The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-09-25
Warrington.

TaRllAl. blNNlNS VI al L.>l VI
WASHINGTON, September 24.-Shortly be-
fore noon fire broke out in the conservatory
above the model-room OF the Patent-Office
building, and ut 1890 the entire upper poT-
ton OF the west wing OF the building 'front.'
ing on Ninth street was in flames, and the
fire is creeping along between the ceiling
and roof towards the north wing and main
building on i street. The fremen have
succeeded in getting hose in the Upper win
dows Of the main building, but the fire is
not yet under control. Many models have
been destroyed, and the clerks and others
are assisting the firemen in the removal Of
models, records, &C., to places Of safety.
The streets are crowded with spectators,
and much excitement exists.
The Land Office is directly under the
portion where the fire is raging, but it is
thought the valuable papers and records
will be saved and the fire confined to the
upper stories. All the tire-engineS OF the
District and several from Baltimore arc at
the scene OF the conflagration, the latter
having reached here from Baltimore in
about thirty minutes.
LATER-EXTENT OF THE LOSS.
The F-street front OF the Patent Office is
saved. The upper story OF the Ninth and
G-strects front is Quilted. The upper part
of the building (the loft under the roof) was
mostly filled with immense piles OF papers
and documents from the Bureaus in the
lower part Of the building, while the upper
story proper, under the lott, contained
probably the
FINEST COLLECTION OF MODELS N THE
WORLD,
which it is impossible to replace, as many
OF them date back to the early days Of the
Patent Office. r-
There was also OH this floor large num-
bcrs of maps, &c. These all being in wooden
cases, the fire spread rapidly from one to
the other. The floors OF the building are Or
brick arches, and consequently the lower
part of the building was not reached by the
fire, but the water played sad havoc with
the books and papers below.
RELICS OF GENERAL WASHINGTON.
The relics OF General Washington and
the original Declaration Of Independence
were saved. Many other articles were car
red from the model-room
The origin Of the fire is unknown. 1t
probably occurred from the early failures
in the Office. o..
Green & Osborne's ivery-stable, close by.
was burned. 1t is asserted positively that
Halt q dozen people are missing, and are
supposed to have been lost.
The engines from Alexandria and Balti-
more arrived promptly. The fire ragged
from to O'Clock.
CHEF CLERK LoCKwooD's OPINION.
Chief Clerk Lockwood, OF the Interior
Department, states that the lire originated
from spontaneous combustion among lot
of non-patented chemical material stored in
the attic OF the Ninth-street wing. The
damage to the building is variously estl-
mated from 100000 to 100000, while that
resulting from the loss OF models and other
yaluables connected with the Patent Office
proper is almost iucalculable. Many OF the
clerks arc at work tonight to assert the re-
cords and dry the papers which have been
injured by water Arrangements have al
ready been made to construct q temporary
roof to the building, and the detriS is now
being removed preparatory to its construc-
ton. Of,
TIMBER CUT FROM GOVERNMENT LANDS.
Commissioner Williamson, of the General
Land Office, has Information from the Gov
eminent officials in Calhoun parish, South
western Louisiana, that they have COM
menced the sale OF timber seized from par
ties who, it is alleged, unauthoritatiyely cut
it from Government lands. With what sue
cess the sale will be attended is not known.
.-.: The Late Strike. a. 80,
TIE DELAWARE AND LACKAwANNA C0LLERIEs
... s- ..s-. TO BE OPENED TO-DAY. ......r
SCRANTON, PA.,. September 24.-The Del
eware, Lackawanna and Western railroad
will open their colleries to-day or to-mor-
row. Men have been picked out willing to
work if given military protection. This
will be given. There are thirteen compa.
MES Of regulars, city gurads battalion, and
four other companies now in Scranton, and
the three-months' regiment'will be called
on by the Governor il needed. ="
1t is generally believed il work is thus
resumed trouble will ensue, LAS 1t is
known that many companies OF miners have
been drilling recently. a,a -..... .-
A Heavy Robbery.
TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLL RS' WORTH OF