The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-02-20
Ar CHICAGO.
Destruction of one OF the Finest ONCE
Blocks ia the CITY.

CHICAGO. Feb. ia ire is now raging
with great fury in Grannis block, east side
of Dearborn strest, just south OF Washing
ton. The fire started at 545 this afternoon,
and half an hour later it was found neces-
sary to turn in general alarm, Twelve en-
gines and stsnd-pips are now playing on
the flames, and an immense crowd of several
thousand people is watching the apparent
destruction OF, one OF the finest of.
flee blocks in the city. IL is impos
sible now to estimate the loss. At
the time the FIRE broke out the employees
in the offices of the building were preparing
TO leave for the night and rs far as learned,
al escaped safely. The fire is said to have
originated at the bottom of the elevator
shsft, where the past week there has been
new boiler put in and other improvements
made. The latest reports says the flames are
not yet out and already the loss by fire and
water is very considerable.
Ore hour from the discovery OF the fire, il
was plain tbs whole block must go. The
flames then burst through the roof and
brilliantly illuminsied the scene for
blocks around. Twenty engines were
now pouring enormous volumes of
water into the burning building yet the
flames seemed TO defy all attempts
TO suppress them. At SIS the roof fell in,
sending shower of sparks up and a rumor
that the walls were on the point of falling
scattered The crowd in all directions. The
material Of the roof could now be ssen burn.
ing On the fifth floor, and the flames poured
out CT every window IN front and above the
second story, and il was feared to be impos
sible 10 save the Portland Block, on the cor
ner of Washington and Dearborn streets. On
account OF the intense cold, it was difficult
to employ the engines to the best advantage.
ulf -
would be several minutes before the water
could be brought again to play where
it was most needed. The stand pipe
did good service in drenching the adjoining
walls where there was danger of the fire
catching. In Grannis Block are two banks.
They are the Continental National and the
the National Bank of Illinois. The sudden
ness Of the fire came nesr resulting dieas
trously TO the valuable books and papers OF
both bsnks. 1t was rumored that the vaults
had not been closed aad that heavy loss
would ensue Inquiry, however, proved the
rumor unfounded. The vaults had bsen
closed and the officers OF both institutions
said they were not at all anxious as TO the
safety Of their funds The vaults were
all 6re.proof. and the only inconvenience
would be the delay while waiting for the
safes 10 become sufficiently cooled of to
make access TO them possible. Before
o'clock every body about the neighborhood
OF the fre having offices in the building, or
being employed there, had no doubt OF the
total loss of building aud contents, except
the yaluabes in the fire-proof safes. The
building Is for the most part occupied by
lawyers, architects and insurance agencies,
many of whom will lose everything con-
tanned IN the offices. 1t is now known that
two of the most valuable law Libraries in the
city are totally destroyed, besides valuable
papers which the occupants had not suf
hcient time 20 put In the vaults.
Grannis block was erected about three
years ago by W. c. ID. Grannis President of