The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-08-29
THE CHICAGO FIuE.

Partial Destruction sf the .yestern Union
Telegraph Company's Big B1iIding.
CHICAGO, Aug. 2L-Fire occurred at 6
o'clock this morning in the operating rooms
Of the Western u Union Telegraph Company's
Office, this city, it is supposed from detec-
tive flue. The floor of the room was vAry
much burned and flooded by water.
The building burned was a six-stofy stone froat
structure at the corner OF La5alle and Washington
streets, occupied by the Western Union Telegraph
Company, Associated Press, Telephone Companies.
fire originated, probably in cross fire in the bat
teries of the Western Union Company. His in
formation is that the fifth story the Western Union
battery rooms, the wires of the Company and the
roof of the building were destroyed. The remain
der Of the building was damaged chiefly BY water.
Superintendent Wallick forwarded &c Chicago the
new switching board Intended for the new omar
ters in this city and IL is hoped TO renew co1nec
TORS fully within twenty four hours. The Mutual
Union wires, meantime, are being useo and CON-
munications viii be only temporarily impaired.
Seven wires are siill in working oyder between
are occuning. The offices OF the Chicago and of
the Central Telephone Companies are in the
second floor of tie building. The third is occu-
ent OF the Western Union, superintendent OF Con-
struciioD, and others. and the fourth is occupied
by the American Press Association and Others
Only limited particulars of the IRE have been hal
ara no estimate OF the damage done can yet be
made. The 200 Western Union operators employed
The fire at the Western Union Company
this evening has evoked system out OF the
confusion precipitated by the destruction of
their main operating ROOM an army of line
men has been employed throughout the day
discoDn ecting the labyrinth OF wires which
make their way into the ruins of the old
BUILDING aud connecting them with the Mer-
cbants Union building across the way. The
Telegraph Company estimates tha loss will
not exceed $15, 600 TO $4,000. No insurance.
Loss On building, $4,000. Loss to other ten
ants rot to exceed $40, coo. The building was
insured for $4,000. An order, has been
given for the immediate reconstruction of the
building, and in doing SO the architects have
been directed to plan one OF the finest oper-
atiDg rooms in the world. All the instru
ments OF the Company were saved. Twenty
five wires had been connected with the new
operating room at 6 this evening, and by
tomorrow the Company anticipates having
full force at work. The two banks burned
out sought quarters in the vicinity, and sue
ceeded in transecting their usual business
The Associated Press is temporarily sequest-
cred in the Office of the Times. Workmen
will commence to clear awsy the RUNS to-
morrow, and expecT TO be ready for reoccu-
pancy in month to six weeks
Cir cults to the West and Northwest were
cut out during the greater portion OF the
day, and dispatching i'll these directions had
nrst 10 go east ana sOutn. I0-nlgnL the
Compeny has its northwestern circuits in
working order again, and all business is
being cared for as usual. 1t was q field day
for all the leading officials of the Company.
General Superintendent Clowry, Superin-
tendent Tubbs Electrician Summers and
: Manager Mereness were on the ground with
IN 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 in
Vestigation goes TO show the original theory
of the fire to be the correct one, and that il
was due to the close proximity of gas jet
to the switch board setting is on fire. and
not to crossing two duplex wires, as stated.