Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-07-18

American District Messenger Company, with
entrances on Broadway and Dey streets The
building runs up eight lofty stories. which are
.nrmOun,ed by a cupolA knnnine Up
hangs the time ball which drops st the
hour Of noon and tells the standard time. The
building is filed with Offices on the ave lower
noors. which are occupied by some OF the great
est , railroads and railroad magnaies IN
the Pacific railroads 10 operated
through instructions given from the Western
Union building and there are the private Offices
OF Jay Gould. sidney Dillon. Or. Norvin Green
and Others who are famous through the length
and breadth Of the land. The switch board
IN the Western Union operating room alone
cost s25O.OO0. IL was ruined
HOW THE FIRE sPREAn
James Larrissey, q wire man. who was o.
DUTY IN the building was the FIRST 10 discover
the fire. About the same time Mr. Tobin,
night chief, noticed an odor of burning
rubber, and on looking into q wire shstt
leading from the battery room to the operating
room saw smoke very distinctly. This was ave
minutes before O'Clock. Two watchmen were
supposed TO be on duty, but no alarm Vas
given by them. When Mr.. Tobin discovered
the smoke in the shaft and descended 20
.ne battery room he was surprised
already made. The flames followed the wires,
which, being covered with rubber, oil and
parafhne, were very inhammAble. 10 the room
behind the great switchboard. and soon all Of
the wood work was burning. The FIRE leaped
from table TO table and 60 the window and door
castings. and all efforts of the men
on duty to suppress the burning by
the appliances at hand were un avAiling The
firemen were promptly on hand and took pos-
session OF the building. The day force OF
| II necessary TO retire. Five female operators
were led cut OF the building by the bremen
All above the sixth floor is destroyed Car
pets, papers, Sc,, on the NTH and
water. The battery and storage rooms occu-
pied the sixth floor. The operating room
and the gallery devoted 20 the work Of the
Gold and stock Company occupied the entire
seventh floor and the Associated Press and .
part OF the bookkeeping the entire eighth floor.
On the ninth floor we're the Western Union
| files.
Loss OF RECORDS FOR roRTY-FvE YEkRs-
The loss of the telegraph company ia very
large and II will require long time TO replace
the material The large switch board in the
| operating room alone cost quarter of mil
| hon OF dollars The Associated Press loses In
struments, ypewriters, furniture and all
| OF Its books, papers and records
/ dating from Is45, and a valuable reference
| library. This loss Is irreparable. AL of the
material for a history OF the growth OF the
/ press in America, contained in letter books and
/ files, Is destroyed and never be replaced.
The money value is estimated at $4,000. There
is no insurance. William Henry Smith is per-
sonally heavy loser by the destruction of rare
books and papers, many Of which cannot be
duplicated Among those were hundreds Of
rare pamphlets collected by Stevens in Europe,
which Mr.. Smith supposed were secure in this
| hre-proof building. An extensive correspond
| ence OF great value also consumed.
Investigation shows that the loss will be far
| greater than the earlier estimates It is nov
| stated that the loss will exceed $1,000, 900.