humber of rooms on the third floor.
The engines got TO work at once, but the
flames continued TO gain Roadway until
THE WHOLE WESTERN FRONT WAS
ABLAZE.
Meanwhile the terror stricken employees of
the department, when notified of their dan
ger, had left the building, many OF them de-
parting so hastily as TO leave ats, bOnnets
shawls and other wearing apparel behind.
A large crowd, numbering probably 5000
persons, gathered on G., r and 9th streets 10
watch the progress of the flames. which at
noon seemed 10 be making Roadway, not
withstanding the efforts OF the fire depart
inert Lines Oh nose were run IDECuSn the
windows at different points, and firemen
could be seen on the top OF the building di-
recting the operations below. About fifteen
minutes past Il O'Clock the
ROOF OF THE WESTERN WING FELL IN,
and soon Afterwards the fire was discovered
rapidly making its way along the g street
wing, towards eth street. The cases contain
ing the models of the Patent Office could at
this time be seen enveiCped in fire, while
clouds of burning papers, the records OF the
Il Il md q md palA no Hcns
Ing upwards. AT this time the walls of the
west front still stood, bat large cracks began
to show themselves between the blocks Of
marble, and IL was feared that nOtw and.
ing their great thickness they might fall
THE FIRENEN AND POLICE.
The building covers two blocks, between
9Th and 9th and q and F streets. On the ar
rival of our fire department the engines took
position al the corners o. Gun and +, 9th and
u, and on The u street front, the Hook and
Ladder truck Oh the Sth street frOut. and
rope were stretched 10 Keep the crowds out
al n way uI The tremen also out oi dan
ger, a. there was some apprehens on of the
nar BILE walls cracking from the heat. Under
The direction of Chief Engi neer Cronin A Il
ASSISTANT Chief Drew the firemen went TO
work win Will, the police, under Licuteu-
ant Austin, a>ssIing in keeping the streets
c ear and in other ways aiding the firemen
The ladders were used in some instances il
getting some OF the employees out of the build
ing.
About 1870 O'Clock the truck company
from Alexandria arrived, and in about tiE-
teen minutes afterwards No. 2 engine OF Bal
timOre came up, being drawn from the raj
rOsd depot by the horses OF our department
she took the plug at the corner of Ith aud q
streets.
THE "NoDEL ROOM" DESTROYED.
The upper part of the building-the loft
under the rOOf-was mostly filled with ina
mense piles Of papers and documents from
the bureaus In the lower part of the building,
while the upper story proper, under the loft,
contained probably the finest collection of
models il the world, which It is impossible
to replace, as many OF them date back to IN.
early days of the Patent Office. There WAS
also on this floor large numbers of maps
&c. These ell being in wooden cases the
IRE spread rapidly from one tO the o,her
The floors Of the building are on brick arches
building wa. not reached by the fire, but the
water played sad havoc with tbs book. and
papers below.
1910 Pm.
AT this time the fire is sweeping fiercelv
along the q street front towards eth street,
and ii looks as If the whole of the upper
story would be swept by fire. The ire on the
Hth street wing is now under control, and GA
The southwest corner Is nearly eXtinguished
The occupants OF houses on 9th street hli
taken the pTecaution 10 have wet blankets
suspended from the roofs, and al this time
lheie seems no danger of them taking fire
Inc neat on " street, however, Is very IN
tense and Al looks as though Wright's build
ing, corner of 18th and q, will have TO go.
l. is thought the progress of the fire Will be
stayed when II mas burned out the upper sio-
ry, as the floor below is supported by heavy
arches. The roof of the building was OF iron
with copper sheathlHg.
1880 p. NJ,
The nre Is now out on the west front, but is
burning rapidly, and has reached tn street.
The engines are playing on the Thompson
nm ri xrk, xutn
probably be saved. Some OF the employees
OF the office are engaged picking up records
when biew out OF the windows. The walls
thus lar stand arm. The fremen are work
Ing like Trojaps, and the police have drawn
Gordon along q street to keep back the
large crowd.
Thank God!" exclaimed a man in the
crow q, This will give work to the pOor!"
FINDER BOX UNDER THE ROOF.
Last Thursday, Inspector of Buildings
Thomas NJ. Plowman was called upon by
Acting Superintendent Mills, Of that build
ing, To examine the upper portion OF tbs 9th
support about one hundred tons OF file pa
pers. He found that Q large quantity OF
shelving 10 store files ON had been put In
over The topmost ceiling arches next TO the
teof, or between these points, which had
never been occupied for any purpose. These
shelves were loaded down with papers and
cOmbustibie materials, but AS he W as called
upon 10 pass Judgment only astO its capa-
CITY 10 support the weight OF these papers, he
Ola Lot examine aB TO this point.
SAVING THE PAPERS,
No one in the Interior department seemed
70 feel solicitous as TO the records aud papers
contained I'm any OF The rooms On the west
front, except the model room; but when the
G-street wirg fell a prey TO The flre, efforts
were a, once made 10 save the valuable rec.
oIds. The papers of the Indiau off % were
remover In large quantities 10 the vicinity of
9Th ard streets. Some enthusiastic aud
!udiscreet workers threw portions Of the
Land Office records out OF tue windows, and
They were mainly carried to WrignL's build
~ &. II was noticeable, hO wever, that hoo,!-
INNS In some instances made way with val
liable books.
NARROW ESCAPES.
James Norris, OF No. engine company,
came near being killed. He was on q ladder
on the g street front, tearing down an avn
Ing, when he became suffocated with the
smoke, and fell, but fortunately was caught
by his brother nremen And borne Off in an
unconscious state.
william r. West, OF The Critic, came near
being killed by the falling of the western
roof. He was under 1t just before 1t fell, Sut