Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-10-03

been
THE PATENT OFFICE FIRE,
which occurred on Monday morning. The build
ing has already been described in this correspond
cnce, so that your readers have some idea Of the
range and extent which the fiery element would
have when once in possession Of SO large build
ing The Patent Once has always been considered
afire-proof structure and consequently no thought
has been given to the possibility of conflagra-
ton within its walls. when smoke was first seen
issuing from the roof on Monday morning, and |
the alarm was sounded, those inside the build
ind hardly looked up from their desks or ceased |
their writing not surprising for n moment that |
danger even threatened their stronghold, much |
less that destruction was impending. But soon |
the smoke grew denser and came pouring forth |
from the west wing in black clouds that seemed |
to envelope the entire roof The fremen began |
to arrive and hurrying feet assembled to the roof |
from whence the smoke was issuing. And still no |
danger was apprehended by the hundreds inside. |
The clerks stood in little groups, which were, |
however, rapidly increasing in size, and through |
the windows across the court in the center Of the
building, or in the court itself, were impatienty
watching for the subduing Of the smoke and for
the expected end Of the fight made by the fire.
men on the roof. For twenty minutes this pre-
liminary skrmish lasted, looked upon by nearly
every one only in the nature of huge joke, to
be laughed at while it lasted and soon to be over
But in twinkling the scene changes. All at once
a roar breaks on our ears which causes the crowd
to start and turn pale. crash is heard and the
flames burst out in all their fury. cry is borne
aloft "The roof has fallen" and the clerks
break and run The urid flames leap to the skies
and crown the massive pile with bright and
fearful light. The cracking Of timbers the roar
of the fiery element the hoarse cries OF the fire
men, the hurry of many feet along the marble
floors, all tell their own tale, and are the accom-
paniments usual to a scene like this. To the five
hundred clerks the beauty and grandeur of the
flames are completely lost in other and more per-
sonal considerations. Mere sentiment is out OF
the question The first thought of the average
clerk is for his own personal property lie rushes
frantcally his desk seizes his hat box, his silk
umbrella and his goldheaded cane in one hand,
while with the other he hastily fills his pockets
with the choicest bits of stationery within reach
pulls down his hat with firmer grip, as II CON
tempatng the necessity of a rush through both
fire and water, and gains the passage Here he
is met by his frightened and perspiring chief
who announces that the records must be carried
out before tho buildiny falls To relipopisb his
ov, rroner,v IN save that Of ano+ber is M, IN
lao ,ha,oh, ~ for n, ;rston, In ,bis oro,dary
be bi,es tho erst small nov that annears at an
enormous EXPENSE. to convey his goods to a
place Of safety, and then returns to help save
Uncle SANS By this time the clerks from the
Post Office building, and others, have arrived
to assist and now the usual work of destruc.
|
stroy :, , fre-fend is bound to finish. Time is
money to him. and to expedite matters. what
papers and furniture are left are hurled ont the
windows. Soon the grounds are strewn with the
files and papers belonging to the office The ap-
plication of John Smith for letters patent for the
discovery of perpetual notion" and BENJAMIN
Bagstock's claim to certain lands in Colorado, are
blown to the four winds of heaven and tortured
by the elements till past recognition. But there
| il an end tn all things. and even this conAagra-
| ton. still having so much to feed npon. has at
last to succumb to the battle made against it by
the rrepressible Washington firemen. And when
at last the flames dieout two sides of the building
| in the ton story. are in ruins That famous
model gallery. the work of American invention
and the pride of the country, is almost wholly de-
s,royed. The solid marble floors were proof
| AGAINST the fiery element and destruction of the
| lower stories was therefore ayerted
NM, ,oss M. nun. ,.,,r
aoo. $40, .oo,,, - no ~, ,roa, ~ n. Co.. o,ro
h5a1 ,a,no - ,la ,r.,o~., ,o.,no.ai ,,,,
ar-.ora,o o,,o, o,o mt a,,d hoi, h., ~. =
49, :, 49, -.
- ,to .a,,,a, ,.,. iii, .,,,.,, ~, -,
,,.oh',.',.o, ,o,au. T, ~.
| -. A.. ~. -, - -.
80
| s, -. -. '....'....-,..,,.. -, -.
| -, , -. .,,'''- !,
| ,1,.-,.s.. 49, =, 80 ~. -
$50, - -. 49,, 60 80,
- -o.e ,..." ,''.D, ~,
| '''e'' "'' i'"'0''' ''. "''''
| ware manufacture, castings brakes anu gins,
| bridges car couplings, churns journals and bear
mos carriages and wagons. engineering boistinp
| - 49,
FENCES ana carpentry me oiglhai lhouel oil inc
cotton gin, which first made cotton product OF
| nroftabe industry. was DESTROYED This was the
| ,..,a...,,.,. - 49, III, =, ~, win. A.,
| "V'P''" Vi '"o genius vi III" "n""eS' '"o
Yankee schoomaster who went to Georgia to
| teach and there brought forth his invention
| Tho b,siross of ,bo pa,ar, os,oo ,,os dala,sd
| "' w
| mt Two Gays ny the hre, ana Is now going ior'
| ward as usual. Meanwhile a temporary roof is to
he bnilt which will serve until an annronriatior
| -, =, !,
| u WHue ny tohsress 10 iepullu lie " ihuie sun