Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-04-02
A SERIOUS DISASTER.

A SERIOUS DISASTER.
We are sorry to have to announce that the
Public Building East of the Presidents Square,
occupied as the Treasury DEpARrMEr, was
consumed by Fire on Sunday morning, be.
tween two o'clock and sunrise. The fire was
first discovered in the room adjoining that of the
Chief Clerk Of the Department, usually known
among the Clerks aud other officers BY the name
of Mr.. F. Laub's Room. 1t is not known wheth-
er the Fire originated IN the floor or the ceiling
of the room, the whole being in blaze before
any one approached IL; but no doubt appears to
be entertained that the Fire WAS accidental
The whole room was on Fire before the alarm
az given; and until the alarm was given, even
the watch walking the pavement in front OF the
Branch Bank (near the spot( pc received nothing OF
the FIRE, (the building of the state department
interposing) Every exerton was made. as the
people gathered to the spot. finding that it would
be in vain to attempt saving the building, to res
cue the books and papers Of the several Offices
great deal was saved, by the Clerks and other
citizens, considering the circumstances. 1t IS
hoped, indeed, that few books or papers OF much
consequence are destroyed.
I'LL the books aud papers on the ground ho"r
are believed to have been saved (in great dlsor
were destroyed. OF the books and papers in the
apartments OF the second story, 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 Urea
suty. the Treasurer, and the Frst Auditor -
On the second floor, nearly all the books of The
FRS Comptto.le whose Office occupied the great
er number OF the rooms, we're saved, and a part
Of those belonging to the Office of the Secretary
OF the Treasury, in wh0se immediate apartments
the fire was first discovered.
OF the offices connected With the Treasury
Department, several Of the most extensive, are
kept in other buildings than that destroyed, and
are Of course entirely safe, VIZ those If the Sc
cOnd Comptroller, Second. Third, Fourth, and
Fifth Auditors, and the Solicitor Of the Urea
sury.
The papers DESTROYED were MANY Of them oh.
solete, and almost all of date prior 10 1890
The'most Important papers destroyed were per-
haps the correspondence OF the Head OF the Tea.
sury Department, which was keptin the room
wherein the fire originated.
When the Fire was first discovered, il was the
dead hour OF the night, and the whole pOpula
ton Of the city was 81 deep buried in sleep, that
a comparatively small number arrived earl, on
the ground. Very soon after the first cry of
Fire scarcely uttered at half past two o'clock,
the keeper Of the Orphan Asylum bell cauhs {
and repeated the alarm; whence it happened
that the persons first at the fire, next to the im.
mediate neighbOrs, were reused by that bell,
and had halt mile to run before they arrived at
it. To save the building. how ever, when once
on fire, would, under any circumstances, have
been impossible, so inflammable was it's struc-
ture, as well as ITS contents.
No Une can look at the smoking ruins, without
sensation Ut astOnishment at the faulty and utter
imProsidence with which books and papers Of
such vast consequence have been 80 long trusted
to any other than fire proof building. The few
scattering ,aulted rooms in the building entirely
escaped the flames; and had the whole building
been similarly constructed, the fire could not
have occurred; or IL. through extreme careless.
ness, 1t had orcurred, would nave been confined
to the room IN which it originated
Where Mas the watchman Of the building? is
natura question. He was, we hear. sick at
home; aud The yopth who substituted him Was
50 sound asleep that he vas perhaps only saved
from being burnt alive by those who broke open
the doors aud reused him. Had he been ever so
wide awake. however. unless he had happened
to inspect the particular room where the fire be-.
gun. the alarm from outside might have been his
first notice.
We are glad to observe that creditsble exer.
tions were made BY the proper officers Yesterday
to collect aud secure the scattered books and pa.
pers; 20 that BY s"'olock in the day they were
safely housed. Wat. hit. Of Yesterday.