Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-04-16

no light from any Of the windows. nor any thing
in or about the house to attract attention or ere
ate alarm. The remains of the building have
been carefully examined by sk,ltu workmen,
and they can discover no defect in its construc.S
ton which may be supposed to have occasioneo
the disaster. On the night OF the hre, the usuai
precautions for security appear to have Oeea I'd
ken. The regular watchInan being SICK ana UNI
able to attend, his place was supplied. under the
drectiun of the superintendent. by young man
between 10 and 90 years Of aye, who has 0eeh
employed constantly for about 9 months past as
one of the laborers at the building And accord
ing to the ordinary Practice Of the guard. ne ex-
amined about ten o'clock at night all OF the rooms
except those in the fire proof part of the house,,
and found the fires In the CRATES TO be- as he sup
posed, entirely safe The fuel used in the part
Of the building where the fire began. IS anthra'
cite coa--and in the room where il originated.
the coal had sunk below the upper bar oil the
crate at the time of the examination by the guard;
and the blower, resting on the ash pan, was Plac-
ed as fender before it. according to the usua'
practice. No fresh coal had been put on the hre
after IL or o'clock on that day. The outer
doors and the windows Of the house were fasten-
ed in the ordinary manner IN the insde,with the
exception of window in the fire proof, which
seems to have been very negligen'ly secured, II
secured at all, on that night. But there Is no
communication between that room and the part
of the building where the fire COMMENSURATE
if all evil disposed person had entered at that
window, he could not have made his way to any
other room.
The regulations of the Superintendent made
it the duty of the night guard to make the exa-
- a.. a Al e. NM in ad
but he was not required to keep awake all
highland since the year 1896, it has been the
practice for only one of the watchmen to remain
during the night in the bniding-and he has
been permitted to sleep after 10 O'Clock.
As snon as the fire was discovered, the proper
exertions we're Immediately made by the officers
of the government and the citizens who assem-
bed, to save the books and papers. And the
most active and prascworthy efprts we're used
for that purpose; and, in some instances, the zeal
of those engaged exposed them TO much hazard,
The Secretary of the Treasury was early on the
ground, and, by his direction, the books aud pa.
pers were placed, as they were brought out, un-
der the care of proper guards-and on the same
day, at an early hour IN the evening, they were
deposited in house that was immediately engag
ell for the temporary occupation of the Ireasu-
ry Department.
We cannot, at this time, undertake to state
with precision. what papers and books have been
destroyed; since thuse which were saved have
not yet been all perfectly arranged The Score
tary of the Treasury has taken measures to ob
tain prompt and accurate report from the heads
of the Burraux on this subject But we believe
that very few papers have been lost that are OF
much Importance to the government or to IndI-
vduas. and that the great mass 1T the most va
liable bnuks and papers have been saved
The deposiliOns we have taken accompany this
reprrt-and also drawings Of the Treasury build
ing. which will enable ,nu more readily to com
prehenh The testimony Of the witnesses.
{. We have the honor to be, Sir, very respectful
~. your 0bedent servants,
tSisned} EDW. LIVINGSTON,
SECRETARY OF State,
LOUIS M'LANE.
Sec'y Of the Treasury,
LEW. CASS,
.4pr,l, 10, 1888 Secretary Of War,
r. B. TANEY.
Attorney General,
WIN. T. BARRY.
Postmaster General.
To TIE ppestnryT