The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1879-01-09

4
BLOCK, IN CHICAGO, IN WHICH THE POST
OFFICE Is -LoCATED-sEvEsAL NARROW
CAFES.
FIRST DISPATCH.
CHICAGO, January A fire has just
broken out in the large block on the
corner OF Dearborn and Adams
streets, known az the Honore block
and occupied BY the United States post
office, aud military headquarters by
Lieutenant General Sheridan. The build
| ing is euyelo, ed in clouds Of smoke, but the
! flames as yet are confined 70 the inside. 1t
| is the property of the Connecticut Mutual
Insurance Company, and one OF the finest
structures in the city. Judge Lawrence,
Robert L. Lincoln, ard other prominent
lawyers, have Offices in the building.
BEING REMoDLED FOR BUSINESS PURPOSES
was occupied by the posi-office shortly after
the fire of ls.4 Its original COS, was over
$500 coo, but 1t could be probably put up
row Tor less, The floors were occupied as
follows: basement, by the post. office; first
and second floors BY the pOst-office and by
the Chicago 4 Alton Il. X: third floor by
General Sheridan and staff as army head
quarters of the mill airy division of the
Mo; fourth floor by the military and
by the following lawyers: Lawrence,
Campbell & Lawrence. Isham & Lincoln,
Paddock 4 Outs; the fifth floor by the
qusrter-master of the army, BY the heavy
mail department and by Shueield & West
over. The latter firm we're Just moving in and
LOST THEIR LAW LIBRARY
of from four to five thousand books. The
upper rooms in the mansard roof we're &C.
cupied by wstchmen and others as q domi
cile. The fire originated in the carpenter
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 an incredibly short time.
SECOND DISPATCH.
CHICAGO, Jahusry "A. $50 this az.
ternoop, fire was discovered in the Honore
block, corner of Dearborn and Adams
streets. This edifce, which is one Of the
finest in the city, was first erected immedi-
ately preceding the great fire in 1871, and
was rebuilt soon after on the same plan in
the French Renaissance style, almost clas-
steal in its severity. 1t is one hundred and
uine,y-two feet on Dearborn street ard one
hundred and fifty on Adams street, five
stories high with abatement and mansard
roof, faced with Lemonte limestone and
finished in brick, iron and stone. The
foundation and walls were of unusual sta
bility, the lightest wall being sixteen inches
in thickness. 1t was built for hotel.
THE RAFIDITY WITH WHICH THE FLAMES
progressed after reaching the top of the
building prevented escape By the stairway
OF number of post-office employees who
were driven to the roof, and for time re-
manned in an agony of suspense and alarm
awaiting rescue. A woman who leaned
imporirgly out Of a window of the fifth
story was saved by the gallantry CT fire.
man, who ascended the fre-escape and bore
her earthward in his arms. The men were
saved, rot an instant too soon, by long
rope which was procured and on which they
in turn slid to the ground. The mail mat
ter was gotten out of danger in q short
time and all valuables abou; the post-ofice
were locked up in the vaults. The mail
matter was taken to the new Singer build
ing. on State and Washington streets,
shence business will be transacted for the
present The postal cars will do large
amount of work which would otherwise |
iali on the department All mails left to- |
night as usual.
y