Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-11-11

in the first named direction.
During the couhagration thieves were busy
at work. 1t was difficult to- tell friend, from
foe, and many owners are. compelled to see
their yaluables- carried of by unknown despe:
radoes, without yenturlng to demonstrate or
stop the lawless proceeding. The police did
jail they could to protect property, but the mu
stitade prevented their doing much, and farrests
sbecame SO numerous that it was found impossl-
BILE to accommodate all the prisoners, and they
were therefore discharged from custody, after
making restitution ofsthe stolen property;
During the progress Of the fire, in order to
prevent, if possible, the spred Of the flames. A
meeting Of citizens, was held, Mayor CASTOR be-
ing present, and Chief Engineer Damrell oc.
cupying the informal presidency, and detail of
citizens was authorized to take charge OF all the
streets leading directly to the fire and have ex-
elusive control of them, with the assistance of
the police, with authority to take any action
they might see fit in the emergency. The de-
tail consisted Of we'll known citizens, each one
having control of intersecting streets with full
liberty to use powder in the stoppage OF the
dcyourinr element 10 case they should consider
it expedieut and with the consent Of the Chief
Engineer Of the Fire Department. 1t was also
authorized that in case of necessity the military
should be called out. :.
After repeated solicitations ON the part OF
business men, oW ncrs of real estate and others,
Chief Engineer Daurell, just before &C lock
gave the order to rope off all the streets lead
ing into MIX street. preparatory to blowing up
the buildings on the South side of that street.
The report of buildings blown up, indicating
that gunpowder was being used TO-, stop the
fire, was heard at five minutes past three
o'clock Three discharges were made IN
block on Dcvonshirc street, and these threw
the buildings partially doNl, but without APP
parent benefit, for the flames jumped over the
gap almost Instantly
The trains were lain Oh Federal street about ,
O. cloek and the street was i1hmediately cleared
for action At 3:45 clock in the morning the
destruction of buildings 10 the path Of the con
fagration, by the'explosion of the gunpowdcr,
was begun 10 good earnest, the shocks sharing
the city to its foundation. An attempt to
blow up Currier j. Trott jcwelry store, corner
of Milk and Washington streets, was unsuccess-
tul, the explosion spending its force through
the windoysE scatceE iiarring the solid walls.
The wluslSws III the boightofhoyd were all
shattered by theeoncussion 81 /
4 body of United States Marines from the
NAVY Yard, marched up Washington street
about 3 clock. and offered. their services on
police duty, Which was immediately accepted.
The Ninth regiment with detachments from
other regiments, amounting tod 200 men. were
on duty, protecting property and preserving
order.
BY thcanoSt stmnnpus:cxerlp ns the 6relucn
Succeeded ia subd1ipg the fanies atioutith
j, HsfofieeI Sd that BIZ noon :pothing Wassdis
>cernible 10 the interior in the way Of a blaze.
All rhe:residencea of the Fort Hill section,
so called, including Gridley, High and Broad
streets, have been destroyed, rendering hun
dreds of families homeless and destitute. On
Washington street the fire was checked by
o'clock. In the southery direction it had not
reached beyond Sumner street. The build
ings on the southern side of the latter
street remained standing, and west of them
untouched by flames, with the exception
of the three nearest Chauncy street
These were burned out, though the walls re-
ihaincd staudihgii On Washington street the
building of the American Watch Company, on
the northeast corner of Washington and Sum
ner streets, was completely Quilted, but the
walls remained. North of this, on Washing
ton street., on the same side, all were destroyed
as far as the Transcript building, though por-
tons of the walls Of some of the buildings were
left. Both Washington and Sumner streets
arc filled with bricks and mortar to the depth
of several feet. A portion Of the front of Trinl-
ty Church alone is standing to mark the loca-
ton of the late beautiful edi6ce.
Before 5 clock the fire found its way across
Water street and caught upon the window cas-
ings and roof of the block in which was the
Boston Car Spring Go. 5 Office, and the Hide
and Leather Bank, and before an hour was
passed the whole building was enwrapped.
At quarter to clock buildings on the OPP
tbo
and W. Z. Lawrence & Co.'S store, caught,
and and in ten minutes all hope Of ts'y|ps them was
Northward, towards the postofice and State
street, swept the flames, and all hope Of stop
ping them by water was shut of forever At
s clock the walls of the stone block, where
was S. Nowells store fell with crash, which
sent the sparks, dust and fame far heapenward,
and Just before this the: FIRE todk directly oppo-
site on the northerly corner OF Federal and
Milk streets, and began its career towards Hi
by and Broad streets.
The buildings totally destroyed Oh De,
vonshire street. between Milk and Water
streets, were the Home Insurance Company.
Eastern Express Company, and the National
Bank of the CommonWealth :.
On Water street were the Hide and Leath-
er Bank, the Mercantile Agency, the Boston
Car Spring Company, the Boston Post Build
ing Company, Hope Mutual Life Insurance
Company, Boston Bottle Works, Edward NJ.
Smit h New England Trust Company; Vincen
la Fdrmc. l,:Ft!Tl | II: /, iiiiii;ti. y.
The loss is estimated at between $50: 000,0G0
and 800, 000. 900, and the insurance at Sl0,l
900 900 to $l2,OO0,000. ..,
A good many persons were injured and scve-
raj killed. ).
The news of the confagration occasioned
great. excitement in all the cities Of the country,
crowds congregated at the telegraph stations
and news depots and most of the newspapers
issued extras which were read and commented
upon 10 all portions of the cities. In many
churches the subject was alluded to in the dis
courses ofthe day. and prayers were offered
up for the stay afihc flames and the comfort
OF the sufferers. ~ :.
A dispatch from New York says: ! The
Spectator in summing up losses by the fire in
Boston, gives the following facts, Firemens
Fund Company Of San francisco, loss So, ZOO;
Alps, of New York s43, 500; Fairfield County,
n f1,O. Eroboooo' en- nm. Hit,1onS' So0 mo.