The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-01-08

Anams, ana was nve stories high, with q bas e.
ment and mansard roof, was faced wftfl
limestone.a and finished in brick Iron and stone.
The foundation and wallis wese of unusual sta
bility, the hghtest wall being 10 inches in
thickness. 1t was brrilt for hotel, but being
remodeied for business purposes, was occupied
by the post office shortly after the fire OF 1874.
Its original cost was over s3J0,D0o, but it could
be probably put up now for less. The floors
were occupied as follows: Basement by the
post office, first and second floors by the post
office and by the Chicago and Alton r. r. Co.
The third f,oor by Generl Sheridan and staff as
the army headquarters of the military divis-
ion OF the Missouri. The fourth floor by the
military and by the following lawyers. Law
renee, Campbell & Lawrence, Ishona Il Lin
coin. Paddock & Ives. The fifth floor by the
quartermaster of the army, tae heavy mail
department and by Shuefeld & westoner.
The latter firm were just moving g in and lost
their law library OF 1900 10 5000 books. The
upper rooms in the Mansard roo..were eecu-
pied by the watchmtn and others doml-
cile. Fire originated in the carpenters shop
in the basement while the carpenter was
absent In the upper stories. The flames swept
without warning up the hatchway to the roof
and drove out the tenants of the upper stories
in incredibly short time. The rapidity
with which the flames progressed after reach
by the stairway. A number OF the post Office
employees were driven to the roof. and
for a time remained there in an
agony of suspense and alarm awaiting
rescue. woman who leaned implor-
ingly out of a window in the fifth story
was saved by the gailantry of fireman, who
assembled the fire escape and bore her earth
ward In his arms. The men were saved not
an instant too scon by a lon rope which was
procured, and on which they, In turn. slid to
the ground. The mail matter was gotten out
of danger in a short time, aud all the valuabies
about the post Office We're locked up in the
vaults. The mall matter was taken to the
new Singer building ON State and Washington
| streets, where business will be transacted 70;
| the present. The postal cars will do a largt
| amount of the work which would otherwise
| fall on the department. All mails left to nigh
| as usual.
The building, which is owned by the Con
| necficut Mutual Insurance Company. wa
| damaged to an amount variousIy estimated a
from slf0,0O0 to sl50,0OO. The loss on tn
building proves to be less than nigh
| be expect d. The law library O
Isham q Lincoln is nearly intact, and thei
loss will not exceed 81 Zoo. General sheridan
lost some papers of value unknown. and hi
Office furniture. The Chicago and Altol
Railroad Company lost nothing, except
trifling sum in furniture. The active efforts {
Manager McMullen prevented the destruction
| of the books and papers. The total individus
losses are estimated at from $4,000 to s25,00
The only loss sustained by the post Office ds
partment is $4,000 worth of stamped enve
| opes. At 10 O'Clock the fire was almost ont, tn
damage having been mostly confined to III
three upper stories.
- THE Loss BY SATURDAYS FIRE.
CHICAGO, Jan. 6-fhe total loss by Saturda
. nights fire, it is now thought, win not excee
T $1,000. The ind ividuai losses are confined a
| most entirely to offfce furniture. The libraris
of the law firms located in the building wei
saved with little injury. General Sheridan
! loss at the army headquarters Is trifiing. tt
| military department have taken quarters f.
the present in the Palmer House. The Pos
, office is located in the Singer building an
there is nothing In the distribution of mai
| in the city to indicate that the department b,
f been disturbed. The Chicago and Alton Raj
road offices have returned to ther old qua
i ters Nos. and West Van Buren, street. II
! | excellent work done by the fire patrol and
' the fire department alone preserved the wal
e of tue building and the three lower floors fro
4 great injury.