Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1833-04-19
DONI ES,EHC.
Iron tue Washington Globe. 7
EIRE In WASHINGTON

VIC Iay beOTe readerS Tie Ohcla1 Enquiry the
burning OF the Treasury Office and the destruction OF the
public papers Iii long but interesting TO our readers
we give below the note OF the President directing an
Investigation in relation to the destruction OF the Treasury
Department-lhe result Of the enqury-togciher will, the
Report OF the Secretary of the Treasury, connected with
the subject
ing OF the Treasury building and the destruction of
valuable papers the President deemed il proper al
the request OF the Secretary OF the Treasury direct an
enquiry 10 be made into the cause OF the disaster. He
therefore directs thorough aud careful TO
be made on the following points:
| J. la what manner the fire occasioned,
2 II accidental, how did it happen Was it from any
defect in the original construction of the building !-or
was 1t occasoned by careesSness negligence! And if
Oy carelesncss or negligence, to whom either be at
tIibuted
B. Were proper cxertons used to preserve the books
papers and public property i'm tho buLIino as we'll al 10,
save the building itself?
The Attorney General is directed to conduct the enqu
ry aud the other members OF the cabinet, aid The
witnesses 10 be examined on oath and their dispositions re-
duced TO writing-snd when the investigation is closed
tue testimony TO be reported 10 the President together
with the opinions OF the members oil the Cabinet the
points above stated.
The President directs that the Chief Justice of the
Circuit Court Tor the district OF Columbia be requested 10
preside at the investigation, and 10 assist in it.
/ March 81, 1889 ANDREW JACKSON.
Sir: We have made the enquiries directed by your or
der oil the 3lst oil March last in relation the at the
treasury building on the morning OF that day. aud proceed
TO state the manner in which the investigation was con-
Quoted and the result of the enquiries.
/ We commenced the examination of witnesses. at the
room OF the Secretary of State, the day of the fire at
two o'clock in the evening, and continued take testo
ny at the same place every day until the evening Saur
day the 9th inst The proceedings then unavodably
suspended until Wednesday the 10Th inst when some fur
her testimony was taken and the investigation closed
we nave examined altogether more than fifty witnesses
and have called before every person from whom il wa,
supposed that any information could be obtained on the
Chief Justice Cranch presided at the examinations and
gave TO the enquiry his emitting attention and yaa
Die assistance You are that the Secretary of the
Navy left Washington, in order TO execute some official
duties before the investigation was concluded
1t appears from the whole evidence, that the fire was
rst discovered about half past two O'clock in the morning
he attention oil 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 bv the fire was oh
served by others who happened be in the diff
ierent parso the city Those who discovered the fire.
Immediately gave the alarm and fastened the building:
and when the FIRST persons arrived the ground the
guard WITHIN the house was still asleep and unconscious OF
the fire. and awakened by the noise made at one Of
the doors TO rouse him. There is difference of OPT
mon among the witnesses the precise of fire
at that moment But, taking the whole testimony together
we think il siuly proved, that when the first persons ar
rived the ground the in the second story ON the
north side OF the house, and Immediately west of the
projection in the centre OF the building appeared TO
be on fire in every part-tha the flames and dense
clouds OF smoke were issuing from or both of the
windows oil the room-and that there then no
appearance of fire in either OF the adjoining rooms
nor in the garnet, nor roof. In a very few minutes
however, The hre was communicated to the adjoining
rooms and TO The garnet and the rooand the garrett being
hed Tor the most part with old papers and paper cases
the flames spread through il with great rapiditv Tic
hrst engine arrived on the ground in twenty minutes af-
ter the re discovered and the roof over the room i'm
which 1t originated then blazing very soon after
wards began 10 TALL In. Every exerton check the
flames Immediately made with this engine and others
which arrived shortly after it. But it was soon evident
mat The want oil sufficient supply of in the neigh
oorhood OF The building, rendered it impossible to save
it, and the fire continued TO advance And in about one
hour IRON the time 1t first seen, the whole building
win the exception OF the fire proof portion itwa either
consumed or on fire.
We have endeavored in vain trace the origin of the
e' ana are unable TO mpue 1t TO any particular
Three OF the witnesses who have been examined ssed
near the building about half past O'Clock or little
later on the morning of the fire, at that time there
was no light from any of the windows nor anv thing in
or about the house TO attract attention alarm
The remains OF the building have been carefully eXamin-
10y killu workmen, and they discover no defect
III us construction which may be supposed have
stoned the disaster On the night OF the fire, the usual
precautions for security appear have been taken The
regular Waterman being sick and unable attend his
place was supplied under the direction of
dent, by young man between 10 20 wears of age
who has been employed constantly about s months
past as one OF the abourers at the buildings And
dhg 10 the ordinary practice OF the guard, be examined
about ten O'Clock at night all of the except those in
the fire proof part of The house. and found the fires in the
CRATES to be- as he supposed entirely safe The fuel used
in the part OF the building where the fire began is an
thrace coa-and in the where originated the coal
nah sunk below the upper bar OF the crate at the time of
The examination by the guardand the blower resting on
the ASH pan, was placed fender before it, according
the usual practice No fresh coal had been pu on the fire
"leT IL OF CLOCK on mat he outer doors
windows OF the house fastened i'm the ordinary man
ncr in the inside with the exception of window in the
ire proof which have been very negpentIy se
cured II secured at ALL on that night But there is no
communication between that and the part OF the
building where the fire commenced-and if an evil dis
posed person had entered at that window he could not
have made his way TO any other room.
The regulations of the Superintendent made il the du
~ OF the night guard 10 make the examination of rooms
anu hres above mentioned-but he required to
keep awake all highland since the year 1926 il has
heen the practice for only of the watchnen TO remain
during the night in the buding-and he has been per
United to sleep after 10 o'clock.
As soon as the fire discovered the proper exerons
were immediately made by the officers of the
and The citizens who assembled, save the books and
papers And the most active and praisewOrhy efforts
were used for that purpose; and, in instances the
zeal OF those engaged exposed them much hazard The
Secretary OF the Treasury early the ground and
by his direction the books and papers placed as they
were brought out, under the of proper guars-and
on The same day. at an early hour in the evening thew
were deposedn house that Immediately engaged for
| temporary occupation OF the Treasury Department
we cannot at this time, undertake state with pre-
con what papers and books have been desroyed since
those which saved have not yet been all perfectly
arranged. The Secretary of the Treasury has taken
measures to obtain prompt and accurate report from the
heads OF the Bureaux This subject But we believe
that very few papers have been lost that are of much i'm
pOrt1nce to the government TO individuals and that the
great mass OF the most valuable books and papers, have
/ been saved
The dispositions have taken, accompany this report
and also drawings of the Treasury building which will
enable you more readily to comprehend the testimony Of
the witnesses.
We have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully your
obedient servants, (Signed)
EDW. LIVINGSTON, See of State
LOUIS M'LANE, Sec. NJ The TTeasurV
LEW. CASS, Secretary of TVdr.