The New York herald., 1879-01-05
CONGREGATIONS.
THE CHICAGO POST OFFICE-ITs DESTRUCTION
BY FIRE--ExcITING sCENEs-FOUR MEN HAZE
A NARROW ESCAPE.

THE CHICAGO POST oFFICE-ITs DESTRUCTION
A NARROW ESCAPE.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
CHICAGO, Jan. 4, 1879.
For the third time since 1871 the Chicago postal
officials have been compelled to seek quarters in
consequence of the ravages of fire. About
hafpast three this afternoon. through some agency
not yet definitely ascertained. a fire developed
itself in the boiler room in the basement
of the building and before alarm could be made
the flames had gained such headway that it i'm
possible to check their progress by aid of the APP
pliances at hand. The fire found its way
to the elevator we'll and at once shot
to the upper stories and began the work Of
destruction in earnest. Realizing that the building
was doomed the Post Office people began at once to
remove the mail matter, and worked 80 earnestly
that before they compelled to abandon the Office
they succeeded in saving all the letter mail, while
portion of the newspapers were lost. The valuable
packages in the money order and registry depart
ments had been placed in vaults and it is presumed
they are intact.
A NARROW ESCAPE.
The flames in a few minutes gained such headway
that egress by of the staircase impassable
and four clerks employed in the Office of the United
States Quartermaser of the Military Division OF the
Missouri on the fifth floor. cut of, aad it
thought for time that no means Of
reaching the ground could be afforded them.
The fire momentarily growing hercer and
licking up the Mansard roof above their heads, while
they stood in of the windows at the north end OF
the building. franticaly motioning the crowd to send
them aid Finally tho firemen, who had reached the
roof. threw rope, which fell to the sidewalk.
and the four men almost frozen succeeded in sliding
ta. MILITARY HEADQUARTERS RECORDS TosT.
General Sheridans headquarters. on the first floor
-. ~, IIs,.<V
ont, and many valuable papers were consumed. while
the entire contents of the Quartermasters Depart
mcnt on the fifth hoor were Lost On the nrst hoor.
the general Offices of the Chicago and Alton Railroad
Company The records here were saved, and the loss
is but nominal on furniture.
There were two other occupants or the building.
Isham Lincoln and Lawrence Campbell 4 Law.
renee attorneys, In the rooms of the former was
one of the most valuable law libraries in America.
which totally destroyed Although the Fire De-
building were futile and before six o'clock little
LETT except the walls which in pretty fair state
HISTORY OF THE BUILDING.
The building destroyed erected by II. II.
Honore on loan of $3oO.O0O advanced by the Con-
nccticut Mutual Life Insurance Company This
money was advanced before the fire OF 1911 Shortly
afterward the company advanced 100000 more.
S Sss Mr. funds %G pats wna n finally forced
into bankruptcy. and the loan and interest having
reached $540.OO0. the Connecticut Mutual Company
They then expended $50 900 in fitting the building up
for the military headquarters and other Offices. the
Post Office having occupied portion of it since the
fire OF 1874. The insurance on the building amounts
to s225.OOO. II is estimated that the postal
department will lose about sl5o.oOo on furniture:
the Alton Company. $1,000; Lawrence Campbell
a. Lawrence s5l 900; the militsry headquarters.
$4,000, and Isham & Lincoln, 100000. Immedi-
atcly after the outbreak Of the fire Postmaster
Palmer contracted for the new Singer Building. at
the corner OF state and Washington streets. Tor two
years, ut yearly rental OF 100000, and the Post
Office will be opened there at once.