The national Republican., 1861-11-05

ton every day, besides thelarge number served
to regular subscribers. Advertisers will take
note accordingly.
Tho Burning OF the Washington Infirm-
ary.
REMOVAL OF LARGE NUMBER OF PATIENTs-
A VALUABLE MUSEUM DEsrRoYEp-NEARLY
$4,000 WORTH OF PROPERTY LOST.
Shortly after one o'clock yesterday morning
Oust after our paper had gone to press,) tho
Washington Infrmary, situated on E street,
be on nre. The fire doubtless originated In n
defective hue from the furnace, which was 10.
GATED in the cellar under the addition which
projected from the centre Of the main building
IN the rear. The fue was an old one which
had been very poorly fixed up, and several
persons have recently expressed fears of
confagration If II was allowed to remain thus
The rooms Of the Sisters Of Charity were in
this ad tition--%vor the furnace-and the three
medical cadets had q room on the floor above.
Tho rooms Of the Sisters were filed with smoke
about half an hour after midnight, and the Sis.
ter Sunerior first gave the alarm. They had
barely time.to hurry on their clothing and es.
cape, leaving everything but the clothing they
had on In the burning building. Their cries
brought in the guard, and soon the alarm be
came general. Drs. Rodman, Hutchins and
Allen, he cadets above alluded to, lost all their
personal effects, with the exception Of the
clothing which they hurriedly put on to leave
the burning building. The Metropolitan Police
were soon upon the ound, and ran through
the house arousing all the inmates. and about
this time the scene was eXcitingin the extreme.
All OF the sick and wounded able TO rise
wrapped the bedclothing around them and
escaped from the building.
The citizens present the officers OF the institu-
ton, and the Metropolitan police, we're all ao
tive in rescuing the weaker patients, who had
to be taken up bodily and brought through the
smoke and flames to Il place Of safety. Some
were carried TO the City Hall, some to the
school house on Judiciary Square, "a hospital
for some time past.) some to he former quar-
tors of Griflin's battery, some to Old Trinity
Church. on Fifth street, and many to private
residences In the neighborhood.
1t was not until more than an hour had
elapsed after the fire broke out that an alarm
bell rang, and 1t was nearly fve O'Clock be-
fore any engines had arrived at the spot, by
which time the flames had made great head
way, the addition and the eastern portion of
the main building being enveloped In flames.
An , even at that time. II is the confident opn.
ion Of many who were on the ground, that II
could have been extinguished Mad there been
twenty-five feet more or hose, the scarcity OF
which made 1t necessary to dam up the gutter
and obtain water In that way.
DR.. White, assistant surgeon U. 3. A, the
principal of the hospital, lost all his personal
effects, valued at about 81 900, and many of the
books and papers Of the institution have also
been destroyed. Surgeon GOuley, the assist.
ant, saved part Of his effects, but his loss will
not tall short of 81 500, and DR.. Pooley, the reg
ular medical officer of the institution lost about
the same amount; whilst Drs. Hutchins, Allen,
and Bowen the remainder of the physicians,
sustained II loss of about $500 each.
The Sisters Of Charity,o whom there were
nine in the building, lost all their effects, while
the steward (Mr. HnD and the wardmaster
(Mr. Peters) lost nearly all their clothing.
1t was very fortunate that the fire com
menced in the rear of the building, the broad
staircase leading to the front enabling those
of a nat N w m "A
their escape, whilst the others were being car
ried out. II 1t were not for this fact, the los;
of life would, doubtless, have been very great
probably one half of the entire number o.
patients.
At the time of the ire, there were only fifty
five patients In the building, thirty Ave having
been sent to Annapolis, on Friday last, by
order Of the surgeon general, to make room iol
other places. 1t was fortunate, too, that the
greater part of the bedding was saved, which
proved invaluable.
There were but two or three fire companis,
on the ground, but those who were presen
performed their duties In n noble manner. lr
few minutes after the FIRE had broken out
word WAS conveyed to the provost guart
headquarters, At Franklin Square, and ter
on their way to the scene Of connagration at I
double.quick, headed by drum.
The chemical apparatus and various instru
ments which constituted the museum of thu
many years toll, and which were rendered in
valuable thereby, we're entirely destroy ed
The pGcuniary value of these could not have
been less than $40 900.
The main portion Of this building was at on,
one time used as the county jail, but durini
the Administration of exPresident Tyler, !
was enlarged and converted into an hospital b,
the addition OF front and the two wings; ant
since that time, 1t has been further improved
by Congress, which appears to have alway
been very liberal with 1t.
The total loss Of property by this ire oanno
be less than $50 900.
Our citizens were active In affordng relief +
the inmates of the institution, and hot coffe
and other resteratiyes were at once on hand
The ladies have been unremitting in thei
efforts to secure the welfare and comfort of tn
patients, and no lack of bed clothing and othe
necessaries has been suffered to exist.
Among those most active in aiding the WOUND
ed, we noticed Gen. Mcdowell, DR.. Pooley
Capt. Moore, of the Inteuigencer and Mr.. Va
Vlet, of the National Republican editoris
corps, all Of whom, together with many other
rendered Invaluable assistance.
1t is to be specially remarked, that when
was known that the building was on fire, ther
all remaining very calm, and patiently awaitin
their turns for removal, and this general GOO
order was also observable In the moving Of tn
furniture from the building, whereby II yer
great proportion Of II was saved, and in yer
good condition.
In many instances, 1t was found necessary
lay the sick on the damp ground in the res
of the burning building. They were, howeve
removed as speedily AZ possible to oomfortab
quarters and kindly cared for. Among thos
removed we're two men from the top stOr
both of whom had broken limbs.
Among the very few instances Of repreher
sible conduct, which we have to record In col
nectiOn with this affair, was the fact tn;
when it was ascertained that the building W,
on fire, and the smoke was actually seen con
ing out Of the building, several OF tho Metr
Titan police, who were standing near at han
were asked whS they did not give the alarr
when they all became very much insute
and refused to do AS they were requested.
We regret to hear, at u late hour last nigh
that An old lady, who has been cripple for
long time past, and an inmate of the Infrmal
forfour years past, Is believed to have persh'
in the flames and also that II soldier, VIII
after having made his escape from the burnil
building, returned TO obtain his musket, and
supposed TO have become suffocated thereby
During yesterday, two Of the wounded M
died-.One of whom had had his limb amputat
but a short time previous to the fre. In I