# Chicago Tribune, 1871-11-24, page 6 -- Session of Thursday 23 Nov. 1871 (first day): the fire-alarm telegraph operator (William J. Brown) and the Court House watchman (Mathias Schaffer) examined
# Source: Library of Congress, Chronicling America, lccn sn82014064; page URL https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn82014064/1871-11-24/ed-1/?sp=6
# OCR full text from https://tile.loc.gov/text-services/word-coordinates-service?segment=/service/ndnp/dlc/batch_dlc_clark_ver03/data/sn82014064/no_reel/1871112401/0006.xml&format=alto_xml&full_text=1
# Lines 548-679 of the page OCR (uncorrected OCR, column order as delivered by LoC). Fetched 2026-09-14T06:25:57Z.
# STATUS: newspaper report of the testimony, mostly in reported speech with some direct quotation -- NOT the stenographic transcript.

THE GREAT EIRE.
Investigation of it* Origin tad Progress
by the Board of Police.
A Telegraph Operator and tbs foort Boose
Watchman Examined.
The Board or Police and Firo Commissioner
Chadwick commenced, yesterday, the Investiga
tion into the origin of tho firo, and its progress,
with a view to place the responsibility upon whom
it belongs. Only Mr. Brown and Mr. Chadwick
wore present, the other Commissioners being
otherwise engaged. It was tho Intention to have
a short-hand writer to lake the evidence in full,
but as one could nst bo procured, Mr. Brown
wrote the testimony in long-haud. There were
but two witnesses examined.
William J. Brown, operator in tho fire-alarm
oilier, tesUfied that ho was on duty in tho
fire-alarm ufllco, in tho Court House, on tho
night of the BUi of October. Mr. Schaffer, the
watchman iu tho lower, notified him, about half
past o o'clock, that there was a tiro and told him
;to strike Box No. DU. Ho scat that box over tho
wires to the engine houses, nnd then looked out
of the ofiicc window facing south and saw tho re
flection in the sky. In a short time tho watch
man called him again, and said ho had been mis
taken—that the firo was not so far off as he had
thought when ho gave him Box No. 3*5, which
is located on the corner of Unlstod street
and Cunulport avenue. As tho hoxwua on tho
Uno of the lire. Brown thought tho tlremon would
not be misled, su he did not strike u nearer box.
If he did to, confusion might ensue. About ten
minutes after the tire alarm ho struck a second,
giving tho tamo box, a few seconds afterwards
several boxes were turned in, and thinking they
were for tho same conflagration, he did not pay
any attention b» them, as a second alarm nod
been given. Obreraing from the window that the
tiro was increasing, he sounded a third ularm, hut
did not cati«o the Court House tall to he rang.
He was relieved by Mr. Fuller, about quarter
after 12 o'clock,nn.Tlolt the oflk-o. Ho went to
tho corner of Randolph and Canal streets, and,
alter nmnirmip there a few moment*, started
down Canal to Madison street, lie crossed tho
bridge and went south on Market street and saw
that a number of shanties near tho Gas Works
were on fln'. Tho Gas Works were not Ignited up
to that Hrue. Ho saw one steamer
at work near fho corner of Monroe and
Market streets, the pipenuu having Iholr boss
load into an alley near Furwoll's warehouse and
Pl*Jhig on some wooden buildings which were
ablaze. Jlo. sun* another cosine, the Coventry, he
thought, whilo he was going Through tho bionics
to get to Madison street, ilo could not toil
whether sho wne working or not. When ho
reached Infinite street, ncurModbon.hosawlhat
,'thereurof the Otlrntal Block was all on firo.
Tho air was full of cinders and burning material,
and he made his way t<» tbo Court lion?*, where
ho remained until the watchmen were driven out
of live cupola, and the oftlsc was on Art*.
Matthia«FchalU>r,watchman in the Court Honan,
'.onoboratod the statement of Mr. Brown in ra
gurti to the alarms given. After ho told Brown
to strike Box No. 342, he tank another look at tho
fire, «ml was snti-dod that he had located U
nhout u mile south of where it really was, nnd he
informed the operator of it. He was relieved at
l l o clock by Benin's Heneno, but lie remained iu
the cupola Smirks j« large numbers and hum
>ng material of different kinds were blown over
the Court House within half an hour jitter ho had
given tlio first alarm. Tho wind was
temMy strong." Ho continued watching tho
firo until 120 clock. Twice before that hour tho
vujrow of the Court Hmw« eaugbt lire, and ho gut
on the roof and sfamjted out the lire with hiafeet.
This occurred before the llro-llend had crossed to
tSte South Divieinn. Some men had been tlxiugun
the clock In the cupola and left a lot of shavings
on the floor. Tho.glass in the window hart been
broken, and the sparks went Uuongh the anon
lugs. There was a window on tho south side of
the cupolaUmt never had any glass In It since he
had been on duty In the lower, and -spark* were
blown into the cupola there and set lire to
U woodwork. Ho crawled, iu and tried to
slop the spread of the flame?, but was driven
out by the tiuuhr. Ho bad no way of putting it
out, ami hud to let it burn. Between 10 and il
o'clock, ho could not tell tho exact time, but
thought it wus lo oVloek, lie deserted wh-it ap
peared Dboji new thv, four or five blocks north
oi the one he had given an alarm fur about 12
o clock lie left the (’ojui House, and went- to look
at tne South Sid© firo. Tho wind was so strong
tint he could hardly st uul up. lie returned to
the tVuri House, tmd helped pat out two move
tires in tho roof. His clothes caught tire several
times, and ho was oubgetl to keep constant watch
W prevent bring burned up himself. ilo aad the
n'liot* men thought they could save the Court
House, but, after the sparks went through
the opfo window* alluded to and set tfie
upoer side of too roof on fiiv.he kue/.v itcoul I not
I*- done. He hailord to Ucnene, who was then on
watch in tho town*, to come down or la* would bo.
cut off. He could not get dowa the stairI*, 1 but
had to slide dovu the banisters, his whisker* be
ing scorched, and his hands and face badly
burned during his progress. Every «no had to
leave the building thou to save thmr lives, Wn»n
he xyur driven out of the building ho notified the
Jailer m the basement that the Court House was
going "sure," ami that he must take care of tho
piieeners, end u«t lot them hum up. From
seven to ten minutes after this the cu
poia fell iu. Ho went over to the
bhevipim House, and them saw Marshal Williams
oiid the foreumn of the Coventry, tmd u plpaman,
uonied Ix“wis, having hold or h pipe, tho water of
which was being tb owu e.galust the hotel. TJ»e
Mrttehul i rked him io light up" on the hose as
pun of tiio men had been sent away to find soma
liOf o.
Tho Coimnlsflk ucr» then adjourned nnill 9
o’clock this monilng when tbo Inveatlmitlon will
be resumed.