Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1823-08-16

The Ere took place, IS We have stated,
! In the eastern wing vi tbercentraI building,
as is b believed by most Of those who were
| in the interior, in a shoetnaker's shop
The centinel who had remained outside OF
the eastern side of the building. from 10
o'clock, most probably gave the first alarm.
The alarm RAPIDLY spread through the in
terior--one OF the turkeys says. when be
wa. awakened, the fire had broken out on
the roof OF the central. building, and was
no larger than his hat. The first obJecf
the officers was TO seize the keys, and o.
pen the sleeping rooms OF the conVIcts.who
rushed into the inner yard. line smoke,
however. was suliocating. and the danger
imminent; and there were two or 3 OF the
solitary cells not unlocked The public
guard rushed 10 the spot, and when The
gate was opened, received rhe convicts,
who made not the slightest effort to effect
their escape. When the great body of ci-
! tizens, and ERE engines, had reached the
spot, it was TOO late to save the house; tor
the FIRE had rapidly spread to both lis wings
by means OF the unfortunate central build
ing. The first enquiry OF every one was.
"where are the conviCts! are they safe!-
They were Just outside OF the gate; but as
they had not been counted. no one could
ascertain how many were missing The
fate OF the absentees gave rise to the most
painful anxiety. 1t was soon buzzed about.
that great many were yet in the ildlng;
that shriekS, and groans, and cries for as.
sistance, had been heard; and that this was
horrible doom TO wait even the most a
bandoned of men. Pity was the predoml-
nant feeling; and means were taken by en-
curing of those who knew of their loca.
ton aid by shouting at the windows OF
the cells, to ascertain where they we're
Four only were found. Generous and ener-
getic citizens promptly slept forward 10
relieve them. The greatest effort was ne
cesssry at window in the second story:
which could only be approached by shed
several mounted the shed, and after en-.
coun,ering great fatigue, and some danger,
from the flaming pieces Of the wooden cor
nice which dropt around them, they finally
succeeded in lopsening the iron grating OF
the window and dragged out man OF CO.
lor whose prayers had been pahetically
addressed to Heaven for his safety. Ano-
Their party mounted ladder. and saved
out sf room in the east angle another tel.
low creature; the bricks being cut out OF
the upper part of the window A third
was drawn Out Of a bole in the wall,
which now seems scarce big enough to
let a wesze pass through. The la't man
was taken out oil room on the western
side of The building, when the upper part
of the whole edidce was on fire. Indeed,
if the roomshad not been arched with brick,
the lives of these men could scarcely have
! been saved. Not life was lost! Not al
accident occurred during the awful scene
The heat must have been oppressive. 1t
moral causes had not been too strong to
permit the bye-standers to leel all its sf'
iects.
Mystery still hangs over the causes of the
6re-whe,her il was produced by accident
or dpslgn--and if by design. whose was
the hand that laid the mischief The loss
TO the Commonwealth is severe The
house cost at least l5O, 900 dollars, and the
goods and raw materials were probably
worth 80 or 10000 dollars. Its estimate,
however, can be made, which can be po-
.iiively depended upon.
BESIDES this loss, is the great inconve.
nience which arises from the unprecedent
ed situation of these 944 wrelches. On
Saturday they remained at the Capitol, and
in the evening, the male convicts were re-
moved, by order of the Governor in Coun-
Gil, to the Armory: many of them mana
cied hand and foot. detail OF the mill
tia, and detachment of captain Ruther
foods artillery company were called out
to guard them, by way Of relief to the Pub:
lie Guards. The women were conducted
10 the barracks.
No inaI disposition is made of them -
Few Interior arrangements OF any sort have
been adopted. The case is a new one -
We understand that it is probable on this
day the Council may act On the question.
whe lber the Legislature is to be convened.