Democratic Sentinel, Volume 14, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 July 1890 — SOUNDERS MADE SILENT [ARTICLE]

SOUNDERS MADE SILENT

FLAMES RAGE IN THE W. U. BUILDING. » Terrible Paata Among Employes Cut Oil from Means of Escape—Thrilling Rescues by Heroic Firemen—The Damage Almost Inestimable, New York special; Fire broke out in the Western Union building at 7:05 Friday morning. The operators, about seventy-five in number, were penned in by the flames. Many of them attempt- 1 ed to climb from the windows. Most of them got upon the top of tho building, where they cried piteously for help. ! Tne fire started two floors below the top and it was feared raanv of tho operators would be burned to death. The building was eleven stories high, ! ana tho firo department was almost powerless in its attempts to reach tho unfortunate men. The loss will be enormous and is estimated at 83,000,000. A vast crowd witnessed the fire and the police had difficulty in keeping the street clear for the work of the firemen. Owing to tho heigat of the structure the department experienced great difficulty in subduing the flames, but three hours after the firo started it was under control. It had spread, however, to the Associated Press offices, the execu- ! tive offices of tho Western Union, and the upper floors. At 7:30 l ames wore pouring from the windows in tho upper stories, and it seemed as if the entire building, though considered fireproof, was doomed to destruction. It is reported that there was considerable delay in sending out tho first alarm, and it was fully ten minutes before the engines put in an appearance. The embersjworo living to tho south and threatened tho destruction of tho buildings in that afrection. Several roofs caught fire, but no serious damage was done. Meanwhile the fire was spioading through the Western Union building in spite of every effort of tho firemei\ who were handicapped by tho great height of the building, the hook and ladders being practically useless. Tho excitement among the immenso crowds around tho building was Intense. The employes of the morning newsoapors worn chiefly conspicuous, and, as thoy hiul many friends among the operators in the burning building and a large loss of life was rumored, tho greatest anxiety was felt. -»• <*• j“ a -Sss*' Not a wire or a switchboard of tho Western Union was saved, and the Associated Press and the operators’ rooms are in ruins. All communications are cut off and temporary offices are established at Jersey City and neighboring places. Throe thousand seven hundred telegraph instruments were destroyed, together with the battery rooms, and thousands of Leyden jars, which caunot be replaced for several weeks. Loss, about $3,000,000. Tho Associated Press’ loss alone is estimated at 81,500,000, and the Western Union loss at about the same. Ten operators mado their way to an adjoining building bv swinging over an iron shutter. Ten female employes in the lunch department who slept In the upper story were compelled to flee to the roof, from where they wero rescued by the firemen. who tied ropes around them and let them down three stories to a building in the roar. The women were screaming for help a considerable time before .the firemen reached them. The excitement was increased by two explosions, presumably of acids used for tho batteries. At the time the firo broke out tho elevators wero not running and would have been useless, as the shafts were in flames. Chicago telegram: At tho Western Union offices here it was reported that the firo was under control, and that there had been no loss of life reported. The flames, the officers here said, had started in the operating-room and had swept through the big room almost before the alarm could bo given. “The on-y in ormation wo have at hand is that a serious fire broke out in tho operating room of tho New York office.” said Superintendent Tubbs. “Tho building, however, is fire-proof, and I don’t think that it will be seriously injured. Our wires are down there and up to the present time wo have had nothing direct. Business for New York is accepted subject to delay only. “Our Jersey City wires aro working, and we expect to have communication with New York city direct In a few hours. There is always a great quantity of stationery distributed in a big operating-room, also furuituro and inflamablo material of various kinds, including the wires, which, of course, aro covered with oil.” The Postal Telegraph is the only company that has communication with New York, and it was learned there that the upper floor of the Western Union building had been completely destroyed, but that there had been no losstif life so far as couid bo learned. Arrangements bad been made, the manager said, to receive the market reports over the Postal wires.