Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-07-22
STARTLING SCENES AND INCIDENTS
Hairbreadth Escages-Cooiness OF the
Firemen and Government En-
pIoyes-They work Energeti-
ca11y in the Midst Of Danger
They are COmpltmented
by Government
Officers.


parts OF the city. The conclusion was also felt
in Georgetown and throughout the county, and
even in Alexandria, six miles of. A few min
ltes after the explosion, fire alarm box Sc was
struck for fire inside the arsenal enclosure
Gen. Dyer and Major Eide, and other officers,
with the men of the post, were soon out, and
finding that a magazine and small laboratory
| had been destroyed by the explosion, and that
store-house Immediately north of the site of the
1 destroyed magazine was in flames, as also No. 2
| store-house-the two-story building immediately
south of the office-they had the hose attached
| ON the burning buildings. In the meantime Nos
and engines, of the Washington Fire Depart
| ment, reached the scene Of the fire, and were
soon IN service. Fire Commissioner McDeyitt
l on his approach to the arsenal, seeing from the
extent OF the flames that extensi We confagra-
ton was in progress, stopped at the gate and
promptly responded to by Hook and Ladder
Company, No. 2, and the hose carriage OF
No. !, the engine not being in service. Chief
Engineer Cronin was also prompt and directed
the workfng OF the firemen, with General Over
managing the men Of the post, and all acted in
n9 ia d s,u WIN gres. eSoness, notwithstand
suggestion OF Fire Commissioner McDeyitt an
orderly was sent to the first precinct station, and
telegram was sent to the navy yard for aid,
and the men OF the navy yard, with the steam
hre-engine Anacostia, all under the command
of Capt. Collin, of the marine guard at the yard
spPearea a. soon as II was possible for them to
corresponding with the hose used by the city
department., they worked at considerable dis
advantage, but they worked with a will: While
the fire was in progress there were a number of
explosions from shell and loaded muskets, and
at times the rattle of small arms and bursting of
ground bravely, battling with the flames. and
fortunately none of them were hurt. The flames
were not subdued until long after daylight, and
the navy yard engine and Nos. 3 and engines
were kept in service until near noon, PLAYING
on an immense pile Of blankets. &c, which con-
tinued to burn.
THE CAUSE OF THE EXPLOSION
II is not yet determined whether the explosion
TOOK place in the small magazine-situsted
few yards east of No. i and storehouses, about
on a line with the south end of No Pin which
were several hundred pounds of powder; or in a
small frame building about 100 feet northeast OF
1t which was used by Sergeant Flint as labora-
tory in which TO make signal rockets tor the o.
,. Signal Corps. In this small building the SER
geant was at work yesterday afternoon, but he
reports that all was safe when he left At any
rate not trace of either eff these buildings was
visible after the explosion, with the execution
of few feet of the wall of the magazine
YALUABIE MILITARY MUSEUM DESTROYED.
The one-story store house north of the maya
Zine was entirely destroyed, andin il was a large
number OF old shot and shell, which were un-
.OaGed. In No. store house there was an inn
mense quantity OF cavalry and artillery s;ores
aud accCutTc ments in the lower portion and i'm
he upper story was located very valuable
museum, IN which were many relics of the mill
t;iry art in ancient and modern times including
ancient weapons of warfare arInor of the middle
ages, shot and shell, and colors from eur Revo-
IutlonaIy war, and specimens OF uniforms and
arms of almost every nation of the mast ami
present forming collection which can never be
replaced. OF the euriosities stored here but few
can he found. There Were also models OF guns
shot, shells, in fact, of nearly all the weapons
used in war IN cur own times.
No store-house was in great danger of bum
ing, as also he photograph gallery North OF No.
house. but through the efforts OF the firemen
assisted by the officers and men of the posi- and
Accompany OF marines commanded by Captain
HAXcOfE ion. xo@n,,
The roof OF this building was raised, and many
openings were made by shot, shell and rnuskeft
balls, and several of the heavy Orders were
broken IN two by the explosions, one of them
being split for forty or fifty feet.
- THE Conclusion "a
and in nearly every building in tn. gyonna,
panes OF glass were broken, while in some, doors
were blown on their hinges and heavy furniture
The magazine, was blown a distance of four or
I'VE hundred yards, and fen outside or the en-
closure.
HAIRBREADTH ESCAPES.
In the house occupied by Sergeant Cameron.
about one hundred yards north OF the magazine
bed In which two children were asleep was
overturned. and they were thrown ont and
stunned The doors and windows were smashed
and but little of the plastering was left. The
most miraculous escape, however, was that of
Mrs. Heningsey and two children who vera
asleep in her house about one hundred yards
south of the magazine. A brick from the 6uild-
ing was forced directly through window, and
had
while piece of glass from the windows slightly
cut her on the throat, and one of her les Wa
hurt. The two children were unharmed. A
bureau in this room was overturned and tbe
glass smashed, and the door was driven sTuara
through the hall. The house was also otherWiss
injured. In the garden pieces Of brick plowed
up this i Morning I anS potatoes could oe picked
brick was forced through the roof of f,a Nal
smlth shop, distance Of nearly three hundred
yards.
rrrv rose
The entire actual loss viii not exceed 500 900
and probably with the exception Of the museum,
$40, 600 will cover it - ~ -
GOODNESS AND ENDURANCE OF THE FrRE>fEN
AND GOVERNMENT ENPLoYEs.
This morning General Dyer and his officers
eomplimented the Chief Engineer and the Fire
Nichols, Of the Insane Asylum, who came over
in boat, and expressed The opinion that had II
not been for their ooolness tie loss would have
probably amounted TO millions, as had No 1 |
storehouse- caught the IRE would have swept
through the yard.
TuRs,NG IN THEALARM.
hree O'Clock, when the explosion took place.
an and running to the gate tarned in the alarm
NON. box 6; + appears, however, that the
same time, turned in boxes IS CORNER AZ and
4 and II, corner ~ and ID > and the operator
at the Central Station-house receiving 10 first |
struck 1t, as 1t is the rnie always 10 strike the
first box turned In. - - 4
Willie the FIRE was in progress large nnmbes
OF persons gatnered ABOUT the gate, and the Il
guard had dificshy in keeping the crowd back /
The frenen and the police were Of course allow
ed to enter, and tl,e employees we're. also sdmik
ted. There being no 1nteriopers those inside |
were enable to work without any, clashing of
orders.
RED TAPE AT THE NAVY YARD.
Soon after the fresbroke out smessage was
dispatched to Lieut.. Gessfords police station,
requesting him to telegraph It'll eighth pre-
circt Capitol Hin) for the government fire en-
CINE in the navy ysid. lieut. Austin, Of that
precenct, on receiving the message dispatched
an cficer 70 the navy yard, who f3fotmed the
sergeant Of the,guard at the gates He, In tnxn,
set about arousing the coxnnandant, who, after
getting fairly awake. wrose an order, which
after the bell had been RING 10 arpuse TIE sleep-
eers connected with The yard inside and oatside,
passed from one offcer to another, through the
entire red tape channel The men hadto draw 1
the engine out and over to the arsepal, Q dis
lance OF nearly two miles, the r0ute which they
were forced TO take,) the govsrn1snt having no
horses for the purpose. Theeng1ne reached the
Arsenal after O'Clock, when the IRE was wen |
under. After IT aIris ed on tie ground pair OF
back These horses were borrowed for the pur-
rose, and harmless o1isined in the same manner
Z ON another source, outside the yard. a.Ti