National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1873-07-16
THE FIRE YESTERDAY.
DESTRUCTION OF VALUABLE PAPERS.

VI Nhb'n ~ INV '
The South WING Of the Navy Department
Partially De.troyed-Tbe Cause not yet
Ascertaiued-An Investigation Ordered
by Secretary Robesou-Total Loss
About sIhOOO-sceucs and Incidents
splendid Work OF tho Fircmcn-The
Buiiding to be Repaired at Once.
At Gas O'Clock yesterday morning an alarm was
turned In from box No. o., signal once, by Ser
peant Samuel Garrett, Of the War Department
watch, caused by the discovery Of q IRE In the
south wing Of the Navy Department. Colonel
o. Drew, assistant chief engineer, and the
engine companies Nos. I, . and o, and the hook
and ladder, were soon on the ground, and the
balance Of the department soon followed In re.
Spouse to general alarm. At this time the
flames were not visible from the outside, and the
. only manner In which they could be located was
from the smoke, which was issuing from the roof
and windows. Tho building was soon entered,
and the exact location OF the FIRE ascertalned TO
be In room 10, third floor, occupied by the bu-
reau OF ordnance.
A line Of hose was at once brought into use at
this point, and the other apparatus used from
the outside, but seemingly the flames gained
Roadway. At this time Mr. John II. Brooks ar
rived on the ground, and after sending for the
officials Of the Department turned his attention
TO
AIDING THE FRENEs
In their labors. In q short time Commodore
Reynolds, Commodore Rodgers, and Mr.. Holmes
L. oniey, chief clerk Of the Department, arrived.
Mr.. Brooks, after survey, ascertained that the
IRE had extended 10 two rooms on the fourth
moor, In which were stored the log books OF the
entire navy-one Of the most valuable set Of
archives In the possession Of the Government,
containing, as they do, the records Of all the
,...o,. a., a. ,or,..,,o, =, ,.a -. - az.
'o'1ois hVu '"e ,o'"siou VI tue nav W 'ne
present time. These must be saved at oil
hazards, and after moments consultation with
-, :. -. =, = -. -, -. -. 80
e'ueu 70 eh'e. .ne rooins anu nv, 's'o 'no oooAs'
The llne OF nose, Win tne foreman anu MI.
BROOKS IN me iead, was carried up 70 the fourth
moor; but the landing had hardly been reached
before the men, ac.ustomeu - they were 10
hnon incuens, WI peaen vach ~ sne intense
tmoke. Ascend attempt was made ~ crawling
Mnng On Ine 1vVr , no me sunInk smoke
nn.h ,ne uoof oi tue nist foon Wss rehcneu' ana
uneh he r ,,r,s vv,v y, ,,u1r,su,x
, ILan y. , mhsh rL ..,,n NisLhLk .
Ihe room ntted up win wooIen cases. 10
wnicn inc DOCKS are s'ofea, anu lnesc anu tne
turned on, and the men, stu lying nat and al
delnged, ana we names, ~, A. iar Is ~ was con.
cerned, exnnguuhed. 10 IKE manner the other
resosu ioo" "Aa SA'eu' anu =" sAiu 'nA' NJ she
utmost o,,x r, ,oo,. ,v ,r,v,n
,y., ONLY IkN BOOKS Mkhh Duhxkp.
W., wne ~ .ais , company were isoo,ng 10 the ~.
tons on the roof, cut holes through wherever
there was the slightest show OF nre, and were
deluglng the building as the only possible means
OF saving either me records OF the building II.
self. As the IRE was confined 70 the third and
fourth stories, and was being fought both from
above and below In determined manner, II was
mot very long before u was under entire cor.
troll, the damage being In the rooms on the third
and fourth floors OF the end OF the southern
wing, the main building not being In the least
nest ,s,o h. sr,,o..,, an. ,,,,,... ..,,,-
vaier thrown Soon told with eifect nnon ,he
papers, ceilings walls and furniture in the rooms
o. the entire wing and as 5000 a. II could pos
s,o , s oe o., aone WIN she,y, MI Uey had men
and he papers 10 secure posIIions. inns AVN
many things which would otherwise have GER
,ainy been Lost in the confusion and excite
nen' ihoioen' 10 su as,r occurrences ,
It was Impossible at a late hour to accurately
ascertain the losses, but from general survey
u not probable that the damage TO the build
lnR anu furniture viii exceed $4,000, and the
otLer Losses may loot up 1000 the principal item
being the amount II Will require to have copies
made OF such documents as are damaged.
Among ths class were many valuable docu.
ments IN the room OF the bureau Of steam en-
gineering A set OF plates for the new Amer
lean nag DOCK were completely destroyed, as