Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-04-08
TWO FAMOUS FIRES
Which the Patent Office Has E1pe-
rienced in Its History.
ONCE TOTALLY DESTROYED.

That Was in 1886, When Everything Was
Lost, Including 1000 Models-The Fire of
: 1877 Fortunately Only Damaged Rejected
Models, but Caused Great Excitement.
There are few buildings in this country or in
the world which contain so many valuable
documents and relics as the present over
crowded patent Office. A destructive fire in that
building would be a calamity which time could
not wipe out, or the expenditure of vast sums
of money render less.
Washington has been especially fortunate
during its existence in escaping those vast and
devastating fires which have visited other cities
Her wide open streets and lack of manufactur-
ing industries and long rows of business blocks
have helped to defend her from such disasters.
The burning of one of the public buildings in
Washington would be felt by the entire
country and not only would the building itself
be destroyed but veritable page would be
torn from the history of the country. The
present patent centennial brings to mind that
such calamity has once actually happened to
the treasures of the patent Office and was again
only averted by the most arduous and
strenuous labor.
THE FIRE IN 1886.
In 1886 the patent Office occupied, with the
General Post Office, building on the present
site Of the Post Office. This building on the
18th Of December, 1886, was entirely destroyed
by fire, and while many of the archives OF the
Post Office Department were saved the galua-
Bile collections and papers belonging to the
patent office were entirely lost, only one book
from the library, and this OF little value, being
saved from the wreck: This fire started some
time during the night or early morning and
owing to the infammable material which the
building contained and the lack OF appliances
for its control the flames rapidly spread over
the entire structure, which was totally de-
stroyed
AT this time there were many rumors afoat
as to the manner in which the FIRE had started
and charges of incendiarism were freely
whispered. An investigation, however, devel-
oped the probability that the fire originated in
the ashes which came from the wood fires and
which were stored in the building in q pine
box.
THE MODELS DESTROYED.
The collection Of models which was thus en-
tirely destroyed was the largest collection in
the world n. that time, and the loss caused uni
versal regret. The number Of models was
about 1000. many of them of most important
inventions and displaying in a remarkable de-
gree the talent, ingenuity and mechanical skill
OF the American inventor. Among the models
destroyed were the inventions of Browne,
thorpe, DanfOrth, Couilliard and Calvert per-
tanning to the spinning of cotton and wool and
a beautiful operating model of Wilkinsons
machine for manufacturing weavers' reeds.
Many of the models for machines for manufac-
turing nails and for the application of steam
ally valuable and interesting. In this depart
power to the driving of machinery were especi-
and alone OF inestimable value was a series of
drawings by Fulton, showing the machinery
lis Ir,h acta NH
suffered the fate of the rest Of the collection.
This fire, In 1886, was looked upon far and
wide by all classes as an irreparable disaster If
this was SO in 1856, what a terrible loss would
have been the entire destruction of the paten mt
office in 1877, and yet such disaster did parti-
ally happen and greater loss was only arrested
by skillful management and tremendous ex-
ertions.
GROWTH OF THE MODEL ROOM.
The 1000 models of 1886 had expanded to
nearly zoo, 900 in 1877. There was nothing
equal to this collection in the world The
models being arranged in groups and chronolo-
glcal order IN each class, afforded the invesIi-
gator at glance history Of the origin and
progress of each invention.
The building in which this world-famed COL
lection was contained was also the depository
OF other records OF inestimable value. Here
were the records Of the land office, bureau OF
Indian affairs and others of the many distinct
bureaus connected with the Interior Depart
ment. The utmost confidence had been felt in
the safety OF these records, as the patent Office
was universally regarded entirely fire proof
THE PATENT OFFICE ON FIRE.
About II O'Clock on September "A, 1877, the
report spread over the city that the patent
Office was on fire. The report created no alarm,
as the belief was general that only slight dam
age could be done to the building so well forti-
ed e.
department buildings being on fire drew q
large crowd to the scene, and in a short time
the entire adjoining streets were blocked by
the mass Of people. The feeling of curiosity,
With which people came to the scene, was speed
columns OF smoke were seen issuing from the
roof OF the burning building and shower upon
shower of flying cinders gave evidence that
serious fire had begun its work. The upper
floor, where the fire ragged, contained the most
interesting and valuable portion OF the contents
OF the building. Under the south end of the roof
on the 9Th street or west wing was located con-
servatory or hot house. North of the
conservatory was space occupied by the re-
jected models and exhibits. In this space, ex-
tending from the conservatory to the G street
or north wing, were stored about IL 900 re-
jected models. These models were the accu-
mutation OF four years and were awaiting the
action Of the commissioner. This loft, as well
as the conservatory, was constructed Of ex-
CecuiIBlv HldteTldl originally over
100, goo feet of white pine had been used in the
construction OF the roof Of the west wing The
ceiling of the model ROOM which was below.
instead of being constructed of iron was also OF
wood. This model room occupied tho whole of
the third floor beneath this infammable roof
and ceiling. 1t consisted of four grand halls,
fitted up with tiers of cases. In this room
were over 200, 600 models of American inyen-
tion5 as well as an Invaluable collection Of Gu
riosities. among which many relics Of
Washington, jackson and Franklin. This
floor, it will be seen, was, therefore, also piled
high with inhammable material and with no
appliances either for the extinguishing of fire
or for keeping it in bounds by flooding the
floors. Fhe upper portion of the building was
an easy victim for the flames and the fire made
rapid progress.
FIGHTING THE FLAMEs
The fire department of the city answered the
call promptly, and the entire force went
rapidly to work. There was, however, much
delay in getting stream Of water at work on
the flames. as the firemen were obliged to carry
the hose up two stairways and through SONS
| 500 feet Of corridors before the fire could be
| reached. 1t was even then impossible, owing
| to the rapid spread Of the flames, to reach the
| loft in which the rejected models were stored.
About twenty minutes after the discovery Of
| the fire the first stream of water went kissing
| into the fiery furnace, but by that time an
acre Of flames was sweeping over the entire
west wing, bursting through the windows and
roof with . derceness that threatened the
destruction Of the entire building.
In the first half hour the danger to the build