Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-01-06

VI CHICAGO, Jan. 4.-One of the most disas-
trous fires that has occurred in Chicago for
several years occurred this afternoon, where
by the postofIice and United States military
headquarters were destroyed. The build
ing occupied by these branches of the pub
lie service was located at the corner of Dear
born and Adams streets. The fire was dis
covered shortly after 8 O'Clock, and is sup
posed to have originated in the boiler room.
Before an alarm could be turned in the
flames had gained considerable headway,
and shot to the upper stories. The '.3.
PosToFFcE OFFICIALS tsa
succeeded in getting out all the letter mail
aud q portion of the newspapers, while the
valuable packages in the registry and money
order departments were placid in the vaults
and are in all probability secure from loss.
In less than a half hour from the breaking
out of the fire the entire southern end of the
building and the upper two stories were so
completely under the mastery of the flames
that nothing could be done by the fire de-
partment beyond throwing water into the
lower portion of the building and against
the walls, with the hope Of preserving them
intact. 3
THE HEADQUARTERS
Of Gan. Sheridan, whish were in the second
story, were abandoned before the entire CON
tents could be removed to a place Of safety,
and many valuable documents are reported
lost. The quartsrmaster's offices were in the
fifth story, and as the fire had completely cut
off all ;egress from that portion of the build
ing the four clerks there employed were for a
time placed in *sa4~.5i'il r 81 .1s5t~ LIE
4 ..t TIE MOST PEEoARIous CONDITION,
and were rescued only by the almost super
human efforts. of the fire department. "A
rope was thrown across the mansard roof of
the burning building, and the four mon sue
not until the flames had reached the windows
contents Of the quarternaster's Offices,
including important y papers, are a
total loss III the lower story. At the south
end of the building were located the general
offices OF the Chicago & Alton railroad ,n1-
pany. Their records were saved. The loss
occasioned by the confagration is estimated
at
OVER SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS
on q loan Of 100000 BY the Continental
Mutual Lite Insurance company. Bek re-
its completion the same company advanced
100000 additional while Honore put in
$15O00O Of his own money. Abont year
ago the Insurance company foreclosed the
loan, the interest amounting to $54O,OOO.
The insurance reached a123,500 in various
Eastern companies. S + .gusEs5+ Il; .35sfas:
y THE LOSS TO THE PosroFFIcR
department is estimated at $15, 00o;' to the
army headquarters $15,O00; to the Chioago&
Alton Co, So ,ooo to Isha,n & Lincoln, law
gers, Sic, 900, and to Lawrence, Paddock &
Ives, lawyers, $4,000. About 8 o'clock this
evening the fire was under CONTROL. But
little was left except the walls. Postmaster
Palmer had effected lease of the new
Singer building, corner of State and Wash
ington streets, before 5 o'clock and the post
Office will be located there. The. building is
secured for two years, at an annual rental
of 100000. 5bza lI.g5al
u The rapidity with which the flames pro
gresssd after reaching to the top of the build
ing prevented escape by the stairway. Of q
number of post Office employees who, were
driven to the roof, aud for 8 time, remained
there in an agony of suspense and alarm,
awaiting rescue. A woman who leaned im=
ploringly out Of window in the fifth story,
was saved by the gallantry Of a fireman who
assembled the fire escape and bore her earth:
ward in his arms. This men were saved not
an instant too soon bya long rope which was
procured, and on viii h they in turn slid to
the ground. p 80 j93 rs s.n@aGz a1lsr :
The building, which was owned by the
Connecticut Mutual Insurance company, was
damaged to an amount variously estimated
| at $500, 00O:to $l5O,O0O. Insurance a fol
lows: $40 600 IN Lancaster; So 800 each il
the Manufacturers, the Royal and North
Britith; $5,0 each In the springfield, Fire
and Marine, the Imperial, the Niagara, the
American Central, the London Assurance
the Bpylston, the Neptune, the Pennsylvania
the Hoffman, the Phoenex, tho Under
writers, the Hamburg, of Bremen
the Commercial Union, the Scottish
American. The Boston Underwriters, the In
shrance. Company of North America, the
Orien, the Northwestern National, the Trad
ers. the Rhode Island, the Hartford, the Ma
tional & German Anerican; So 800 each in
the St. Paul, the Irving, the Mercantile, the
Atlantic, the Commonwealth, the q orllard,
the Firemen's Fund, the Northern, the Con.
necticut, the Tradesman, the Glens Falls
the Trans Atlantic, the Rochester, German
the Clinton, the Franklin, the Home Of
Colorado the PpOn1a'a fha Lamar tha Roo