Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1827-01-23
From he National Intsllire7,r
AMEI.L EIRE AT AiEY s NnRIs

AWFUL FIRE AT ALEXANDRIA,
few minutes before 8 O'Clock yesterday morning an
alarming fire broke in the Alexandria I, was
perceived from this city; audi cold the weather
thermometer at 13) townsmen out with ala
criiy and almost literally flew assistance of their
ncshbors The engine from the Capitol TI with its hose
under in few minutes after the Are was disco
yered About 900 persons from the Navy Yard by
Capt Booth, were under almost SOON but ha VIM
further to go, did not arrive quite early the ground
The engine from the Post Office Department, h its fine
hose, got under way as the fire was scer,ape6 IN
be serious, and had just started when express arrived To
Mayor from the Mayor of exanta soliciting aid ,p
on which the engine of the 2nd ward, aud that from the
first notified and under way. Nor were our GEORGE
town neshbors behind hand: with great spir, they wen,
down III numbers in Carriages horeback, and on foot
carrying also,t is believed, their engine the marines
the STATEN aiso carried down by capt Hoylc mn
der the orders OF colonel Henderson, CARRYING an
with them; and though they did arrive until tine fire was
got under, afforded important service guards The whole
number Of persons who went down from side of the r.
could not he less than thousand. If we appear 10
dwell too much this public spirited conduct of our
citizens this occasions let it be ecocced that the dis
lance TO Alexandria from most of the points started FROM
WAS miles, and that the engines and men arivcd
there about the time the fire appalling II ary
other for cSutaD IS thought necessary TO iustif
let it he found in the fact, that the arrested ma
vast amount Of property rescued from the laws of desttr
ton by the aid thus afforded. The first succor from the
city arrived about eleven o'clock, and was followed b
successive supplies. Our friends Alexandria exhausted
by fatigue and anxiety, were employed in endeavour~
ing TO their individual property, and without the ey
ceent apparatus of hose &c, which have were nor
able to contend with the devournC element They wei.
coined relief from this quarter almost proventia and
aey are unooundtd IN the measure of their thanks for
assistance, without which the best part their town. with
most OF the shipping would have shared fate that
valuable portion OF it which already n flames.
AS it was however, the conlag was yful and the
destruction of property great, may be supposed from
hc raging IN the thick part of the five long hours
with brisk northwest wind blowing wonder
that the FIRE was got under a. all. The hose and forcing
machinery, having the river for the source of suppy fur
nshins copous aud nexhausble supplies water effect
ed what ITO supply of t by hand could done: and
descended in tho
farm Of ice and scei, narting emen in lev Garments
believe hut OF the engines so frozen dnring the
day as TO be disabled, steadily we're they worked
The FIRE commenced in III: cabinet makers shop of Mr.
James Green on the East SHE Of Foya s::eet between
King aud Prince street, aud extended to Fairfax street
thence down Prince street TO Union The number
of houses destroyed, besides back buildings was abo,
ofyard the value Of the houses goods destroycd
can hardly have fallen short of two hundred thousand dol.
lars Some Of the property insured hui To ,yhat cx
tent have heard: the Fire Insurance Companv of
Alexandria will, supposed he considerable Loser by
The Fire. Tho principal sufferers of are M
HILL Mr. Broccbms, Mr.. Dodds, Mr.. Harpcr Mr. Johnson
Mr. Rumney, Mr. Rudd Mr.. Murphy Mr.. Hepburn Messrs
g. u. j. p Thrmpson, Miss Wilson's, the estate of p g.
Marsteer, iona c. May, Mr. Horwell Mr. NIGHTINGALE
Isabella Howard and several others whose names we
could not learn.
Some circumstances connected with this disastrous fire
arc worthy of noie-First, shjueIe roofs were the
cause of the fire extending its ravages beyond wat
would have done, had the roofs been slated. Secondly
tho fire arrested solely by efficacy Of the Hose
without which the engines could have done nothing
Grsat danger menaced by tumbling walls. One
hdn ~ IePDIicO ~ pave Seen kfed; ana OF
zcus, under falling wall, had escape by Of tnn
em5asUrs Of window little less than cuous Refresh
mens literally distributed by people Alex
andria to their vstants and shall be glad tina
all got home safe through the cold Of last night still
intense than that of the day.
great deal of iberaIity and good feeling was display
cd on this OCCASION Among other instances, NAV be
TONED, tat MIR. CookeBdorr he propretors CT
The Union Stage Line went down with his huge steam boat
stage loaded with 20 or so persons. and drawing L.
States Hose Wagon, which performed so important Il
service in the day The Washington Bridge Company
threw open their gates and toll charged on goers
or corners during the whole Of the day. Other things of
this sort n'gh' he menone if did not fear that fur
;her particulars might fatigue the reader.
happened in Alexandria