The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-09-25
Records that Cannot be Replaced
Destroyed.
MYSTERIOUS ORIGIN OF THE FIRE.
The Declaration Of Independence and
Washington Relics Safe.

enng tho entire destruction Of tho valuable property
relics which the cdilco contained. Tho entire
force OF the Fire Department OF tho District soon
tho ground and working vigorously. Several lro
companies from Baltimore arrived about halfpast
twelve and another IRON Alexandria, and rendered
valuable service Ia subduing tho flames
PROGRESS OF THE FLAMES.
On their nrst arrival tho nremen, great efforts
succeeded in getting their hose through the windows
OF the upper story of tho building. but spite
their efforts the flames continued to make headway,
and the whole OF the upper portion OF tho wing
on Ninth street, dovoured by the couaagration,
tho nro meantime creeping along between tho coilng
and the root Of tho north wing and Of the main
building, on II street
SAVING THE PROPERTY.
Secretary Schurz and his assistants wero meantime
actively ut work experimenting the removal OF files,
models ana records from tho building TO places Of
safety elsewhere. guard OF District militia, under
command OF Major Hanneman, was placed on duty
guarding the entrance to tho stairway loading ~
the Model Room In tho centre building, In which an
immense number Of models yet renamed.
Soon after three O'Clock the excrtons OF the fire.
mon brought tho conlagration under control and op.
por,unity given look tho scene OF dosruc.
ton aud ascertain the extent OF tho damage caused
ORIGIN FIRE.
Chief Clerk Lockwood, oil the Interior Department,
that the lire originated from spontaneous CON-
buston OF q lot Of non patented chemcal material
stored in tho attic Of the building the Ninth
front He declares that NO nro mado In the con.
servatory to-day, had any been made In tho
building. fa
THE LOSS.
Tho principal loss from the fire tails upon tho Patent
Onlce In the west hall, where the models all
destroyed, many pertaining TO presses OF various
k.ud hntot In land
toys, railroad and Inventions, nc. Among the
models IN other portions Of the building saved wore
those relating to electrical apparatus chrononoters
cutting machines heating contrvanccs, and also tho
original model OF the Howe sewing machine.
VALUABLE KxLIcS SAVED
The original copy oil tho Declaration OF Independence
and rctcs OF General Washington, which wero
hbitioa the nall Of the main building were saved,
tn, same hall Since the flames have boon
suDducd the ofncais have had an opportunity 10
nuke hasty examination. II has boon found that
nearly all the specifications and original drawings
the Patent Onco arc safe, and from these models
can DO Reproduced II nscessary, None Of the Land
many Of them are seriously damaged by water, and
II viii take some time 10 restore thcin
The room OF tho Patent Ofico whorcin the original
drawings vi patents were kept had very narrow
escape, AZ ilus leading from II formed u conduit
through which the flames from about entered, and Is
only by the most strenuous Efforts that the OPEN
ing was stopped und this valuable portion OF the
Patent ONCE papers saved
RECORDS SAVED
The records or tho application division, the odice
which lrst receives applications from patsGecs and
The most valuable models saved those relating
TO sewing machines, firearms, printing presses,
wsla erousy injured whs icing romovsd taG eas
be repaired Tho anxiety OF patent attorn eys to
particular models IN which they wore interested, vas
great and they were rushing about to secure such
models
It Is said immense Of litigation will grow
out Of tho disaster to-day as the law in regard 10
has nc cd
until the past few years, and MANY models cannot,
therefore, be reproduced accurately. In tho matter
OF the reissue OF patents the destruction OF models will
necessarily result in litigation, especially in
relating to reapers, mowers and various agricultural
nipple ments, oil OF which were destroyed
This evening Secretary Schurz sent for Architect
Clarke, Of the Capitol aud Supervising Architect HILL
Of the Treasury, and conferred with them regarding
the construction OF temporary roof Tor the building.
Tho plans will be prepared immediately and force OF
sixty workmen tonight commenced to remove the
debris from the Ninth street and street wings, prep
sratory to erecting tho temporary root which will be
done without delay.
xxTxSr OF THE DAMAGK
The damage 10 the building Is varousy estimated at
from $500 QUO TO $780, 0O0 while that growing out OF
the destruction OF models and other vauabes belong
ing to tho Patent Office - almost iucalculable The
arches which formed tho ceiling OF tho second story
upon which the floor Of the third story rested
badly damaged by tho heat and water that many Of
them must be- torn down anu new ones built Tho
marble OF the walls is considerably discoored
by the flames aud cracked In many places noar tho
windows by the great heat Tho roof OF tho building
not at all ro proof and thc lamcs spread under It
with great rapidity. IL was supported by wooden
raitcrs upon which rested shcathing OF Who pho
boards, the whole covered with copper. There
ro walls in the roof 10 arrest the progress Of the
flames
VIEWS OF Tnx CHIEF xNGISERR.
Chiei Engineer Cronin, OF the Fire Department,
presses the opinion that the rc had been smoudcrng
erod, as ho made examination as he reached
the building, immediately after the alarm
between tho coing and roof Of tbs Ninth street wing
nearly The whole square from TO q streets. Hc Is
confirmed In this opinion by the declaration OF
VI the lsborers about tho building that they smell
smoke when tho building was opened this morn
INK There was but one hight OF stars leading
10 the model room, and this from Iho
+ street front Ut the building about 200
feet from where tho nro broke out. Fortunately
the flames were kept from the ROOT over these stairs
and tho clerks and others we're thus enabled TO gam
access TO the model room ana remove many models
from the Seventh and street wings whle the lro
They driven from tho q street wing, however,
by the flames before all tho models that part Of the
building could be- removed
ADJoURSMKSr COURTS.
The courts adjourned ON account oil the fire, and
many places OF business In the vicinity OF the burning
Tho models removed taken to the sccord floor
Of the building where they arc heaped together IN
the greatest confusion.
rnE WASHINGTON RHLcs
The Washington roles saved wore taken to the ohco
Of Secretary schurx Thoy embrace, among other in
tcresting ARTICLES, Washington's war sword, swords
presented TO him by various foreign potentates. his
ordinary plate, his compass, tho wed him by
ben)un rTuukuu, MS mintaFy UNIFORM, q cuudclaOr0
and old pair vi bellows
CURIOUS RuMoRs.
The mysterious origin Of the ire and the fact that
tho Land and Indian bureaus OF the Interior Depart
ment undergoing searching vest cations on
account Of alleged extensive frauds led tho circua
Of reports that tho conlagraon the work Of
incend'ary employed by the supposed rings TO de-
stroy records that might be produced against them.
5cHuRz INvEsrfGAriNG.
Secretary Schurz has Instituted all inquiry into the
cause o The ire ana Is prosecuting 1t SO vigorously
that lie WI, pass the night among The ruins OF his de-
partmcnt aud give every possible ccw tho srictest
personal inspection. He has detailed a large number
Of employees OF tho department with change -
come on at midnight ana the Railways oil the building
on all thrce hoors present decidedly minated ap-
pcarancc.
DAxAcR FROM WATER.
Much damage IL apprehendcd TO the rooms on the
lower floors by water, which Is leaking through the
ceilings throughout the building. An immense guam
tty oil water was thrown into tho building during The
progress Of the fire. and tho upper floor serving as
reservoir, the water heated to tho scaldine de-
gree, aud leaking down has quite seriously burned
anumber OF persona
THk QUARTERS
II Is not yet known whcthcr new quarters VIII be
engaged tor the branches oil tho department that have