Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1833-04-11
From the .Ns,iOnai Iaieilir<ne,r. .9r,ir =,


We are sorry to have to announce that the
Public Building east Of the Presidents Square,
occupied as the Treasury Department, was
consumed by FIRE yesterday morning, between
two o'clock and sunrise. The fire was first
discovered in the room adjoining that Of tie
Chief Clerk Of the Department, usually
known among the clerks and other officers by
the name Of Nr. F. I.aub's room. Il is not
known whether the fire originated in the floor
or the ceiling Of the room, the whole being
~ blaze before any one approached it; but
no doubt appears TO be entertained that il was
accidental. The whole room was on fire be-
fore the alarm was given; and until the alarm
was given, even the watch walking the pave
ment In front Of the Branch Bank (near the
sPoD saw nothing Of the fire (thc building
OF the State Department interposing.l Every
exertion was made, as the people gathered
70 the spot, finding il impossible to save the
building, To rescue the books and papers Of
the several Offices. A great deal was saved
BY the clerks and other citizens, considering
the circumstances. !: is hoped, indeed, that
few books or papers Of much consequence
are destroyed.
Al the books md papers on the ground Aoor
are believed to have been saved On great dis
order OF eouFse) and all those in the third
story were destroyed. OF the books and pa
Z ~.
much the greater part were saved.
The Offices on the first floor, the books OF
which are saved, were those Of the Register
OF the Treasury, the Treasurer and First
Auditor. On the second floor, nearly all the
books OF the first Comptroller, whose Office
occupied The greater nvmheFrof the rooms.
were saved, and part Of those belonging 20
the Office Of the Secretary Of the Treasury
IN whose immediate apartments the fire as
first discovered.
or The Offices connected with the Treasury
Department, several OF tho most EXTENSIVE
are kept ~ other buildings than that DESTROYED
and are Of course entirely safe. viz those OF
the Second Comptroller, second Third
Fourth and Fifth Auditors, and the solicitor
OF the Treasury.
! The papers destroyed were many Of them
obsolete, and almost all of date prior 20
le2O. The most important papers DESTROYED
we're perhaps the correspondence Of the Head
of the Treasury Department, which was kep,
~ the room wherein the hre originated.
When the IRE was first discovered. ~ Wa
the dead hour Of tie night, and the ,sboIe
population Of the e,ty Was 10 deeply buried IN
sleep, that a comparatively small number ar
rived early on the ground Very soon after
the hrst cry Of FIRE vas uttered Al half past
two O'Clock, the keeper Of the Orphan Asy ium
bell caught add repeated tie alarm whenee
e happened ihst the persons first nj the IRE
next 10 tho mruediats noighbOrs, were FOssed
BY that bell, aud bad half a mile 10 run lue
fore they arrived II u. To save The building
however. when once on fire, would. under aey
circumstance, have been impossible, 50 M
hamnsbse was Is structure, az we'll a. is con
tents
No one can look 81 the smoking ruins. With.
out a sensation of as,ooishmsat AZ ,he fsiait,
and utter improsidsnos with . Inch hooks aod
papers Of such vast consequence have been 20
long trusted 70 any other than a ffe-proof
building The few scattering ysulled Rooms