Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-11-24
From the Norfolk Beacon. Nov So'!
What, yesterday, was the scene Of enee']"'
Industry, is today a snaoS'"s '"'"'

III.
;ndSst,u' IS Jo-day smoking ruin
FIRE!
We ,n,ou,.sd Yesterday morning, in has
ty slip, to our distant Correspondents tue ss,
Of the conAagralion at an early nov. Pr,
morning. Of the extensive and valuable BAKING
Esta5Esfmsnf Of Mr.. T1LDsLEy GRAHAM, acin>
zen whose exemplary industry is well known
to all among US While !he loss OF properly
is very considerable b. this sad disaster, IL IS
rendered more deeply affecting 10 his fa'n'y'
and those to whose charge his business Was
conhded, by the absence Of MIR. Groham' now
on visit 10 Washington and BALTIMORE anu
daily expected home.
The following is the result OF our inquiries
as to The origin and circumstances oil this as
tressinp event, which it will require many
years OF unliring exertion 10 repsir:-On ues>
dav right about 10 o'clock. in conformity WIN
the systematic practice Of the proprietor, his
forem aftt havinglea efully xtlnguished the
fire and lights, and examined the premises,
retired, with The assurance tina, all was WE'LL
About 4 o'clock, the family, in the front build
ing on Main street, almos, in contaci with the
spacious new building in which the hire orlgi'
mated, were alarmed by female servant pro.
claiming the new bake house was on are; ana
on opening back window, the flames, which
had completely enveloped the interior, were
seen bursting through the windows. In TINS
house, of four stories, were stored 800 barrels
of Navy Bread, into nded for :be U. ). ships
Macedonian and Alert, and which, but for the
inelemency OF The few preceding days, would
have been delivered; $50 barrels OF Ship Stut,
with other valuable materials and implements
Of the business. Before the alarm coua be
given and tie Engines be brought to the spot,
In he
beyond any possibility OF rescue, and were to-
tally destroyed.
The fire was rapidly communicated from the
new TO the old Bake House on Hill street, Sc
parated BY about 90 fee,, in which considera-
BILE quantity Of flour and ship bread were stow-
ed, and allho' the building was entirely consu-
med, we are grat6ed to learn iha; most OF lis
valuable contents were rescued by the praise
worthy exertions Of those citizens who had as
srmbled, and The assistance OF the force belong
ing to the establishment.
The wind, which at the time the FIRE was
discovered, was blowing fresh from the N. but
which short time after shifted to S E. drifted
The flames upon the rear Of the valuable brick
tenemen,s on Main.slreet, occupied as resden-
ees and stores by Mr. Graham, and Messrs.
Jeremiah Kyle, NJ. Griffin, J. Bonnaud and e..
Bonsal, all Of which were seriously threatened,
and several Of their back buildings more or
less in julcd'
We have heard no estimation Of the total va
lue of property destroyed, but it undoubtedly
greatly exceeds the amount Of insurance, which
we understand 10 be about Sll, 900 on build
ings and stock: viz. nearly 80 600 in the Mu-
tual Assurance Office at Richmond, and the re.
sidue in the London Phcnlx Office in this place.
Our cxcellen, Fire Companies did their duty
on the occasion, but the destructive element
had gained such all ascendency before the "a
larm was given, that it was impossible to save
The buildings which have fallen sacrifice
while their exer,ions saved large amount Of
valuable property, both in front and rear Of
that which was destroyed.
In noticing this destructive fire, we cannot
omit TO record our cause of thankfulness to a
kind Providence, for the long exemption vouch-
stated to our town from the ravages Of this in.
sidious enemy.