Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-06-01
LOCAL NEWS.

ing on before committee of the Hydraullon
Steam Fire Company, relative to the cause ana
management of the fire, by which the market
building was destroyed, among the witnesses
examined on Tuesday night were heSsfS' hlch-
ard PURCELL. NJ. Steuart, l'hler Mclean ham
say, Kilgour Young and Ball.
Mr. Purcell testified that he was the first one
Of tho Columbia Engine House; after some de-
lav went with the engine to corner of Prince
and ROYAL streets, according to orders, and
made attachment to fire plug there; found plug
screwed down tight started engine but found
that there was no water, and that pump would
not feed as fast as engine required was inform
ed from fire that engine was doing nothing; re-
piled could not help it; had no water; found
water going out of boiler ordered fire to be
drawn; had orders to move to corner OF Came
ron and Fairfax streets; after disconnecting sue
ton pipe from plug, was informed that there
was more water: suction pipe again attached to
plug and think it was about ten minutes in
getting water from second to third guage: then
again cut loose and the horses not being there
engine was pulled by hand to the plug at the
Sun engine house, but upon reaching there
found that one Of the hand companies had the
plug, and it was not given up for some time;
finally got the plug and went to work, but after
water; could not force water on Lodge room
without getting ladder and going up on the
building between the Lodge and Sun engine
house; suddenly the water came, and with such
force that it nearly threw the pipcman from
the ladder. 1t has been said that Columbia
wasted water; she did at Sun engine plug, but
when there had all the water We wanted TO do
any ordinary fire duty, even with the waste at
one Of the gates that waste was caused by Il
small spring which had become warm, and
which was fixed afterwards.
Capt. j. NJ. Steuart testified that he assisted
Mr. Young. Engineer Of Hydraullon. in max
lug connection with l.lug at corner OF King and
Royal streets; do not think it was more than
five minutes before engine WAS at work:
very light stream WAS being thrown from the
pipe; then started for Hook and Ladder Com
pany and assisted in pllcin- ladder on Brill 4
Beach house, in the lower part Of which WAS
the hose; went into the alley and upon return
ing found that the caves Of the Market House
were on fire; attempted to exchange Il short
ladder at the Market House for long one ut
Bris. but finding the hose full Of water and
pressing heavily on the ladder, had to abandon
the attempt; then went on the ladder and re-
,,uested the pipemen to throw water on the
Market House; was informed next day by
pipcman that tic rcZc was too large and he
was unable to throw water on the Market
House, ut the time Drills house fell in hose
was through the second story window Of
Cogan's house and ut that tine steeple of Mar
kct House was or fire; stream FROM pipe OF
Columbia was only thrown & distance OF about
two feet, and pipcman remarked that he could
DO no better as there was no water suggested
the moving of Columbia to another plug; en-
CINE was moved to corner Of Cameron and
Fairfax streets, but threw water only short
distance after the lapse of twenty minutes or
half an hour there Was IN abundance of water:
after steep!e was burned suggested that the
property on Royal street and houses in alley
had better be saved and prevent spread Of fire
Next morning said to Mr. Power jocosely
why do you stop the water off at night ~
his reply was, the water is never turned off;
then remarked when the courier went to
the reservoir we had an abundance Of water.
and understood him to say, no courier came
there
Geo. Uher testified that Columbia engine
could not throT water from Royal street plug
and after change OF position to Sun plug: could
not throw water on market house.
NJ. Mclean testified that water could not be
thrown on the roof of Brill Il Beach 8, although
on shed with the hose; Sun engine was try
ing to throw water from its plug; it was fifteen
or twenty minutes after Columbia took that
plug before water came hose were Strll ght;
nozzle used was II inches. same rs used day OF
trial of engine.
A. r. Ramsay corroborated Mr.. Mclean
statement as 70 not being able to throw water
on the roof of the house of Messrs. Brill 4
Beach; engineer of Columbia, in explanation,
stated that there was no water: requested by
Mr. Latham and Chief Engineer kcll to go to
reservoir; complied, walked up and told the
Superintendent to put on a full head Of water
and work the pumps; from plug at corner OF
Prince and Royal streets could on Y throw 4
very small stream; when | returned from the
reservoir there was q full head of water OH,
VIM Kilgour, President Of Columbia com
pany, testified as to the location OF engine on
the corner Of Royal and Prince Streets from
which it was throwing very light stream on
account of scarcity of water MIR. Young in re-
ply to an inquiry, stated that it was impossible
to throw water when it could not be had
Mr.. Latham Informed witness that Il mcsscn-
ger had been sent out to Water Works and in
u short time afterwards there was IN album
dance of water.
Joseph Il. Young testified that uydraulion
had up steam in five minutes; Chief Eng lnccr
had two lines of hose put on but found could
not get water for both streams; asked for j noz-
ell, but could not get ours oft; was told to cut
off one line; refused 20 obey every body, and
by orders from commander cut eff one line OF
hose; had full supply of water all night and
did not observe any increase, and with one
streaurawith inch nozcl could have saved
the Market House; did not hear any person
say, "we are to get ten dollars apiece to save
Cogans house." think [ told Messrs. hilgour
and Smoot that l did not have enough water
for two streams
NJ. ID. Ball tcstif id rs to the hose being all
straight and in good order, and 1 want OF i
sufficient supply Of water for the engines.
Without concluding the investigation the
committee rose to meet again.to night, when it
will be concluded.
FESTIVAL IN WANRENToN- The ladies OF
Warrenton held strawberry and ice cream
festival on the nights Of Monday and Tuesday
last to raise funds for the erection OF monu-
ment to the Confederate dead buried near that
town. hat their effort was successful no one