The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-05-27
A MILLION In ASHES.
CHICAGO VISITED BY AN EARLY
MORNING CONFEDERATION.

A Large Six-Story Building and Contents
Completely Destroyed - Panic in .
Neighboring HoteI-Narrow Escape OF
the Inmates of Dwelling.
CHICAGO, May 27-At $50 O'Clock
Wednesday morning an alarm Of fire was
turned in from the large six story building
on the corner Of Wabash avenue and Con-
gress street Shortly after the arrival of
the fire department the flames burst
through the roof and walls of the building,
sending up a tremendous volume of smoke
and flame, and tearing OF the iron shutters
which covered the windows as though they
were so many playing cards Tho firemen
were driven back by the scorching heat,
which set fire to everything in the near
vicinity.
Soon the cry spread: "Look out! Look
out there" and the fremen fell back out Of
reach of the walls, which were seen to
sway about for moment and then fell
with a deafening crash into the street
The alley wall alone remained standing
and it in a few moments fell out into and
across tire alley, crushing in the roof of n
dwell ing and creating a panic among the
inmates, who had been engaged in gather,
ing up their effects
Across the street, on the northeast corner
of Wabash avenue and Congress street,
stands the Hotel Brunswick. The sleeping
guests were first aroused by the approach OF
the fire engines, and almost simultaneously
those in the front heard the window panes
an their room crack and felt the fiery breath
of the flames which, blown across the street,
set fire to the window frames and curtains
Panic-stricken, the atfrighted guests rushed
from their rooms, clothed only in their
night robes, and hurried to the sidewalk A
dozen times the flames caught on the win
dow frames of the hotel, but were promptly
extinguished by the firemen
The origin of the fire is not known but
it is supposed it started in the engine room
in the northwest corner OF the basement, and
as the building was full of elevator shafts,
which acted as so many tiues, it took tn,
flames but few minutes to spread through
the structure and seize on the infammahle
material with which it was filed
Every floor was, filed with heavy machin.
cry, the top floor alone containing twenty
five Gordon presses The photographic and
stereotype plates were stored in the base
ment, and it is thought good deal of this
valuable property will be saved
The damage to buildings and stock is
roughly estimated at $1,000 but will
probably exceed that amount
Bedford, Clarke q Co, the publishers
who occupied the largest part of the build.
ing, estimate their los at 500, 900 The Cen
trail Lithographing company will lose about
So 600, on which there is an insurance OF
S50,01
K 5. feale 4 Co, who are also book pul,
fishers, and who are getting out Gen.
Grants book, estimate their loss al $40, UJl
with an insurance of So, 0du
Van Antwerp Il Co OF Cincinnati had q
branch Office in the building and will los,
S3mD0, on which there is no insurance
9onnohue & Henneberry had abo0t S 30, 0oC
worth of machinery and stock, which is q
total loss They carry $4,000 insurance
Mr.. Adams says that the building cosi
between sl25, 600 and SEQ 900 and he carried
an insurance of $4,000 on it.
| 1t is rumored that the night Waterman
| of the building has not been seen since tht
| tire 1t is feared he. may BE- lost in tn,
| ruins
The adjoining building, at 81 and 81;
Wabash avenue, is occupied by T. Leime
| & Bros, furniture manufacturers, VIII,
were burned out a short time ago and has
| Just commenced to move in Their loss i
| causet by water and will be about s. go
| The building was in the hands OF TIL
| insurance companies who were repairin.
| it after the former fire and who had no
| turned it over to the owner The damag,
to the building will he about 5000
The Hotel brunswick is damaged to tn
extent of 5000 fully insured.