The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1879-01-05
Several Railroad Colli-
sions.
Another Big Bank Failure in
England.
A CHICAGO FIRE.
The Building Used a. Postoface and
Army Headquarters Burned-Narrow
Escapes of Postofice clerks--A
Brave Fireman Res
cues q Woman.

chicago, Jan. Alt ESQ this AFTER
noon FIRE was discovered in tie Hon.
ore block, corner Dearborn and Adams
streets. This edifice, which Is one Of
the finest in the city. was tirst erected
just before the great fire in II, and was
rebuilt soon after upon the same plan,
in the French renaissance style, almost
classical In its severity. It is 1872 feet
on Dearborn street and $50 feet on
Adams street; Eve stories high, with
basement and Mansard roof; faced with
Lemont limestone, and finished in
brick, iron and stone. The foundation
and walls were Of unusual stability.
the highest wall being 16 inches in
thickness. 1t was built for hotel, but
being remodeled for business purposes,
was occupied by the postof1ce shortly
after the fire of IA. Its original cost
was over $500, 900, but it could proba-
bly, be put up now for less.
The floors were occupied as follows:
Basement by the postofice; first and
second floors by the postofice and the
Chicago g Alton railroad company;
third floor by Gsn. Sheridan and staff,
as army headquarters of the military
division of the Missouri; fourth floor by
leading lawyers-Lawrence, Campbell
& Lawrence, Isham 3 Lincoln and
Paddock s. Ives; fifth foor. by the
quartermaster of the army, by
the heavy mall department and by
Shufeldt g Westover. The latter arm
was Just moving in and lost their law
library of from four to Eve thousand
books. The upper rooms In the Man
sard roof were, occupied by the watch
men and others as domiciles.
The fire originated in the carpenter
shop. in the basement, while the car
penter was absent In the upper stories
The flames swept without warming up
the hatchway to the roof and drove out
the tenants Of the upper stories in an
incredibly short time.
The rapidity with which the flames
progressed after reaching the top of the
building prevented the escape by the
stairway Of a number Of postofice en-
ployes, who were driven to the roof,
and for time remained there in the
agony of suspense and alarm. awaiting
q rescue.
A woman, who. leaned imploringly
out of window in the fifth story, was
saved by the gallantry Of fireman,
who assembled the fire escape and bore
her earthward in his arms. The men
were saved not an instant too soon by
long rope, which was procured, and
on which they in turn slid to the
ground. nIt ciffH S
The mail matter was gotten out In a
short time, and all valuables about the
building were locked up In the vaults.
The mail matter was taken to the new
Singer building, on State and Washing.
ton streets, where business will be
transacted for the present. The postal
cars will do large amount Of work
| which otherwise would fall on the de.
partment. All mails left tonight az
usual. ~
The loss on the building win be from
100000 to s150.0O0. 1t is owned b,
the Connecticut Mutual insurance com.
pany, and is insured for $500, 600, q
which the Firemen's Fund has 81, 500
The individual losses, as well as thu
loss on the building, prove to be les.
than might have been expected. Til,
law library Of Isham & Lincoln is nearl,
intact, and their loss will not exceet
$1,000. Gen. Sheridan lost some yalu
able papers and Office furniture. Th,
Chicago & Alton railroad company los
nothing except trifling sum in furni
ture. The active efforts Of Manager
McMullen prevented the destruction o.
books and papers. The total individ
ual losses are estimated at from SO,
900 to $685. 900. The only loss sus
Ltained BY the postoface department Il