Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-04-16
BURNING OF THE TREASURY DEPART
MENT.
From the Globe.

From the GEo0e.
We give below the note of the President. d.
recting an investigation in relation to the destruc
ton Of the Treasury Department, and the re.
suit Of the enquiry:
In consequence OF. the public loss sustained
by the burning Of the Treasury building and the
destruction OF some valuable papers, the Presl-
dent has deemed it proper. at the request Of the
Secretary Of the Treasury, to direct an enquiry
To be made into the cause Of the disaster. lie
therefore directs thorough and careful nvesti-
CATION to be made on the following points:
1. In what manner was the fire occasioned?
g. II accidental, how did it happen? Was
it from any defect in the original construction
of the building1-or was it 0ccasioned BY care.
lessness or neglgencel And if by careessness
I or negligence, to whom can either be attributed!
s.. Were proper exertions used to preserve the
books. papers and public property in the build
ing. as we'll as to save the building itself!
The Attorney General is directed to conduct
the enquiry. and the other members OF the cabl.
net to aid in il. The witnesses to be examined
on oath, and their dispositions reduced to writing
and when the investigation is closed, the testi
mony to be reported to the President, together
with the opinions of the members of the Cabinet
on the points above stated.
The Presiden, directs that the Chief Justice
Of the Circuit Court for the District Of Columbia
be requested to preside at the investigation, and
| to assist in It.
ANDREW JACKSON.
March 81, 1888.
| Sir: We have made the enquiries directed
| by your order of the 3I,t Of March last, in re-
lation to the fire at tie Treasury building on the
morning of that day, and proceed to state the
manner in Which the investigation was conduct
ed, and the result al the enquiries.
We commenced me examination Of witnesses.
at the room Of the Secretary OF State. on the day
Of the fire at two o'clock IN the evening, and
continued to take testimony at the same place
every day until the evening ut Saturday the OH
instant. The proceedings we're then uavoldably
suspended until "Wednesday the 10th instant,
when some further testimony was TAKEN and the
clused. We have examined alto.
sether more than fifty witnesses, and have call
| ed before US every person from whom il was sup.
posed that any information could be obtained on
the subject.
Chief Justice Crancb presided at the examina-
tions, and gave to the enquiry his unrem',ing at.
tention and valuable assistance. You are aware
that the Secretaries of the Navy left Washing.
ton, in order to execute some official duties, be-
fore the investigation was concluded.
ltappears from the whole evidence, that the
fire was first discovered about half past two
O'Clock in the morning The attention Of two or
three persons who reside in the neighborhood and
in view Of the building, was attracted by the
light from the windows; and nearly at the same
time the volume of smoke occasioned by the fire
was observed by others Who happened to be in
the stlee.s in different parts Of the city. Those
who discovered the fire. Immediately gave the
alarm and hastened to the building; and when
the 6rst persons arrived on the ground, the guard
within the huuse was still asleep and unconscious
OF the fire, and was awakened by the noise made
at one Of the doors to rouse him. There IS some
difference Of opinion among the witnesses as to
the precise state of the fire at that moment. Bat
taking the whole testimony together, we think it
is fully proved that when the first persons arriv.
ed on the ground. the room in the second story
on the north side of the house, and Immediately
west of the projection in the centre Of the build
ing, appeared to be on fire in every part that
| the flames and dense clouds of smoke were is
suing from one or both Of the ~indows of the
rooms that there was no appearance of fire
in either Of the adjoining rooms, nor in the gar.
ret, nor roof.
| In very few minutes, however, thu fire was
| communicated to the adjoining rooms and to the
garnet and the roof--and the garrett being filed
for the most part with old paper, and paper cases,
the flames spread through it with great rapid,ty.
The first engine arrived on the ground in twenty
minutes after the FIRE was discovered, and the
| roof over the room in which il originated was
then blazing, and very soon afterwards began to
fall in. Every exertion 10 check the flames was
immediately made with this engine and othe RS
which arrived shortly after 1t. But it was aeon
evident that the want Of sufficient supply Of wa.
ter in the neigborhood Of the building, rendered
itimpossbe TO save it, and the fire continued
to advance. And in about one hour from the
time it was first seen, the whole building, with
the exception of the fire proof portion Of ii, was
either consumed or ON fire
We have endeavored IN vain to trace the orr.
gin Of the tire, and are unable to mpute It to any
particular cause. Three OF the witnesses who
have been examined, passed near the building
about halt past one o'clock, or little later, on the
morning of the fire.. and at that time there was