Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-11-11
ALEXANDRIA,, VA.
GREAT FiRKIN BOSTON.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER II, 1872

day night which ragged with furry all night and
until one clock yesterday, causing wide spread
devastation. destroying greater part, of
the business portion of the city and involving
the loss Of p55Stperty valued at over ninty mil
lions of dollars. .-.:'
The fire commenced at half-past seven Sat
urday night 1t broke out in the rear end OF
a large five story granite building, on Sumner
street, directly on the corner of Kingston street
This building was. surmounted with high
Mansard roof overlapping all the other build:
ings 10 that immediate vicinity. Directly as
the flames began to spread through the story
beneath this roof, and before an engine or hose
carriage was on the ground, great volumes OF
flames suddenly burst out from the rear lower
stories ofthe building, and in less than twenty
minutes the whole broad facade extending fully
one hundred feet along Kingston street was
one Sheet of fame, as was also at the same
time the Simmer street front, the heat being
so intense, as to force the 6rcmcn away from
wind had been created and the fire began to
sweep over Sumner and Kingston streets, and
despite all the .exertipns of the 6remen the
fire was communicated to the buildings on the
opposite corner of Kingston and Sumner street
as we'll as to the great block on the corner Of
Summer and Gus streets, and ID less than hall
an hour thereafter the flames were bursting
out of theroefs, and all up and down the broad
sides of these immense structures. BY this
time the wind Increased to nearly gale, and
the flames ,hayng the entire mastery Of: every
thing swept from story to story; from root to root
from block to block and from corner to corner
driving the 6remeb from every vantage ground
they could secure and rendered all thar exer-
tions useless and futile. -.
The buildings in the vicinity were all of
granite, -four stories high, and each surmountcd
with Mansard roof, none Of them being over
FIVE years old. The detached splinters flew
readily as the air was heated BY . terrible heat
and soon the flames began licking the Mansard
roofs on the opposite side far above the reach
of the streams directed upon them from all quar-
tiers. Fire was constantly 10 the air, 0ae build
ing after another caught on the roof, and the
flames skipped along from window to window.
The streets ran rivers of water, and at every
moment was heard the sound OF granite blocks
exploding. Whole frames fell into the streets,
making them impossible The 6remen were
driven from one station to another, and many
al engine kept 'nobly at work while the hydrants
we're vet down by hand hose, and the engineer
could only hold his place while stream of
water was playing on him. Blocks of granite
weighing tons were split as if by powder, and
hurled aaross2the wide streets; and planks went
flying through the air as if they were feathers.
The tremen erected barbados and worked be
hind them, but they were burned almost as soon
az erected. An hour had hardly elapsed before
it was evident that Beebe's Block, the finest
business structure in the city, build Of granite,
five stories in height. with the Mansard
roof over all mus: 60. Within thirty minutes
the flame were coming out 10 fiery pillows
from every window and up the stairway leading
to A. T., Stewart S: rooms, was perfect column
of flames This building served but as fuel tor
the flames. Pieces Of dry goods went whistling
across the square, lodging on window sifls OF
manigfcent stores on Devonshire street.
Beebe,s Block stood solid wall Of granite sew
cral minutes after the inside FELL but the heat
warped it, and tBo millions OF dollars soon; lay
heap of stone, bricks and mortar. A hurri-
cane now ragged, andaoWiBg to the intense heat
and perfect sleet Of Goals, drove everything be-
cit. Every building was now heated as if
in furnace and caught like finder. Four.
story granite blocks seemed like shavings.-
Deafening explosions were constantly heard.
New terror was now added to'ths babel of con-
Federal street were fast being licked up by
flames, and women crazed and Eainung were
rushing to aud fro, carrying children crockery,
clocks and bedding 10 their hands.
The scene at'the corner of Milk and Devon.
shire streets, down towards Federal and up in
the direction Of Washington street, was ter.
rible one Nobody could stand within three
blocks of the burning masses. The fire had full
possession Of the buildings within its grasp.
As each. edi6ce caught FIRE from its neighbor,
the flames seemed to devour the contents in
single moment, and 50 the torrent of fame grew
in strength and power with terrible velocity.
Failing roofs were sinking every minute and
carried down with them the floors, lone by one un.
til the walls became isolated and fell with crash,
Whole blocks Of buildings DISAPPEARED in this
manner, crumbhng up like SO much card board.
Huge masses Of material choked the street and
taking fire, created a solid body offame
Fire engines were utterly useless, for no hu!
man being could stand near enough to send the
streams Of water where they we're needed to do
service. ~ .. -.. $50. a."..'
! The confagratiou was got under control at
about one O. clock yesterday having in fifteen
hours destroyed hundreds Of the costiest and
most substantial warehouses in this country,
and temporarily paralizing three Of the leading
and dry goods trades It is said there is not
Ouc huOltSoIC SuOS ouA lGoSACl SoGoUlISALACue
lett in.Boston The wool trade has suffered
ip an equal degree, and the dry goods jobbiDg |
houses are few and far between
I The new postofice and subtreasury building |
was for aloBg time exposed to the fierce flames
aud SMOKE but was scarcely Scared. This |
massive FIRE proof structure saved the Boston |
Morning Post building, directly opposite, and |
helped greatly in preventing the fire from
reaching State Street ., =, /! I
The costly aud beautiful Transcript building,
and Currier & Trott' jewelry establishment on
the opposite corner4of Milk street were burned.
The Eastern Express Office. was saved; though
reported at one time as burned il
It was for a long time feared that the old
South Church was gone, but it was not burned.
The Transcript office was destroyed and the
office of the Boston Post badly damaged The
Pilot (Cathohc paper} was also burned.
The burnt district is bounded by Summer,
Federal, Broad Central, Water, Washington
ind Bedford streets; and is reported to cover
IN area of 70 acres, the Improvements on