National Republican., 1883-08-22
BIG BLAHEs.
Destruction Of the Western Union ToIe-
graph Onire I'm ChIcngo--Other Fires.

Destruction Of the Western Union ToIe-
graph Olive I'm ChiCngo--Other Fires.
Chicago Aug. 21.--Tha fivcstory stone
building no the corner of La5allo aud Wash
ingtou streets, occupied by the Western Union
Telegraph company, the Unionol National
bank, tho International bank, the associated
press, and numerous commission offices was
partially burned ut 6:30 o'clock this morning,
and was made completely uninhabtable by
tho streams Of water thrown into the build
ing. The fire originated on the fifth floor,
used rs an operating department by the West
ern Union company, and within twenty min
utes evory description of property on the
floOr was mass Of ruins Ten men were on
duty at the time besides the night manager.
The fire originated by two duplex battery
wires near the switchboard coming in contact
with gas jet and everything was in u blaze
in moment. Within five minutes from the
discovery of tho blaze the skylight and tran
SONS fell in. The fire department was ON tho
scene quickly, and, beyond heavy dronching
given to every portion of the building, no
special damage occurred to the main structure
below the fifth story. Tho Western Union
officials Immediately began tho removal of
tue property to the building on the north side
of Washington street, where tho equipments
OF the Mutual Union company enabled them
to continue to handle portion of their busi-
ness, and preparations were at once made
to remove the entire business in that struc-
turo for tho time being. The market and
stock quotations ceased for time, and but
little business WAS transacted on change. The
loss to the Western Union Telegraph COM
pany may reach $4,000, but il is thought that
it will fall below that figure. Tho loss to
the building is $4,000. Owing to tho prompt
action of the fire patrol the loss to the banks
aud Office tenants of the building will be
slight. The insurance is Sl30,OO0
The company succeeded tonight in evolS-
ing order out of tho confusion caused by the
destruction of the main operating room. An
army of linemen was employed throughout
the day in disOonnecting the net work of
wires, which made their way into the ruins
of the old building, and connecting them with
the Mutual Union building across tho way.
The company estimates that its loss will not
exceed $4,000, on which there is no insur-
ance. The loss on the building is 100000.
The loss to other tenants will not exceed
$4,000.
Orders have been given for the immediate
roconst tuction of the building, and the archi-
tccts have been directed to plan one of the
finest operating rooms in the world. All the
WheatstOne instruments in the old room were
saved. Twenty-Five wires had been connected
with the new operating room this evening,
and by Tomorrow the company anticipates
having full force at work. Two banks were
burned ont, but sought quarters in the vicin-
lty ana succeeded IN transactinB their usual
business. The associated press is temporarily
quartered in the office of the Times. The
worlSmen will commence clearing away the
ruins to-marrow morning. 1t is expected
that the rooms will be ready for reoccupancy
in u month or six weeks.
The circuits to the west and northwest
were cut of during the greater portion of the
day, and dispatches for those sections had
first to go east and south. Tonight the COM
pany has its northwestern circuits in working
order again, aud all business is being cared
for as usual General Superintendent Gowry,
Superintendent Tubbs, Electrician Summers,
aud Manager Mcreness were on the ground in a
few minutes after the fire had broke out, and
by their untiring work and good manage
ment the company was enabled, not only to
handle the bulk Of the heavy business offered
during the day, but to have its equipment
placed in shape to handle the usual run to-
morrow. A later investigation goes to show
that tho original theory rs to the cause of tho
fire was the correct one, and that it was due
to the close proximity of gas jet to the
switchboard, setting it on fire, and not to the
crossing of two duplex wires, as was stated.
SYRACUSE, N. Y, Aug. 21.-A fire at Dam
forth this morning destroyed the dwellings of
Capt Edward Abeel and T. X Fuller. The
oss is $4,000.