The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1827-01-25
AWFUL, FIRE AT ALEXANDRIA.

AWFUL FIRE AT ALEXANDRIA,. A.
A few minutes before nine O'Clock yester-
day morning, an alarming Fire broke out III
the town of Alexandria. 1t was soon per
ceived from this city; and, colG as the
weather was, (thcrmometer at lo') our
townsmen turned out With alacrity and al
most literally flew to the assistance OF 'nei,
neighbours. The Engine from the Capitoi
Hill, with its hose was under way IN rev
minutes after the fire was dlscovered.--A
bout three hundred persons from the Navy
Yard, headed by Captain Booth, were uh-
der way almost as soon, but having lurtner
to 60 did not arrive quite as early on .ie
ground. The Engine from the Post Ol1lcc
Department, with its fine hose got under
way as soon as the fire was ascertalhea 10
be serious, and had just started when an eX-
nress arrived to our Mayor from the Mayor
of Alexandria, soliciting aid, upon which
the Engine of e Second ward, and that
from the First were notified, and were un~
der way. Nor were our Georgetown neigh
bors behind hand: with great SPIRIT they
went down in numbers IN carriages, on
horseback, and on foot, carrying also, 1t IS
believed, their engine. All the Marines on
the station, were also carried down oy Gap
tain IIowle, under the orders OF Col. lien
derson and carrying an engine with them;
and though they did not arrive until the iife
was got under, afforded important service
as guards. The whole number OF persons
who went down from this SIDE OF the river
could not be less than thousand. II we APP
pear to dwell too much upon this pubic spl-
rited conduct of our citizens on TINS occasion,
let it be recollected that the distance to
I 4 4 q. . H.. r. -
I from was seven miles, and that the engines
and men arrived there about the time the
fire WAS most appalling. II any other cause
j for eAultation is thought necessary TO Justi-
fy it. let it be found in the fact, that the fire
was arre stet, and a vast amount oi property
rescued from the Jaws Of destruction, by the
aid thus afforded. The first suocour from the
city arrived about eleven o'clock, and wa
followed by successive supplies. Our friend
at Aiexahdra, exhausted by fatigue ant
anxiety, were not employed in endeavourint
to save their individual property, and with
out the excellent apparatus OF nose, &C
which we have, were not able to content
with the devouring element. They welcom
ed from this quarter as almost provident'al
and they are unbounded in the measure o
: their thanks for the assistance, witbou
which, the best part of the town, with mos
Of the shipping, would have shared the tat
of that valuable portion OF it which was al
ready in flames.
As il was, however, the contiagration va
awful, and the destruction ofpropertv yer
great, as may BE supposed, from iire rag
: ing to the thick Of the town for fVe Ion
: hours, with brisk North West wind blow
, ing. 1t is a wonder, indeed, that the Tar
:, Was t under at All. The hose and forcin
:, machinery, having the river for the sourc
: of supply, furnishing copious and lnexhaus'
y lble supplies Of water. effected what no SUI
ply of water by hand could have done; an'
although the water thrown in streams dt
!, scended in the form of ice and sleet, mani
! ling the firemen in icy garments, we beheN
= but ono of the engines was SO frozen duri'
w the day, as to Sc disabled, SO steadily wei
thev worked.
!, rhc Fire commenced in the Cabinet M
J" ker's Shop of Mr. James Green, on the la
" side of Royal Street, between King al
= Prince streets, aud extended to FairtaX-s s.
! !, thence down Prince street to Unon- stree
y line number OF Houses destroyed, bcsd
Dack buildings, were about forty-and |!
value of the houses and goods destroyed ci
= hardly have fallen short oftwo hundred tho
sand dollars. Some OF the property WAS
= sured, but to what extent we hlvc not hear
~ tho Fire Insurance Company OF Aicxaddri
' : viii, it is supposed, be considerable los
4 by the FIRE The principal sufferers by c
y Of property are, Mr.. Hill, Mr.. Brocchl
$" MIR. Doods, Mr.. Harper, Mr. Johnston, N
u, Rumnry, Mr., Rudd, Mr.. Murphy, Mr.. He
W burn, Messrs. {. & J, p Thompson, NJ
:. Wilson's, the Estate of p. G.. Martellt
=, - iona. G.. May, Mr.. IIorwell, Mr.. Night
W. gale, Isabel Howard, and several oth'
whose names we could not learn.
~ The Office of the Alexandria Gaze
: was in such danger, (though the building I
' o capped, >that the materials were all hast
,:n renewed. aud it will take probably Sol
~, NV days to get the Office so righted as to
W sume publication.
,as
mt DnNIAN cAIrCE