Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-09-11
Fire at the Centennial Exposition

On Saturday Afternoon fire broke out in
Murphy's oyster saloon, 90 Elm avenue, cp-
posite the main exhibition building, and de-
slroyed property to the value OF about $780, 900.
The flames spread cast, west aud south, COD.
suning the entire lot Of buildings on Elm ave-
nue. from the TrauscoDtinentll Hotel to the
Ross House, about twenty in all, including sew
era variety shows, beer gardeos, restaurants,
sc. These structures were all Of frame, some
one and others Two and three stories high.
The fire also spread back from Elm to Co.
Iumbia avenue, taking III all the intervening
property, including the New England Hotel, a
boarding house and an ice cream saloon aud
restaurant. all two story bulldogs
The widest excitement prevailed, both IN
and outside of the centennial grounds. People
focked to the soeDe of the fire by the thous-
ands, aud il is estimated that there we're sixty
thousand persons 10 the Immediate vicinity.
TIE transcontinental Hotel caught fire CD
the roof four different times, but the flames
were immediately extinguished
So iuteuse was the heat from the fire that 1t
searched the paint on the turnstiles at the eu-
trance gates OF the exhibition, requiring stream
to be played upon them and upOn the southern
side Of the main exhibition building.
Ii is til ,ught by some that the ire was the
work OF 40 inceudary, hut others attribute 1t
to the explosion OF Kerosene lamp. man Is
in custody, however, on suspicion OF having
caused the fire.
The Ross House was damaged to the extent
Of :w1nty thousand dollars, and by the destruc-
ton of the New England House loss Of fifteen
n ALL mo IudIy
loss will vary from one to six thousand dollars
During the excitement quite panic occur
red among the visitors in several portions of
the maiu building upon an apprehension that
the structure was on fire. The heat from the
baziug frames across the street having become
SO iutense as 10 scorch the paint upon the turn
stiles Immediately facing the conHagratloD, a
section of hes from one Of the cngloes OF the
Centcnuial fire department was put 10 opera
ton and stream of water kept constantly play
ing upon the more exposed portions OF the cx-
terror OF the main building.
This circumstance gave currency to the re-
port thar the great Exhibition Hall was about
to be destroyed. and the rush OF thousands OF
the occupants for TIL. doors aud most CONVEX
ie"t ave SUES Ut escape With the frantic attempts
0! the more cxcitabc among a few OF the exh'-
bitors to carry off their wares, created a scene
of excitement and confusion. The precautlon
having been taken to close all the doors along
the Elm avenue side of the building the viSi
tors we're prevented from crowding upon and
Interfering with the fremcn and they were
Obliged to find egress ln other directions, which
many of them succeeded in dong 10 the short
est possible time. The scare, however, was OF
but short duration, and fortunately was attend.
ed with 90 serious Consequences. An attempt
by some Of the occupants Of the burning build
iogs to push their way through tho gate for
the purpose of depositing some Of! their goods
within the Exhibition grounds, for safe keep
ing, was promptly met by number of the
Centennial Guard and the threated intrusion
prevented.