The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-07-19

ana Lle0 OY one OF II6 DTdN6 girls VINO
seemed never TO lose her nerve. The two
firemen pulled themselves up hand over
hand till they reached the top. and amid
cheers from a thousand throats from below
they let the seven down to places of safety. 1t
was ccoIplished just in time, for flames
burst up through the cornice and soon en-
veloped the roof
The tower of the building was also soon
caught by the flames. The tons upon tons
of water, however, began to have a telling
effect.
A TERRIFYING SIGHT.
1t was beautiful and at the same time a
terrifying sight to see the fire sloot out
from the windows around the entire build
ing fully fifty feet aud then drop back like
great fiery tongues to lick the roof. 1t was
not long, though, before they grew smaller.
until finally they died away altogether aad
left smoky and charred bricks where win
dow frames had been.
The entire upper part of the building was
Quilted and every instrument and wire rem
dered useless
How the fire originated no one seems to
know positively, but it is surmised that two
of the company's electric light wires be-
come crossed and set the flooring on fire.
Had the fire broken out later the loss of
life might hare been enormous. Fully 700
girls and men were employed on two floors.
LOSSES OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.
The Associated Press suffered rather more
than any of the others in the great building.
Its floors we're flooded With water to depth
OF foot or more, and the destruction
which was so well started by the fire was
absolutely completed by the water. When
the day force arrived, shortly before 8
o'clock, it was but too evident
that the usefulness of the great
building was at an end for the
present. The ruin of the operating room
rendered every Western Union wire on
Manhattan Island useless, 50 the Ass 0ciated
Press opened headquarters In Jersey City.
every facility being afforded them by the
officials of the Pennsylvania Railroad Com
pany, and before the fire was under control
the various circuits of the Associated Press
were in active operation.
The building of the Western Union
Telegraph Company had been for a
score or more Of years one of the
great and imposing landmarks of lower
Broadway. II fronts on Broadway,
facing east, and occupied half a block on
Dey street. On the ground door are the re-
ceiving offices of the company, together
with the Offices of the American
District Messenger Company, with en-
frances on Broadway and Dey streets. The
building runs up eight lofty stories, which
are surmounted by cupola. Running up
from the cupola is a staff on which hangs
the time ball which drops at the hour Of
noon and tells the standard time.
A NEST OF OFFICES.
The building is filed with offices on the
five lower stories, which are occupied by
some of the greatest railroads and railroad
magnates in the world The vast system Of
the Pacific railroads is operated through in
structions given from the Western Union
building, and there are the private offices
of Jay Could Sidney Dillon, DR.. Norvin
Green and others who are famous through
out the length and breadth of the land.
All above the sixth floor is destroyed.
The carpets, papers. ETC., on the fifth and
other floors below are soaked with water.
The battery and storage rooms occupied the
sixth floor The operating room and the
gallery devoted to the work of the Gould
and stock company occupied the entire
seventh floor, and the Associated Press and
part of the bookkeeping department the
entire eighth floor. On the ninth floor
were the Western Union files. The loss of
the telegraph company in this department
is very large, and it will require long
time to replace the material
A FORTUNE IN A SWITCHBOARD.
The large switchboard in the operating
room alone cost $50, 900 The Associated
Press loses its instruments, typewriters,
furniture, and all of its books. papers and
records dating from 1915 and valuable
reference library. This loss is irreparable.
All of the material for the history of the
growth of the press in America, contained
in letter books and files, is destroyed and
can never be replaced. The money value is
estimated at $4,000. There is no insur-
ance.
William Henry Smith. general manager
of the Associated Press, is personally
heavy loser by the destruction of rare books
and papers, many of which cannot be
duplicated Among those were hundreds
of rare pamphlets collected bv Stevens in
Europe, which Mr.. Smith supposed were
secure in this fire-proof building. An ex-
teusive correspondence of great value was
also consumed.
The telegraph company has divided
its operating force among its sub
offices at Twenty-third street, Jersey
City, Brooklyn and Weehawken, from
which business will be done temporarily.
Meanwhile quarters are being prepared at
the old Baltimore and Ohio Office, at No.
Ais Broadway. After tomorrow the As
sociated Press Office will be at No. AIS
Broadway. The United Press has courte-
ously rendered its facilities during the
break.
AN ESTIMATE OF THE LOSS.
Gen. Gsckert. vice president of the West
that the loss of the company will
not much exceed 100000. He also
believes that they will be able to en-
ploy a considerable force in the main hall
ways in day or two. Already new switch
boards are ON the way from Philadelphia, and
ali that energy and money can do to quickly
restore the service for the public will be
done. The Associated Press will use the
executive room on the fifth floor and such
other rooms as can be had in the neighbor-
hood. The fire was so hot in the operating
room as to melt the brass instruments and
glass. Workmen went to work at noon to
put the offices in the Western Union build
ing in condition for occupancy.
STRINGING NEW WIRES.
Supt Humpstone of the Western Union
Telegraph Company called on Mayor Grant
at noon to-day and secured permission from
him, as president Of the board of electrical
control, to string the wires to be run into
the old Baltimore and Ohio Company's
building at No. AIS Broadway which will
be the temporary quarters of the Western
Union Telegraph Company. A large force
Of linemen were put to work at once and
by tomorrow it is expected that 100 wires
will be in use. The fire burned out the
ship news cable and no dispatches have
been received this morning from Fire
Island, Sandy Hook or quarantine. Mer-
chants, ship owners and members of the
maritime exchange have no knowledge
whatever of the movements or arrival of