Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-12-31

| Union street, next TO Hutton coai uepo' eh
bracjng half square fronting on Union street
and the river. aud forming the most extensive
block devoted to commercial purposes in the
city.
TIE BUILDINGS AND THEIR CONTENTS.
The block was erected in 1858 by Henry
Daiugcrtic!d and Mes<rs Cazenove Il Co., and
comprised five large warehouses, built for the
special purpose of accommodating the railroad
trade then fast coming to Alexandria. Through
the centre warehouse, an unusually extensive
one, railway switch from the .. y. u NJ.
r. II. passed, and within, the hatchways and
platforms were ali fitted for the easy and cx
pelitous loading OF railway ears During the
late war these warehouses formed the main
depot Tor comnsSary stores OF the Northern
Army of the Potomac, but before aud since the
war they have been used as storehouscs Tor
grain and fertilizers Within the block was
also included three story house built in the
early part of this century, by e. Il |. P.Thomp-
SON. used by them rs hat factory, but now,
for many wears, used for the storage of grain
and provisions The five warehouses were oc-
cupicd as follows, beg inning at the corner OF
Cameron street The first by W. A. Moore as
4 commission house and for the storage Of
graiu. Many thousand bushels of wheat were
stored here some of which was not iuj ured ut
all by the fire and other parcels Of which were
saved, but in Il damaged condition. MIR. Moore,
| who was uninsured does not estimate his lossat
! over 81 500. The next warehouse was used
for the storage Of grain and fertilizers by Il.
| VI. Lawson. whose place Of business was else
where, Here was stored 400 bushels Of wheat
and a large amount OF phoSphates and other
fertilizers. The next large centre building was
occupied by the commission house of WattleS
| Knox & Co., (Johu 5. Knox and Ii. Star
Wattles and was stored with Il very large
amount Of grain. -four &c, all of which was
DESTROYED BY the flames The stables Of the
| Grm were also within the building and two
valuable horses. with the carts, harness, &c,
were burned, the stock reaching $2O, 900. The
next building was used tor storage by Geo.
| r. Shinn 4 Co., whose PLACE OF business was
elsewhere. This building contained grain aud
large amount Of guauO, amounting to sOnc
thousand dollars, and other fertilizers. The
next building, being the northern Que OF the
| block, was used as q warehouse by VIM. IL.
May & Co., whose place OF business Is on FAIR
fax street Here we're stored large and vau-
able stock of Agricultural implements, OF which
bur little was saved. The stock destroyed is
estimated at $4,000 \ portion OF this stock
was the property OF Valentine Becker Of Fair.
fax county.
The alarm was given shortly before o clock,
the hands of the clock at the l1ydrauIlon Eu-
CINE House showing 2:04 when the fremcn,
| both OF whom We're awake, heard the horns
and started out their steamer.
When the police reached the scene OF the
/ fire the flames were showing from the second
story window Of the centre building occupied
by Knox, Watt!cs Il Go. 1t is said, upon what
authority is not ascertained, that the fire
originated 10 the counting room Of this build.
ing. The flames spread rapidly, soou envclop-
ing the centre building, and as soon as 1t reach
cd the root, which was of tin, upon q previous
roof of more cOmbustlDle material, spread rap
idly to the buildings on the north and south.
The river aud ueghborlng hydrants afforded
an ample supply OF water, and the IRE depart
mcnt, never deficient IN lromptneSs, energy or
efficiency, worked with will, but the great
extent Of the interior exposed to the flames,
and inaccessible to the tiremcn, rendered abor-
tive all efforts to stay the couhagratou until 1t
had burned up the entire contents OF the build
ings on the north (of r. NJ Lawson and w.
Ii. May) and threatened the large dcposites
of coal at the depot of the Baltimore aud
Hampshire comnany, which, however, was saved,
not without difficulty, by the efforts of the fire
department On the other side the flames
burned through the first building used by Il.
VI. Lawson, sweeping away its entire contents
and invaded also the warehouse occupied by
w. \. Moore at the southern end. But the et-
forts Of the frcmeu were first available here,
and, although the greater portion OF the root
was destroyed, a considerable portion of the
contents of the building was saved, portion OF
the grain being, however, much damaged 10
the course OF the progress Of the flames, in the
interior of the block, two heavy brick ways, To-
tended to prove bar to their progress, were burst
through by the heat, and portions thrown upon
the floors breaking them down, the vast mas
ses of wheat within the burned building giving
little smoke but great heat, like an Immense
furnace OF Anthracite coal in full glow. The
outer walls remained firm, except a portion OF
the north wall and the centre Of the cast wall,
which fell during the fire, and part of the
west wall that fell at o'clock this morning.
The schooner Margaret Ella. owned by Capt.
Shirley King lying in the dock Immediately
in fro't OF the fire, was, at one time, In lm
ninent danger, aud au attempt was made by
men armed with axes to cut a channel through
the ice in order to tow the vessel out, but the
heat Of the burning buildings having some
what abatcd, the attempt was aband oned.
INCIDENTS.
Mr. Frank Ncac, while descending a ladder
was struck on the hand by brick which fell
from the burning building causing him to lose
his hold and fall to the ground, short distance.
His hand was considerably bruised but he was
not hurt by the fall.
Roth the steam engines worked admirably
and the Columbia drew directly from the river
while the Hydraulion was stationed at the plug
corner of Cameron and Union streets The
Friendship also rendered good service.
THE INSURANCE POLICIES
The assurances are as follows:-On the three
northern buildings belonging to the estate of the
late Henry Dalngerfed, $4,000 in the Liver
pool, London and Globe Company-wi not
cover the loss. On the two southern buildings
belonging to Wm. G. Cazenove, $1,000 in the