The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-12-05

streams were played on this building
10 save * from destruction
When the Warren street wall Of the
Eogers-Peet building fell at 1880
O'Clock a dozen iiremen were directly
beneath. Several of the men ewere
struck by bricks, but none was more
than slightly injured. Acting Chief
Perle fell. hut was dragged to safety
by some of the men.
sKE-SCRAPER IGNITED.
Just before Il o'clock the Home Life
stories high. at 255 and 257 Broadway,
caughI nre- The hremen already had
their lines in this building up to the sew
enth fioor. They were greatly handi-
capped by the many stories. Flames had
eaten their way through the sideWall in
many, places, and the huge white struc-
ture burned hercely. The elevators made
trips up and down until the men running
the cages We're compelled to fee for their
yves. and IN this way many of the effects
OF the offices were saved The three top
from the beginning. The smoke was
dense Flames shot nigh above the roof
ALq over the massive brownstone Postal
1eieSraph building, and everybody at
work IN the structure had been ordered
out of this building long before. DesDer-
ate efforts We're made to save it.
The Interior of the Home Life Insurance
Sompanys building was by this time
furnace. From the windows of the six or
eight upper stories the flames were pour
ing N masses. In the rear nine stories
were afire, and the fire department, so
Tar as this portion of the building was
concerned, was absolutely powerless.
AT HIS the Postal Telegraph building
OF fourteen stories caught fire. Chief
Bonner who had charge of the firemen.
took the elevator and went to the roof to
slNe personal directions. At this time
there were a few operators who had ig-
nor6d tie orders of the fire chief two or
three clerks and a few boys at work in
ha -,,1-ea -,r,1
messages were sent until the flames came
ana all were forced to rush for their
lives. The unsent messages were left at
the telegraph keys.
DESPERATE FIGHTING.
Chief Bonner had under his direction all
the engines stationed in the fire houses
below IWenty-third street. In addition,
i've hook and ladder companies. including
water towers, were at the scene. Most
of the men worked in the lower parts of
the building TO save adjoining buildings.
Only few gangs We're with the fire
chief on the top of the Postal Telegraph
building. They fought with all their
strength to keep the flames back But
Notwithstanding all their efforts. at
clock this (Monday) morning three floors
of the building have been partially des-
troyed. The fire was then working its
way downward. Chief Bonner thought
however, that he had it under control
He did not expect it to get much below
this.
CAUSED BY EXPLOSIONS.
The fire started from three explosions
What caused the explosions no one
knows. The fremen could not find out.
They thought gas had escaped in some
manner in the basement and so resulted
in explosion and fire.
The Postal Telegraph company officials
say that all their wires have been burned
out and that they have no connections
from their building.
The Hardware clubs quarters, which
were on the top floor of the Postal Tele-
graph building, were ruined. Their loss
is heavy
The Home Insurance building was one
of the handsomest on Broadway. and was
supposed to be absolutely fireproof. Its
summit was $50 feet above the sidewalk.
Leading architects of the country sub
mitted plans for its construction.
At 2:S0 Fire Chief Bonner went home,
saying that the fire would burn itself
out in a short time and that it could
not spread and was practically out.