The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-07-31

.lFissia - -
= The Fire Saturday Niqlt-Suspicious
! Circumstances Something Wrong. AL bout
ten o'clock Saturday night, an employe
of ours, while sitting on the pavement in
front of our Office, discovered man enter
the front door Of the passage leading to the
photograph gallery of Recs & Co., directly
opposite. The two were so near together,
that the noise made by the key used to un-
lock the door, was distinctly heard as it
turned the bolt. The gentleman who saw
some one enter the building, remained at
least three-quarters of an hour in his posi-
ton on the pavement, when he stepped into
our, office, where he remained but moe
5ment, when man rushed in and announced
that the building opposite was on fire, and
that it was in. the room occupied by Rees &
Co. He soon ascertained that fire was
burning in the room to which his attention
had previously been called. Upon satisfy
ing, himself, be gave the alarm by crying
Fire! Fire at the same time requesting
a colored boy to run for policeman. @
In short time a considerable crowd had
gathered, and upon ascertaining that fire
acds burning in the room of Rees & Co.,
the doors, principally constructed Of thick
plate glass, were bursted open, and the
crowd rushed up to extinguish the fire. For
want of water and other means the fire was
not subdued until the arrival of the engines
and other apparatus of the fire department,
The .sHand-in-Hand" was the first to ar
rive ON the ground, Immediately following
the Hook and Ladder company, which was
on hand even before the bells had sounded
the alarm. In a very short time after the
steamers got to work the flames were ex-
tinguished. +stf sssm3
Recs & Co., by fire and water, sustained
considerable damage. The stock of Nolt-
ing & Bro, hardware merchants, was slight
ly damaged by water, which found its way
through the ceiling. They made free use of
the various implements SO convenient, to
bore holes in the floor, which let out the
water almost as fast as it came in. a' 2
Rees & Co. were insured in j. HI. Mon
tague's agency, and the building in that of
ID. N. Walker & Co. =, a,s,,.,,
The policies of Rees q Co. call for So 900
on furniture and 50 900 on stock, fixtures,
&c., which will more than cover the entire
loss of the concern. $ 2i4at}E ossr sii1ai
member of the firm of Rees < Co., sold
out his interest to Mr.. Rees, taking deed
of trust on the stock, fixtures, &C., for the
amount of his interest. W.. s,s3,is .x,s
The stock of Noting & Bro. was covered
by insurance, distributed among several of
our home agencies. Charles Haase, dealer
in furs, hats &C., occupied, together with
Messrs. Strong & Shaffer, agents for Singers
sewing machines, one of the lower floors,
neither ofwhose stock was in the slightest
damaged. FL
The individual who was seen to 90 in the
building by one of our employees was not
seen to come out of the front part of the
building, and ourinformant is satisfied must
have made his exit from the rear. Who
ever that person was, most likely applied
the match which set fire to the building,
thus, IN our opinion, exploding the idea of
spontaneous combustion, or of its accidental
catching from stove of any kind.
Should our theory be correct, the police
authorities should not await the investiga-
tion of those interested, either as insurers
or insured, but should at once put upon the
williams track our most expert detectives,
and trace the cause to its fountain head.
In the very heart of our city, and in one of
our most substantial and elegant buildings,
do we believe, some heartless wretch at
tempted to originate fire which might
have swept the city as did the great one at
the close Of the war. No effort should be
spared to ascertain the facts. The evidence
to begin with can be obtained at our office,
and we demand of the authorities close
and earnest examination into the origin of
the fire. q ao# io.al
I'D.