The Washington herald., 1912-01-10

mIttauce to their Offices when they ar
rived on the scene. The Clearing House
Association found itself homeless and had
to establish temporary quarters In the
chamber Of commerce building. with 4
squad Of detectives guarding the millions
of dollars Of currency handled by the
clerks and cashiers. The business went
on without a hitch, however.
The stock exchange, on the other hand.
was almost idle on account OF the dis
tlrbance of general business incident to
the IRE.
The two valuable libraries OF the Law
yerss Club, containing 1900 volumes, and
that OF the Equitable Life Assurance So
ciety, said TO be the most complete In
surance library in the country. were
destroyed.
Those who knew the ofice building
well lamenteL the loss OF the wonderful
collection OF statues and bronzes which
adorned the building and the Offices Of
the company.
Many Records Destroyed.
Several trustees in bankruptcy pro-
ceedings keep their papers and records
in the building. Tonight It was feared
that all OF these records have been de-
stroyed The various officers in the
building also kept many steel boxes con-
tanning records Of estates and other
matters pertaining 10 private families,
and these may all be destroyed.
A clerk employed by the Equitable
Trust Company rushed through the
smoke to the mail room Of the bank and
rescued $4,000 in negotiable checks.
The election of directors was held by
the American Exchange National Bank,
OF 12S Broadway, put on a street corner
at Broadway and Cedar streets
This was the nearest corner TO the
hank itself. The heroic system OF con-
ductinr the annual election was resort
Cd to IN order to relieve any doubt about
its legality afterward. The voters stood
ankle deep in icy water while they
transacted the business and were COW
cred with ice from the spray OF the
aremen's hose when they concluded the
work.
Unable to Hold Elections.
Other hanks had great dificulty in
conducting their annual elections
yrb,ch had been advertised to take
nIaca to-day in the various bank build
ir.. ourinr to this requirement they
ao,,Ia not adjourn to other places. The
Are lines were very rigid and many
stockholders were unable TO reach the
various financial institutions TO vote.
II was reported tonight that the d.
ractors Of the stock exchange may de-
cide to-morrow morning to declare a
banking holiday, In order 70 alleviate
the Situation to some extent and give
tventy-four hours longer Tor business
10 rearrauge its AFFAIRS.
one OF the business features OF the
aav was the decision OF the banks 70
rsS.aIn from calling loans during the
aay owing to disturbed conditions.
In an ofacial statement after the
worl. was over. Fire Commissioner
Johnson declared that the Equitable
RI,iidinr was not a fireproof structure
After an inspection Of the vaults to-
ni@ht reputy Fire Chief Bins announced
tbst ,he vaults OF the Equitable Life Az
surance society, the Equitable sale De
posit vault Company. and the Mercantile
Trust Company had escaped injury
D Morran & Co. and other big firms
,oot active part in the work OF relief
go s,,rn,v,nr food 10 the firemen ana
,,,sto. rhev added tobacco 70 the Gus
se,.s1 4, hot coffee and sandwiches. EN-
nIoves Of the great banking house were
formed into a bucket brigade to keep
steaminr coffee on the way to the IRE
men. e.. 49,.
/. -ss the one cause that prevented
4 terriiic less Of life
several thousand persons are engaged