Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-05-19
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN ALEXANDRA,
The uarkst Houss in Ruius-The Alexandra
Museum Cestroyed-0'her BUILDINGS a
Frey TO the Flames-sl2o.Oo0
Worth @. Property EIrned
Especial Rspori for n, Star. !


ALEXANDRIA, Va. May IA very dc stu, -
tive nre occu-reu here last night b. witch the
Market House building, with the Alexandra
mu.tnin, snd several other buildings with their
contents we're entirely bestowed, Involving a
loss, according 20 general estimate, OF about
slS,eOO worth Of prop ty besides the loss OF TIE
Mnse nm, which money cannot restore. The nre
originated IN Huniingdou's grocery, on ROYAL
street, between King and Cameron. AZ l2.i5 a.
m, AM the bonses on either side owned and
occupied by Chss. BTiil as a tin and stove es-
tabl'shment, and by Mr.. W. Gregory twho also
owned the property occupied BY Hantiukd or
a. dwelling were soon in flames.
The Alexandria Ere department, consisting o z
the steamers HydrauliOn and Columbia hso
engines sun md Friendship, with the Hook
end Ladder Company, were soon on the ground,
but from some unek pie med ceuse there was A
scarcity OF water for some time, and they were
unable 10 prevent the flames spreading 20 the
market building and 20 two dwellings on
Market alley, one owned b. Mrs. SmOot Two
steamers, Nos. and 4, arrived from Wash
'ngton and got in service at 3 y O'Clock. taking
water from the river, andthe Hook aud Ladder
was on the ground at that hour. Working Is
they cd in harmony with the Alexandra com
Psnies, they did very efficient service, and bv
the Or ID efforts OF the hremen the adjacent
PIopelty Was saved.
The MARKET BUILDING
was a threo,story brick structure on Royal
wing on Cameron. extending nearly square,
and in the court were numerous sheds, au of
which were consumed. The Hydraulion aud
g.
uninlured, although scorched. The market
building was erected in ls17, and the northwest
corner OF IL was surmounted by steeple Of fine
proportions, In which was town clock, and IL
is said that the steeple and clock cost originally
$4,000. The steeple Was thought TO be entirely
OF wood by many, and, indeed, but few Ale- an
Grams ever knew otherwise, until by this fire
the fact was revealed that the wood was only a
covering OF a network of wrought iron braces,
bolts, SC, which gave form to the structure
In the building there were located the corpo-
rC frnva #
office and the halls of the CITY councils ali the
books and papeIs in which were saved with the
exception OF number OF private papers be-
longing TO the auditor. Washington Lodge OF
Marons had their lodge room in this building
ior long series Of years, and lost all their
ton. In the building Wa located
THE ALEXANDRIA MUSEUM,
embracing valuable collection of relics of bye
gore DAYS, including many from the old reyo-
int orary times, paintings, clothing, saddles
revolut ionaTy heroes. This collection Was en-
tirely destroyed, the fsmes spread so rapidly
as TO prevent any but Intellectual attempts from
teing made TO save them.
TIE LOSS TO PRIVATE PROPERTY
will, IT Us thought, amount TO over $40 900.
MT Brill's loss will probably exceed the Others,
in having very large stock Of goods on hand,
and an lDsGt 2nce OF only 81 $40 on his property.
A dispatch was sent to w ashington asking the
aid OF
THE WASHINGTON FEE DEPARTMENT,
afu SdPtdlh utubcf, superintendent OIL the
Terry company, being informed after O'clock
promptly had one of the stee mers fired IN. AT
= 40 an alarm was struck for box Is, first pre-
cinct station bringing out the Washington de-
mt, when Nos. and steamers and the
h'ok and ladder companies embarked. The
promptness with which they answered the call
and their efficiency on the ground, rs &c -dsy
the topic OF general onverslnon.
The market square IL surrounded by very
valuable property, including the Mansion
House hotel on the east, the Exchange Hotel on
the north, and City Hotel on the wesC, but tor
tunately the hamcs were Fept " lin the block
where the ire originated.
Great credit Is due TO the Potomac Fern '
Company for their promptrc-s IN getting uI
steam and conveying the Wasbinst ton french
TO aud from the scene OF cOnfsgration.