, 1865-02-01
THE ELAdsBkxATsON AT
THE SMITHSONIAN
tNSTlV4jTE.
Description of The Eu1ldfn=.-The Por-
lions Dcstroyed.--ThelrC Content*-fn fn-
ctdemEH-The Grounds + f the Institute.

From the Washington Chronicle, Jan. -.
Tie hearts Of the people Of Washington
were thrilled as they hive seldom been. yes
terday afternoon, By an alarm of hrc. Box
SO. which sounded the alarm, was known by
many to he the one located nt the Smithsonian
Institute, and the famentable ttdings speedily
spread throurhout tbc city that fhat most
valuable bnildin~ was in flames. and the rare
works Of art which It contained were in im-
minent danger Of total destruction.
The fire originated in the loft between the
ceiling and the roof above the picture gallery
in the main building, near tie centre, and
the flames took an easterly direction. speedily
dev.lonirt, and and M consrn,inr tbs nicfnre eui-
lerv and f6c lecture. rsom' and thence passing
tn fhe annaratns, rom, dovon,fnr and desfrovs
mo most Of its contents and ali those Of Tie
main towers. save rev arlicIes which were
removed,
In addition 10 the delay. causcd bv Ice
which had accumulated about the ire-alarm
box, was tue singular circumstance that the
fire lad attained considerable leadway before
It was noticed By any one in the building,
Nr. Alexander, q resident on the Island, WIS
In the room Of the chief clerk, bIr. Rhees, and
in conversation, when they repeatedly heard
The breaking Office, hut which were caused by
the flames. Alter considerable time had
elapsed the odor Of burning wood aroused
them, and going to the lectuse'room they
iounu tnat the hre had penetrated through
the ceiling, ana "astap pidiy spreading through
that magnificent apartment.
Ine Kackef, dioerhla, anu franklin en-
sines were upon the grounds OF the institu-
Ion soon alter inc alarm was gwen; and the
ffauk1in was, Nc be!ieEe, thea to throw
water upon lhe burning bullainS. but halt.
1ne upper noor o1 tue man ouilolng was en-
TelopSq n hamcs, and, indeed, nearly con-
sumea before tns,
4ul4EuHE EEuHu3 WClE AkIFAELEQ 10 LuE
ecene, anu 'el3 uiany "ele eaee1 IN lae1r &C.
t1re 10 1lsk ahy personal exposure WIth the
nope Ip OF sa'lng sometn'ns n9fn tne names.
eut .1ei W.T. spon eo.hpei.ea " ,aesl5t; 1or
SSupsfn.sn,u'enI tsacuasns appease9 VIII
!olce " lo!pcct eon4p ~ 'nu cn 1roih eacu
alsIIlct, VINO Guatotu me snieances TO me
pulTs Snao ens y .iS'es mnGn ~! na1 oeen ~
note4l unu EIiniaegu uone out: tilose sou.
Mectsu ~ WIN tne aua'tt"e.ou, -! " oIt"eoea W
'nS n.G ueEatsmsnS F S4 :" Sase,. oe H., p..
no! long al.er ue.aenmenl II VI dt1 Iuc EIosost
Gua1o. cnnslstns 81 men u tae III setgIan
reserve Gosps, aaaes ~ srunanu ~ tieu5, @ sat
ie1son, s9pol.Su - ,!aat a.;a !, .ouu !gr
uu'J{ nnu Ienus.ea e's!sHs sels;se ~ sua:.o
tng tne pfopetsJ ,!,;n an1 ass'Sllos III REMOVING
lug g. ensSes Se ~ ens 'a. uu..9n. s.aou ez u..,u
IN oroes 70 prevent persons nom gctnng
their lives bY falling timbcfs, a rope Was
stretched around the north front, and placed
in charge Of q number Of Lieut.. Patterson's
men, md line was formed around the build
ing for the same purpose.
south tower fell to the ground, and In 8. few
moments an additional guard appeared on
the ground, comprising detachment Of cav
airy and another company Of the Invalid
Corps. The cavalry proceeded to drive tho
spectators on the south side to the extreme
distance Of several hundred feet. In some in.
stances the cava1rynen were more precipitate
than duty or NECESSITY required, periling the
limbs II not the lives Of those whom they
were driving back quite as much as would
have been r;Sked bY closer proximity to the
burning building. but their officers soon
checked them.
The express compapfes of cur civ and ser-
eral plyate IndiTiIuals sent their cnnrev.
auces to the grounds, with the hope of aidInp
in tic removal Of articles that might he re-,
moytd fiom the building, but. unfortunately
The chief oLthe Ordnance Burcau sent bjs
force to endeagor to aid in txtinenishin~ the
flames. and The Postmaster GcncTa1 sant h;a
cjtrks {or fbe same Y,urnose> A' '1'7
a Gordon of the fur,,ifurc of pnof Hen,v
was removed from his residence in the cast
threatened at one lime. ond sotnewh"t in-
iured thereby; but the residence Of the Pm,
iessor MAS not damaged materially. We are
glad to learn that the major part Of the i'm.
pOrtaut records were uniD1ured, Il
No serious accidents occurred in the bulld-
ing Or the grounds, though We learn that one
of The ti!cnlen was injured while hastening
tlitler, Among the Incidents which attracf-
ed most attention w>re the grand spectacle Of
he frc pouriug through the wiDdows of The
towers and from the 0furnace-like openings
at the top, projecting In flames Of several feet
In extent: lie Iong,continued and reruiar
revoIutions ofthe Wind regfster until the
GamGg licked the balls and the coursjne |
about The toTc of the pigeons. evidently r..
luctant to leave their wonied haunts.
The flrcmcn worked hard, but evidently Tor
a constderable time without much avail and
bad not ille f1ooripgs Of the second storr
been fre.nroof, we fear most Of the Institute |
Tonld have been dcstrovcd ere theY could |
hive checked The flames. Il was in vain Fiat ]
they endcayorcd to enbdue the firc in the IN
M stories Of The towcrs: they coud Mt
feocb them win tbeir streams The wnnis
work in thetoTtrs md upper stories Of the
,y;nos ras almost. whniir ronstrnrted of
North Carolina nine. and burnt like tlnder.
The first story of the main building con.
s,stea nf ~ one v.y aype e. reo 2o6 feet bV 50 md
S5 Eea+ = h;oI, os thS ceilirg If xh;cf vas ann
norted hv TN Tovs of c61nmns exfendinp the
TThnio 1cnrf11 nj The middIe of the snsce
co-,asnondinr = to The nrtncinle entrances were
two " {nr 1a1is bv which. with tho addition
or ocraana fhe x1;o1a snare conId be divided
~ e<'1s sAA~ E.AE L-T .-s- ssS. |