Daily national Republican. (Washington City [D.C.]) 1870-1872, 1872-06-24
THE ALEXANDRIA FIRE.
Burning of Liberty Hall,

HI.tsry Of the BaliaInt.
"send quickly two steamers, hose, and truck
the city Is IN danger"
The above Is a copy VI = dispatch sent BY
Mayor Latham, Of Alexandra, TO the chief en-.
glneer Of the District are department on Satur.
day night about iliSo O'Clock. In q moment
amer Its delivery steamers Nos. aud and the
truck were ordered 70 report At Seventh and d
streets, IN order that permit 10 leave the city
might DO obtained from President Baker Of tho
Board Of Commissioners. This was readily
granted, and In q short tImo the apparatus
named was standing at the wharf Of tho Pc.
tomao Ferry Company waiting Formulation 10 go
aboard the ste amer lying in the slip Some
delay was, however, ocossloncd by the absence
Of proper authorities, who were being buslly
hunted BY Commissioner McDeyitt, who at last
succeeded IN nudlng Captain sam Godney,
mi fho engineer psiiiss 10 p"t IN an spp u AZ
nnco, John West, engineer Of No. 4. was de
tailed for that duty, and tho boat was soon under
There ~ vas ss SS. nsS ssAdy
Uore somewhere, and they made every prepare
ZION 70 combat IT, Al little after o'clock the
landing was reached, and the hook and. ladder,
followed by the other apparatus, dashed up
King street amid the hITrahS Of the mon and
the applause Of the women and children who
lined the sidewalk. The scene Of the disaster
themselves, the danger was over, and tho de-
partmont did not go into service. The member,
however, woro cordially received, lunch ten.
dered them, and, alter an hours walt 70 see all
thlngs safe, they re.embarksd and reached
home about $50.
The following are tho facts In regard TO the
IRE;
Liberty Hail was destroyed by IRE Saturday
night. About ll:lB O'Clock Presldsnt q. X. shinn,
ofthe Common Council, and james Coleman saw
a. a ieoI atora nv WIillam d uendarsan Tlhev
obtained access TO the building, and found tho
flames oontned to straw and litter within few
STS es THIS they Gessrsd T grain SSS
remained, when they removed the covering.
Instantly the blaEe whlrlcd up past them and
caught Dire 20 some hay above, and II was with
The flames soon mastered the structure,a large.
three-story building, commanding by its supe-
Ilor size all the houses In the nelghborhood.
The nfo department succeeded, however, In con-
fnlng the IRE 10 tho building In which II origi-
mated; but that, with tho exception OF the three
walls, and portion Of one Of them. was totally
destroyed,
This are is an event Of interest hero almost a.
marked as the destruction OF tho old market
house last year for the building Is one Of the old
landmarks o. the town, and since the loss Of the
market building has been 10 part used as mayors
once, police station and half for the meeting Of
the board Of aldermen aud common council. II
was erected in the early part Of this century by
dria theatre, plays continuing there until 1898,
and even on some occasions at q time consider.
ably subsequent Nearly all tho celebrated
actors Of the olden day have appeared there,
and for long time Cooper was Its manager,
At that time the seat Of government, was
without . theatre, and the otfcials Of tho gov.
eminent Often came 10 see the "plAy" at Alex
audria. 10 1873 the Mount Vernon Guards
noOred over the pit and made the theatre ball.
room. 10 1874 II was the Clay Club House.
Soon Afterwards II was purchased by the Rev.
j, NJ. Mctlormick, who roarranged It's interior
Into two halls-tho upper, Liberty hall the
floor stores and warehouse. rooms; and for years
Liberty hall asbeen one Of the principal public
assembling places In tho city. American hall,
divided Into two apartments, mas Of late served
tho needs Of the city government, II was owned
at the time OF the fire by Jos. Broders l. Co,
who are partially saved by insurance. Mr..
Henderson IL partially Insured,