Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-07-20
The BROADWAY FIRE.
Effect of the Flames on the Big Western
union Building.
pr inlnrrann % ths DI,r.,ca.I

| IEy iPIegrRVU " tu' p''F"|Li
NV YonE. July 1e.-feiestrians who
passed the great structure at Broadway
! and Dew streets at nn early hour to-day and
/ looked ne where the Ore ragged so bercely
Yesterday saw a gang of worknen at work
/ on n scasfold above the sixth story. The
/ first thinv to be done was TO clear away the
debris. The scafoiding reached all around
\ the story. Groups OF men were at work all
through the floors visited by the flames.
Slgl t-seers on both the North and East
rivers were plentiful. They had come to
see FOR themselves the effect OF the fire on
/ the big structure. They were ,disappolnt-
/ ed. as the eject was up skyward ana mostly
| inside the building. Outside the building
| looks as natural "a life until the eye
reaches the sixth story. Then 1t rests on
windows without glass and smcke-be-
| rrimed and scorched sashes. The cupalo
! shows the eject Of the fire. but from tho
/ street only in very partlsl way. his
morning the main entrance to the building
was guarded by employees of the company,
who refusd admission to every one not di-
rectiy connected with the building. Even
representatives of the press got the cold
/ shoulder. The Western Union officials say
/ business will be handled before the day Is
over IA Il there had been no fire at all. The
| temporary headquarters OF Canal street
and Broadway are being put IN shape as
/ RAPIDLY as possible. Already large num-
| Der of operators are there at work.
A GREAT CORPORATION WITH GREAT ESrnGy.
| Nrw YORK, July 19.-Thc Western Union
| Telegraph Company ~ to-day proving that
| a great corporation can possess great en-
ergy and enterprise. The building at the
/ corner of Broadway and Dey streets pre-
sents the appearance OF beehive. n
small army of workmen was engaged IN re-
I I
! before has the Western Union Company
been confronted by such condition. Not
| one of the 1909 wires running into the
| building could be used. Their experience
with the blizzard was bad enough, but no.
thing TO compare with ye terday's. Then
| it was simply question OF repairing out.
side lines. The most important points OF
| the system-the switchboard, lnstru-
ments, and powcr-were notaDected. The
fire simply wiped these out OF existence.
Before the fire was out the immense en-
ergy of the corporation began to assert II
self. Offices were established all about the
CITY. The great system worked without q
central point. What measures were taken
Yesterday TO relieve the situation at that
| time are ALREADY known, but with the 90
ing down OF the sun these efforts did not
end. The ceaseless energy kept men
making almost superhuman efforts to re-
store affairs TO their former shape.
WORKING THROUGH THE NIGHT.
All through the night force of men
were busy clearing the water and debris
from the building. A force of fifty Line
men went up and down the poles and fit
ted about the streets with lanterns like 80
many steel-spurred fre-hies. All through
the night miles of wire were stretched TO
which instruments were attached, which
clicked as moIrily az if nothing had hap
pened. When morning dawned fifty wires
had been run into AS Broadway. As many
operators had their fingers on the keys
and messages were clicking of in the usual
way. Up to noon to-day this work had
been going on unceaengly, and the officer
IN charge said there would be no let-up
until everything was repaired and the
company was able 10 handle all the bust
ness that came to u. Throughout tho me-
tropolis the great fire was the talk OF the
day.
SURVEYING TIE RUINS.
Thousands of people who came mp
Broadway this morning stopped on the
pavement long enough TO survey the ruins
on the upper floors of the big building.
The interior of the structure took on the
appearance of beehive. There were
several hundred operators in the Office in
the basement who had come 10 be assign
ed to different Temporary stations through
out the city or at neighboringpoin where
a large amount of telegraphic business Is
being handled. The Associated Press IS
still located in Jersey City, guests OF the
PENNSYLVANIA Railroad Company. and will
probably remain there until some time
next week. A gang of workmon is busy at
Ais Broadway preparing q temporary
home for the ASSOCIATION, which 1t Will
occupy until the burned building is re-
paired,