Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-11-05
ITEMS OF NEWS.

tween one and two o'clock, fire broke out in the
upper part of the Alexandria Brewery, at the cor
ner of Union and Wolfe streets, in this place.
This was a large and valuable establishment,
owned by Mr. William II. Irwin, and was at the
time in full operation. The building itself was
Of stone, with high wooden roofs. II was filed
with all the necessary machinery for brewing,
on large scale, with steam engine, drying kns,
casks, &C., &C., together with considerable
quantity Of manufactured ale and beer, and a
supply of barley, hops, &c. The fire WINS first
discovered, in one place, in small fame, on
the top Of the building, it soon spread over the
roof, and in few moments the whole pile was in
blaze, and was rapidly consumed. Along with
the brewery building, the brick house adjoining,
used as a counting-room and for other Offices
connected with the establishment, was destroyed.
The malt liquor in casks and barrels, in the base
ment Of the brewery, was, some of IT, saved, but
quantity was lost.
The Alexandria Brewery adjoined on one side
the extensive locomotive and car works OF
Messrs. Smith 81 Perkins, and the ship yard OF
Mr.. Robert w. Hunter on the other. Both OF
these valuable establishments were for some time
in imminent danger; but owing to the zeal, skill,
and courage, of the fremen and citizens gene
rally, they were saved, with but little loss. The
roof of the blacksmith's shop and casting house OF
the foundry was burned, but no other material
damage was sustained. AT one time, Mr.. Hun
ter's ship house was on fire at the north end, but,
by active exertions, the building was saved.
The heat from the brewery, when it was mass
Of flames, was intense, and surrounded as 1t was
by so much combustible material, il is, indeed,
wonderful that the fire was stayed in its progress,
and prevented from spreading any farther than it
did. Nothing but the determination of such men
as compose our fire companies, aided by kind
Providence, could have arrested the flames.
The fire originated, it is supposed, from spark
from the chimney of the steam engine
Il is impossible TO ascertain the exact amount
Of loss; probably it is some $1,000 or $4,000.
Mr.. Irwin was partially insured on the brewery,
in the Etna Insurance company of Hartford, and
in the Fire Insurance Office of this place.
The stock Of grain, hops, &c. on hand, was not
very large, as the season for brewing had just
commenced. The machinery was extensive and
complete, and the whole establishment very
valuable one.-Alerandria Gazette.
VIRGINIA RAILRoADs.-Tne Rockingham Regis
ter, alluding TO the completion of the Manassas
Gap railroad to Strasburg, in the Valley of Virgil
MIA, says:
avirginia, though her railways are but COM
menced already presents grand spectacle in the
strides she has taken. That formidable barrier
between Western and Eastern Virginia, the Blue
Ridge, has been passed at three different points
by our railways, and the presidents OF some OF our
railroad companies have congratulated their stock
holders that the promised land has been reached.
OF Manassas, this is emphaticaly true. She touches
the outside of the gardenspot of Virginia at Stras-
burg and will penetrate the heart of the best por-
ton of the valley at Harrisonburg. Manassas
crosses the Blue Ridge at more favorable point
than either of the other railroads penetrating the
valley, and of course has that advantage over both
the Central and the Virginia and Tennessee roads
Her passage of the Blue Ridge is at such an easy
grade, that the cars may safely pass as swiftly
over that point over any other. Indeed, unless
passengers over the Manassa are told that they
are crossing the Ridge, they would never know
it.n
Boar PROPELLED BY GALvANlc PowERs.-The
Boston (Mass) Telegraph has communication
from Worcester, in that State, describing smal
boat capable of carrying four or five persons, pro
PEELED by paddle wheels, which are set in motor
by galvanic batteries and magnets. metallic
button, near the rudder, connects or disconnects
the batteries and thus controls the motive power
The boat and machinery were constructed by
John s. Gustiz, chief engineer Of Washburn
Co.'s wire works, at the latter place. Twenty
five cents worth Of acids, il is said, will work the
boat for ten hours, without stopping. The whole
affair is very ingenious, but by means novel, a.
the application of galvano-magnetsm, as a motive
power, has been made many years ago.
JUVENILE AMusEMRNTs.-The Louisville Time
saws: I'VE noticed some boys last evening anu
sing themselves by besmearing combustible
liquid on rats, and then setting them on Are, and
chasing them through the street.; and the Phila
delpha San calls the attention Of the police Of the
fourteenth ward TO the nuisance occasioned by
the boys Of that section continually blowing Tin
horns, much TO the annoyance of persons in thai
vicinity, particularly invalids"
The DIAMoND.-At a recent meeting OF the
British Scientific Association, paper was read
by Professor Tenant, upon the subject Of the
Kohinoor diamond. He asserted that the diamond
does retain its luminosity in the dark for a shor
period after exposed TO the suns rays. A lump o
crystalized sugar, also exposed TO the suns rays
would show the same brilliant hues, il immediate
ly afterwards placed in the dark, as diamond
BreAMY.--A curious case Of bigamy was re
Gently in the California courts. A man was mar
ried In England under the laws there, but the Ro
man Catholic Vicar General, in California, on as
pertaining that the woman had ncper been, baptiss.
in the Roman Church, annullcd the marriage, ant
married the man again to another woman by IN,
| Romish forms. This decree of "the Church,
however, was not considered as valid In the ey,
OF American law, and the man was convicted
A Cunous WOMAN, in Brookville, says tn,
Hartford CoHraHt, counted the stitches she tool
in making shirt The number was fourteen
thousand four hundred and thirty
Ex-PsKspKST Tyler delivered short ca TEN
pore speech at the agricultural meeting of tn,
scsboard Society, on Thursday, which the Nor
folk brgvs says was very beautiful and appro
pirate.
Il ar n