Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-11-10
ALEXANDRIA,:
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1918.


EACnANuE VT A''SSS ~ OOS%N-'D
TROYED BY FIRE
Merchants Hall, Boston, .Nov. 4, p. NJ.
In consequence OF the FIRE last evening,
no papers were issued this day.
About O'clock last evening, fire was
discovered in the southwest corner OF the
Exchange Cofee-House. The alarm was
given. but few ,eople attended, as it was
thought not to lie dangerous, and that in
few minutes il would be extinguished but
i, was soon ascertained that the fire was be-
tween the upper ceiling and the roof, and
in short time spread to the northwest
corner with great rapidity, and all hopes
Of stopping its progress were Abandoned
The alarm now became general, and the
citizens, with their accustomed alacrity.
fastened 10 the spot. The flames burst
through the roof, which being composition,
(hat is, covered with tarred paper and then
with graveD soon spread over the top of the
whole building. All that could now be
done, was TO save The furniture and other
property in the building, and prevent the
flames from spreading without its walls
Owing to the extreme height of the build
ing, water could rot be conveyed TO the
part on fire by any engine in the place. A.
bout half past 8, the whole building was
one entire body Of fame, and presented to
the spectators scene awfully grand and
sublime. About O'Clock, the north and
part Of the south wall fell with most tre-
mendous crash, and beat in the roof, win
dows, &c. of Mr.. Wrisht's house part Of
the roof, windows, &c. of the south and
west end Of Suffolk buildings !; the windows,
&c. of the south end of Rogers Buildings,
and part of the roof and wall of the Friends
Meeting House, all situated in Congress
street Abaut 10 O'Clock, that noble edi-
fee, the pride and ornament OF the town,
and the most superior establishment Of the
Lind in the United States, or in fact, in any
part of Europe, was nothing but one heap
Of ruins. The buildings in Congress-street,
opposite to the Exchange Coffee. House,
owned and improved BY Messrs. Young g.
Minis, editors oftbe Palladium, Mr.. Wright.
tailor, and others, were on fire but in con.
sequence of the east wall of the Coffee
House standing entire, and apparently rea-
dy to fall, il was thought dangerous to ap.
proach them, and that it would he impos.
sible to save these buildings. But by the
perseverance of the 6rewards, and the usual
spirit and courage of the several engine
companies, the fire was extinguished, and
only the two upper stories Of Messrs. Young
& Minis building, and the upper story Of
Mr.. Wrigbt's house, were Destroyed
Messrs. Wells g. Lilly, printers, improved
the two upper stories in Messrs. Young s.
Minis building, in which they had greet
quantity Of paper, books, &c. their loss
must be considera BILE. All the materials Of
the Daily Advertiser Office, Gazette Office,
and Centinel Office, AID all The goods, fur.
niture, &c. in the buildings near the Coffee
House, were removed 10 places Of more
safety: this caused great confusion; the
streets were much encountered with various
articles promiscuously thrown together. In
the rearof the Coffee House ,on Devonshire-
street, brick buildings, 4 stories high,
were destroyed, two Of them were attached
to the Coffee House, the upper stories inn
proved for sleeping rooms, and the lower
stories had been fitted up into very fine
bathing rooms, for the use Of the dodgers in
the house, anHthe citizens generally. The
other two were improved by Messrs Green
s. Lincoln, printers, White, tailor, several
makers, and small families.
The Exchange Coffee.House, under the
management Of M. Barnum, had very de-
servedly attained great reputation, and was
as creditabe to him as satisfactory TO the
gentlemen who resorled there. His loss
must he great, as the house was elegantly
furnished, and what furniture was not con-
sumed in the building is broken, lost, and
otherwise injured-,hat is, great part of
it. AT this time great many dodgers were
in the house, many Of whom have LOST most
Of their baggage. The hon. MIR. Clay lost
part of his baggage.
The fire took place in the seventh stor:',
in room situated at the southwest corner
Of The building, in which was kept bill.
lard table, but whether it originated from
lamp, or defect in the chimney, cannot
be ascertained.