Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-11-04

may not appear until the next day.
The BURNING OF THE E-srRzEr IsFIRMARY-
Terrible and ThyiIIiHg Ineidsnts- RsmoraI of
More than One Hrndrsd Patisnts-A WOuan
Supposed to BE- BxTRsd.-This morning, at very
early hour, the E-sirset Hospital, better known
as the Washington Infrmary, was discovered to
be on ere. IL contained at the time from ninety
to one hundred sick and wounded soldiers, and
considerable number Of other Government pa.
tienh. The FIRE Is believed to have originated In
defective fus from the furnace, which was
located In the cellar under the addition whish
projected from the center OF the main building in
the rear. The rooms Of the Sisters OF Charity
were In this addition-over the furnace-and the
three medical cadets had a room on the door
above. The rooms Of the Sisters were allied with
smoke about half an hour after midnight and the
Sister Superior first gave the alarm They had
barely time to hurry their clothing and escape,
leaving everything but the clothing they had on
In the burning building. Their cries brought In
the guard, and soon the alarm became general.
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
ground. and ran through the house arousing all
the inmates, and about this time the scene was
awful in the extreme.
All of the sick and wounded able to rise wrapped
the bsdclothing around them and escaped from
the building, and the shrieks Of those unable to
do so were terribly piercing, and thrilled the
hearts OF all who beard them The citizens present.
the officers of the institution, and the Metropolitan
police, were ali active in rescuing the weaker
patients, who had to be taken up bodily and
brought through the smoke and flames to 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 the former
quarters Of 6rtrn's Battery, some to Old Trinity
Church, on Fifth street, and many to private
residence in the neighborhood. IL Is believed by
the officers Of the institution that all the patients
were rescued with the exception of one-an aged
woman, named Mrs. Hussey, who was sent to the
Innrmary some time since by the Commissioner
Of Public Buildings. She cannot be found, and
II is supposed sne has persisted in the flames
The alarm at no time became general through
the city, and many persons living within two or
three squares knew nothing Of the FIRE until this
morning. One hour and more after the q ire was
was at least an hour after that before any Gre en-
gines arrived. BY that time the addition and the
eastern portion Of the main building were envei-
Roadway; and at 6 o'clock this morning nothing
remained Of the w ashington Inhrmary but mass
OF blackened walls and smoking hmbers, with the
exception only Of the west wing, which 10 COM
paratiyely uninJured The walls Of the addition
have nearly all fallen, and the front wall Of the
east wing is cracked so badly that 1t will have to
Be- taken down.
DR. White, the principal, lost all his personal
effects; and 1t is stated that the books and papers
Of the institution have been destroyed The as
sistant surgeons doctors Cooley and Pooley) also
lost nearly all their clothing az did the steward
ofhcers
fore II was discovered Soon after the Sister Su
perior gave the alarm, q soldier sent into the
room where the flames had burst out with two
buckets Of water, but the door being closed on
him, and the smoke sufocating, he lost his pres
ence Of mind, and did not apply the water ju-
diciously, whereby the progress Of the FIRE might
have been temporarily checked. For some reason
the water which IL conveyed through the build
Ing In pes was not used.
Our citizens were active in afording relief to
the inmates Of the institution, and hot coffee and
9TH ra4t0P fuaa h.,l
dies have been unremiring In their efforts to Sc
cure the welfare and comfort Of the patients, and
no lack Of bed clothing and other necessaries has
been suffered 10 exist.
The Council Chamber Of the City Hall contains
some 20 or 30 Of the patients, and many more
are In the rooms on the ground door Of the west
ladies were present rendering their services this
morning, and the officers Of the building have
shown great kindness The Mayor offered to do
judiciary SQUARE presents sac siubt hi. mo,n.
Ing, with the smoking ruins Of the building, and
the broken furniture scattered over the lot Most
ergies Of everybody were directed almost exclu-
siyelY 10 securing the safety OF the patients.
The want Of an efficient fire department was
fully demonstrated last night, and we have to ac-
knowledge the humiliating fact that the fire
would not have been nearly so destructive II there
bad been sufficient supply Of hose to bring water
TO the burning building.
As we 60 to press, the patients from the CITY
Hall, Church, &c, are being conveyed in ambu-
Iances to the other army hospitals In this vicinity
GEN MCCLELLAN PRESENTED WITH A Sworn
On Saturday night, the sword recently voted to
Gen. Mcclellan by the City Councils of PhiIadel-
phia, was presented to him at his heado uarter.
by committee Of the councils headed by Ste
Phen Benton, Esq President Of the Select Coun-
ell, who made the presentation speech to which
The General replied az follows:
ask you, sir, to give my warmest and deem
est thanks TO the honorable BODY you represent
iof tnis entirely unnerited compliment. / could
hRn hnNfA n
but do not feel that I do Nothing that b,vs,
yet accomplished would warrant this hiph com
Pliment; Ii 10 for the future to decide whether
snaI realize the expectations and hopes that have
81 trust and feel that the day is not far distant
when l shall return To the place dearest of ali
U.een 70 me, there to spend the balance Of nv
lie among the people from whom have received
this beautiful gin The war cannot be long m
may De desperate. ask In the future forbearance
Psnenos, and confidence With these we can
accomplish all; and while I know that in the
great drama, which may have our hearts blood
thai Pennsylvania will not play the least, I trust
mat on the other hand, she will play the highest
81 again thank you, and ask YOU to convey To
the Councils my most sincere thanks for the sword
SayIo them that twill De my ambition to deserve
1t hereafter; know do not now.n
These sentiments were warmly and heartily an
piauded by the large company present. The cere-
mony was very Impressive, and at It's conclusion
the members Of the COMMITTEES were Introduced 10
General Mcclellan; after which they all partook
Of supper which the General had prepared
The sword 10 a splendid specimen Of workman
snip, and was much admired Ior elegance of de-
sign and beauty Of finish.
TEE HIGH WATER from the freshet has over
nown toe banks Of the canal, from the west ter
minus 10 sixth ct The wood and lumber dealer,
on the line Of the canal suffer considerable incon
Venlence rom the water, which entirely sur
ROUNDS many OF their ofnces; and the residents
upon the streets facing the canal are as sorely dis
dressed, many Of them being obliged to get to and
rom tneif houses upon temporary fixtures. The
los. TO business men by the Aoating on Of lumber
aad damaging goods thus far 10 small, however
Tne merchants on the south side Of the avenue
below Seventh street. anticipated a heavy freshet,
ana prepared for IL by removing goods from their
cellars saturday night. Upon all such occasions
tne water backs up into the sewers opening into
the canal below Seventh street, and FREQ 1ently
rises a high a. two or three feet In the cellars and
Easements OF houses on the avenue between Sixth
and Seventh streets
The water In the Potomac Is very high and In
over the wharyes In Georgetown. The ropes by
which The Government ferry boats cross were car.
ried away yesterday.