The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-10-28
CareIeSSneSS Of Clerk Results In DeSiTuC-
tlOn Of Large Building.
THRILLING ESCAPE OF SEVEN GIRLS
ST. Louis. Oct. 27. is!

w. i''"'", W. 1871.
y lighted cigarette dropped by u
thoughtl"ss clerk is supposed to have
caused the fire which this afternoon
practically Quilted The white stone
building at the corner of 7th and Chest
nut streets. occupied by the general
offices OF ;ic Wabash railroad.
At % O'Clock. just after the clerks
had returned from their noon recess,
and were beginning TO work. Il police
man stan'lng on the corner below no
ticcd n small tongue of flame shoot out
from II window in The fifth story Of
thc building, which was used ny IL stor-
age attic. Instantly a puff of dense
black smoke followed ana the officer
rushed into rhc building shouting the
aia"m. Instantly there was n conrus-
cd rush for every means of exit Fort
unatcly The st;iirways were WIDE the
building in former ycan5 having been
used for public school library and the
polytechnic institute.
The attic was stored with old napers
and documents. and within five minutes
seemed TO suddenly burst into flame in
every part. During all this excitement
seven young women employed in one of
me inneE mailing rooms on the fourth
floor. had not been notified and we're
sun working unconscious OF their peril.
When they discovered their situation,
they found To thcir horror ii wac; i'm
FN%NiSl@ to reach the Stlirs as The stair
| way was burning licrccly. They appear
ed at the window and a cry of horror
went up from the streets.
he ire escape" shouted the crowd.
ana the Ynung women cnmprrhended
disappeared ana a moment latcr climb
cd out on .hc iron platform on the cs-
cape lncy heSitatrd, but advancing
ll'rincS gave them determination and
they started on their descent. reaching
the street in safety as IA loud cheer
went up. Wuh the first all!m, the real
estate agents. who occupied the lower
ilour, began moving their books and pa
pcrS Everything tha. could u. ght-
ton cut wan taken across lihc street to
me massive new Wdinwrirht building.
tlre Chief Swinglcy sent In 4 general
'halHl' Du; owin& 10 The narrow street
ana the network OF wires II required IL
minutes to hoist and train the stand
pipes.
By his time. the two top floors OF
Ehe building were doomed ana IL was
apparent Ina; fire had gained such
h"idWay thai the entire building must
go. An order WIS given to cut the
electric wires. Dense thYongs blocked
every ;h0rougnfarc. Without warning
the wires wer" clipped and In an Instant
the ;hrohGS were madly falling back
as the blue ana yellow lightning spu;-
tered f!om the ends of The deadly wires
tnat &rlne falling TO the g.ouud No
s'ddy wa's injured. but Il wire struck n
fire horse, killing Il in ilJ tracks.
y: 80 O'Clock the roof fell with
crash. sending burning cmbers into the
air which fell on adjoining building and
S.art"d iircs. but prompt measures pre-
vented further cnnlagrailun. \ Ric-
iirld. clerk, WAS carrying some books
from the frs: Door when the crash
came Flying debris struck him on the
head. icaIing Il open down to the cye5
ani nose.
AT 2:30 O'Clock the frc, though sti,l
hu:ninG fercciy. was practically under
control, and q. > o'clock, with the cx-
c"rtion Of patchc: =. burning embcrs
had been cXtingushcd. An officer of
the Wabash company estimates their
loss ut $50o.0oO. Statements pace the
valuation of the building at siOO 600.
The wabash company occupied new
quarters before the fire was under con-
troll.