American watchman and Delaware advertiser., 1827-01-23
AWFUL FIRE AT ALEXANDRIA.


out in the town OF Aiexsndria. II wss soon per
ceived from this city and old as the weather was
u Thermometer at 13) Our townsnien turned out will
alacry, and almost literally flew TO the assstanc,
OF their neighbors. The Engine from the Capitol
| Hill, with its hose, was under way in few minuie
after the fire discovered. About three hundtec
persons from the Navy Yard headed by Captain
Booth, were under way almost soon, but, having
further to 60, did not arrive quite as early on the
ground. The Engine from the Post Office Depart
rnent, with its me hose, go. under way as soon as
the fire was ascertained TO be serious, and had lus
started when sn express arrived to our Mayor from
the Mayor OF Alexandra, soliciting aid upon which
'he Engine Of the Second ward and that from the
First were notified and were under way. Nor were
our Georgetown neighbors behind hand with grea,
| spirit they went down in numbers in carriages, on
horseback. and on foot carrying also, it is believed,
their engine. All the Marines on this station we re
also carried down by Captain Hocip. under the
orders Of COL Henderson, and carrying an engine
with them and though they did not arrive until
the fire was got under, afforded important service
guards. The whole number Of persons who went
from this side Of the river could be less than
thousand. II we appear 10 dwell too much upon
this public spirited conduct Of our oilizens on this
occasion. let it be recollected that the distance 10
Alexandria from most of thr points started from
was seven miles, and that the engines and men ar
ling. II any other cause for exuItaion is thought
necessary to justify it, let it be found in the fact,
that the FIRE arrested. and vast amount Of
property rescued from the jaws OF destruction, by
the aid thus afforded The first succor from The
city arrived about eleven o'clock, and was followed
by successive supplies Our friends at Alexandra,
exhausted by fatigue and anxiety, were not employed
in endeavering to cave their individual property, and
without the excellent apparatus of hose, SC. which
pe haus pnf OH ~ suith fpu rflr.
ing element. They welcomed relief from this
quarter amos, provdcn,ial, and they arc unboun-
ded in the measure OF their thanks for the assistance
without which The best part Of their town, with most
OF the shipping. would have shared the fate o that
valuable portion Of it which wss already in flames.
AS it was. however, the conhagra,ion was awful,
and the destruction Of property very great. as may
be supposed fram Fire raging in the thick OF tie
own for Ave long hours, with brisk North West
wiud blowing. 1t is wonder, indeed, that the fire
got under al, all The hose and forcing ma
chnery. having the river for the source of supply.
furnishing copious and inexhsustibe supplies Of
water. Effected what no supply OF water by hand
could have done and, although the water thrown
in streams descended in the lorm Of ice and sIeet,
San,ns the Rremen in icy garments, we believe
but one Of the engines frozen during the
day as to be disabled. steadily they worked.
The Fire commenced in the Cabinet Makers
Shop OF Mr. James Green on the East side oi Roy
Il Street, between King and Prince Street, and ex-
tended 10 Fairfax Street, thence down Prince Street,
to Union Street. The .umber OF Houses destroyed,
besides back buildings. about forty-and the
value Of the Houses and goods destroyed can hardly
have fallen short Of two hundred thousand dollars.
Some Of The property was insured, but 10 what ex.
tent we have not heard: the Fire Insurance Com
pany OF Alexandria will, i, il supposed be consid-
cradle loser by the fire The principal sufferers by
loss Of property are. Mr.. Hill, Mr.. Brocchus. Mr.
Dodds Mr.. Harper, Mr.. Johnston, Mr.. Rumney,
Mr.. Rudd Mr. Murphy, Mr.. Hepburn, Messrs.
c. & ]. P. Thompson. Miss Wilson's, the Estate of
P. G. Marsleller, iona c May. Mr.. Horwell, Mr..
Nightingale, Isabel Howa d, and several others
whose names we could not learn
The Office OF the Alexandria Gazette was in such
danger. (thoush the building escaped) that the ma
terials wers all hastily removed, and it will take
probably some days to get the Office righted SO as
to resume publication.
Some circumstances connected with this disss.
truus Fire worthy Of note. First the shingie
roofs were the cause OF The Fire extending lis raya
ges far beyond what it would have done. had the
yoois been slated Secondly, tho fire was arrested
solely by the efficacy OF the Hose, without which,
the engines could have done nothing,
Great danger was menaced BY the umbing walls.
One man is reported to have been killed and ore
of citizens, under falling wall, had an escape
by means OF the embrasure of window, little less
than miraculous. Refreshments were most literally
by the people of Alexandra to their ss-
tants, and we shall be glad 10 hear that all GOT home
safe through the cold of last mig ht, still, more intense
han tha, of the day.
A grea, deal Of liberaity and good feeling was
displayed on this oce aston. A mong her instances,
il NAV be mentioned. that Mr.. Cooksndorfer, one
0! the Proprietors OF the Union Stage Line, went
DOWN with his huge steamboat Stage, loaded with
20 or 80 pe,sons. and drawing the United States
Hose Wagon, which performed so mporan, SER
vice in the daY. The Washington Bridge Compa.
ny threw open their gates, and no toll was charged
an I,,i, tha boIa Df ths< Il.