The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-04-14
THE FIRE.

view, which was connected with the one occupied
by ourself for the printing the Madisonan, and the
entire building, with most of the contents, was
speedily consumed. The editorial, private library,
counting and packing room of the Madisonlan, are
situated in the line of buildings fronting on r street,
between 9th and 10th. The back building which
was destroyed, commencing only few feet IN the
rear of the front dwellings, was spacious two story
brick establishment in the shape Of !. The
second story Of the lower branch of the I was oc-
cuped by the Madisonan printing office; the room
Immediately under divided lengthwise, and one
part occupied by Mr.. Langtree, and the other by
books, papers, &C., formerly belonging to General
Green. The I'd story of the top of the T, 1--WE
speak thus TO make our description intelligible,)
was occupied, also, by Mr.. Langtree; as was,
also the eastern end the basement the western
end of the basement, Of the upper or northern part
Of the was unoccupied except by some remnants of
printing materials, boxes to file newspapers, Every
combustible, &C., and had been closed and remained
unemployed for several years. 1t either in this
deserted room, or in the room Immediately over it,
occupied by Mr.. Langtree, that the fire originated
Mr.. Langtree's hands had been occupied the after
noon of Friday, as we are informed, in finishing off
some binding, and fire had been kept up in the
furnace, which, however, the hands declare was ex-
tinguished at O'Clock. The hands of the Madi-
sonan Office were at work printing the paper until
nearly half past IL o'clock, when the only two
candles, then lighted, were placed upon the
press, and the other upon the imposng-stone, and
snuffed out, and the colored man last in the Office
went out through the back passage. After going
out he returned to see that all was safe, and belev-
ing every thing to be SO, retired. There had been
no fire in the office for two days. There was no
fire TO be perceived or suspected, when he left the
office, at about half past II. This fact is corrobo-
rated by our pressman, who left about the same time.
The angle formed by the western side of the I
was the small yard of Mrs. Ironsides house, and
Mrs. Ironside, her daughter, and Mr.. Ramsey, of
Pennsylvania, who was boarding with her, concur
in the statement that the fire was first seen by them
the northwest part of the building which was point
the farthest removed from the Madisonian. We re-
ceiyed the same impression when, on being aroused
by the cry of fire, we saw from our bedroom win
dow, which was but about 10 feet from the end of
our printing office, the reflection of the light upon
me buildings northwest of the 7. DR.. Davis and
ourselves were the first persons to printing
office, which we found densely filed with smoke
hat we could not venture into il with safety. There
vas. at that time, no fire in that part Of the +, but
Ill was SO dark that one Of our hands asked for a
candle. The fire was raging in the northwestern
over part Of the building, was our impression at
he time. This impression has been since confirmed
~ the testimony of our neighbors, who were early
IN the ground. Seven witnesses were examined
yesterday morning before the Mayor of the city, and
he weight of their testimony goes also 10 confirm
'ur first impressions. And being well convinced
hat the fire originated in the unoccupied room, we
rave not been able to account for its cause in any
'ther way than that it was communicated by human
agency.
Fortunately the nearest front buildings were COW
'red with slate, and, through the commendable ex-
,rtions of the remen those buildings and of course
he entire row with which they were connected,
we're saved.
Our private library, books, papers, &C., and the
nrniture of Mrs. Ironside, and of the neigbors adj
oining received no other injury than could be ex-
Declcu In TIE process OF summary turning INTO the
treet.
Our presses, types, fixtures, together with the
edition 1000 country papers, printed on one side
md part Of the triweekly edition for our southern
circulation, were totally destroyed. We had no in
urance, no assignment, no mortgage. We have
suffered personal nett loss of about $4,000.
Mr.. Lang,rees loss, as he estimates it, is much
anger. His printing materials were insured to the
extent Of $4,000 by the Franklin and Potomac In
urance Offices. A large number Of the Madison
Papers, finished and unfinished, which were burnt
we're not insured Most of the stereotype plates
we're saved so that another edition of the work may
be printed. All the presses, types, fixtures, guam
iy Of morocco and Russia leather, and great num-
Der Of copies of the Democratic Review, were to-
tally destroyed. Mr.. Langree estimates his loss at
$4,000.
The fire several times communicated to the
Baptist Church, and session-room in the rear but
was extinguished by the firemen The damage to
the church is estimated at about $500.
The soap factory of MIR. Ellis, which was also in
the rear and near the printing office, was consum-
ed-vaue estimated at 81 900.
The Medical College at the corner of the block,