The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-22
All Business Suspended for Time-The
Company Gets New Quarters and
Continues Business,
A RObber Killed While Entering the
House of an Old Man.
Surrender of the Warren Defaulter-The
Usual List of Murders, ARRAYS and
Other Violations of Law
THE LIST OF ACCIDENTS.
Burning Of the Western Union Telegram,
Office at Chicago


Office at Chicago.
CHICAGO, Aug. 2l.-The five story-building.
corner OF Lasalle and Washington streets.
occupied by the Western Union Telegraph
Company, Union National Bank Inter-
national Bank, Associated Press, and nu-
merous commission Offices, was partially
burned at 630 this morning, aud made COM
pletely uninhabtable by the streams of
water thrown in the building. The fire
originated on the fifth floor. used as an
operating department by the Western Union
Telegraph Company, and within twenty
minutes every description Of property on the
floor was a mass of ruins. There were ten
men on duty at the time, besides the night
manager The fire originated by two duplex
battery wires near switch board, and every
thing was in a blaze in moment Within
five minutes from tine discovery OF the blaze
the skylight and transom were breaking
from the heat and dropping out. The fire
department was on the scene quickly, and
began the heavy drenching given every por-
ton of the building No special damage oc-
Cured to the main structure below the fifth
story. The Western Union Immediately be-
gan the removal of its property 10 a building
on the north side of Washington where the
equipment of the Mutual Union company
enabled it to continue TO handle a portion OF
its business, and preparations were at once
made to remove the entire business into
that structure for the time being. The
market and stock quotations ceased for a
time, and little business was transacted on
| Change. The loss to the Western Union
Telegraph Company may reach $4,000, but
it is thought will fall below that figure.
The loss to the building is $4,000 Owing
to the prompt action of the fire patrol tho
loss to the banks and office tenants will be
slight. Insurance S130,0O0.
The Western Union company, this even
ing, has evoked system out of the confusion
| precipitated by tine destruction OF their main
! operating room. An army OF linemen was
employed throughout the day in disconnect-
ing the labyrinth of wires which make their
| way into the ruins of the old building, and
| connecting them with the Mutual Union
building, across the way. The telegraph
company estimates its loss at not
to exceed 5000 to $4,000; no insurance.
Loss on building $4,000. The loss
to other tenants will not exceed $4,000.
The building was insured for 100000.
Orders have been given for the immediate
| reconstruction of the building, and in
doing so, the architects have been directed to
| plan one OF the finest operating rooms in the
were saved twenty-five wires had been
connected with the new operating room at
6 o'clock this evening, and by tomorrow the
company anticipates having a full force at
work. The Two banks burned out sought
quarters in the vicinity, and succeeded
in transactng their usual business. The
Associated Press is temporarily sequesered
il the Office of the Times. Workmen will
commence to clear the ruins tomorrow, and
expect to be ready for reoccupancy in
month to six weeks.
The circuits to the west and northwest
were cut out during the greater portion Of
the day, and dispatching in those directions
had first to go east and south. Tonight the
company has its northwestern circuits in
working order again, anda business is being
cared for as usual 1t was a lield-day for all
| the leading officials of the company Cen
eral superintendent Clowry, Superintendent
| Tubbs Electrician Summers and Manager
| Mereness We're on the ground within five
minutes after the fire broke out, and the
| company was enabled not only to handle the
| bulk of the business offered during the day
but placed its equipment in shape to handle
| its usual run tomorrow. Later investigation
goes to show the original theory of the fire
not to be the correct one, and that it was due
to the close proximity OF gas jet to the
switch board. setting it on fire, and not TO
the crossing of two duplex wires, as stated.