New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-10-20
BOSTON ALMOST ISOLATED.
AN ELECTRIC LIGHT WIRE CAUSES FLAMES
IN THE WESTERN UNION OFFICE.
THE SWITCHBOARD RENDERED USELESS BY
wATER-rHE FIRE COMPLETES THE WORK
RESnx ny STORM

THE SWITCHBOARD RENDERED USELESS BY
wATER-rHE FIRE COMPLETES THE WORK
BEGUN by STORM.
Boston, Oct lo-A fire broke out in the cupola
OF the Office Of the Western Union. at No. 100
Safest, at :l5 o'clock this evening" The hfe
started at the point where the wires entered the
cupoa. It was caused by the falling Of electric
light wire upon the wire Of the Western Union.
The water used to extinguish 1t trickled behind
the switchboard. 1t proved an excellent con-
ductor, stopping all business for several hours oy
virtually consolidating oil the wires into one.
Late tonight, work on a small scale was resumed.
Telegrnphio communication was cut Of with
New-York and other points. The Western Union
wires were blown by the Aeroe storm which ragged
here tonight Messages were only taken here on
condition that they might be delayed,
The Postal lines have lot suffered 50
severely and are doing the business tonight.
The Western Union had partially recovered from
the effects Of last Fridays gale. but this storm
still further disarrnnges business
Little information could be obtained in regard
to the fire In the offices Of the Western Union in
this city at late hour Inst night. Commun!ca-
tion with Boston cut of almost entirely. -Four
wires only could be depended upon out Of more
than 90 which arc used ordinarily. The damage,
however, was said to be slight.
"As far as We have learned said one Of the
officers, the damage was caused by water. The
fire broke out about 6 10 o'clock in the cupola
on the top of the building. We suppose thnt it
was caused by the falling Of an electric
light wire on the telegraph wire or
by the storm which hns been raging
about Boston this evening. The fire was soon
under control but communication will be de-
layed several hours, as the wires must dry out
before they can be used to transmit messages. we
expect to have everything in order again before
morning. The fire might have been more seri-
Gus had it occurred in the day time
The building in which the Offices are situated is
at No. lOs State-st. 1t is four or five stories
high and is built Of brick. The structure Is an
old one, and has been in use long time. The
lower floor is used to receive the messages. The
business offices are on the second floor, and the
operating-room, in which 200 are en-
ployed is on the top floor An op-
orator who had worked formerly in
Boston, said to a Tribune reporter that it would
be a good thing If the building should burn
down.
1T is old, unsafe and unhealthy" he added,
land should be abandoned by the company. The
operators dislike to work In 1t, and are happy
when they get an opportunity to leave it,
All dspatcbes sent to the Western Union office
last night for transmission to Boston were re-
ceived subject to delay. Fortunately, as it was
Sunday, the volume Of business was light, and
the effects Of the fire were mainly felt at the
newspaper offices, where there was dcarth OF
news from points in New-England. 1t was said
that communication would be restored before
morning.