Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-09-24
Fire In WASHINGTON,


WASHINGTON, D. c., Sept 244s-About II: 80
clock this morning messenger employed ID
,ta,e Exhibition reom ii; the Patent 0fieo. where
the models are kept for sight-seers, ran along Il
hallway of the Ninth street font shouting eat
the top of his voice, Fire! fire ! FIRE! ! T
A rush was made by the employees Of the
building, who ran into the Railways that were
being filled with smoke. An alarm from boX
| III was turned, and Immediately large crowd
of people began to COLLECT about the building,
ahsrc large volumes Of smoke were seen issd-
ing out of the windows. The fire department
! responded promptly. but for some reason failed
to Get TO work quickly, and all seemed at a
! loss what to do; men rushed here and there
with hose and buckets pfwater, but not thing
was done to check the flames that had gained
full Roadway.
The fire originated through some unknown
| cause in the attic that runs just under the root
along the Ninth street front, which was fill:
ed with over 10000 rejected models and
over twenty tons of drawings. Gradually
the flames licked their way along, and not more
than fifteen minutes after its discovery there
| was loud crash, and the entire floor tell IN
with report as of thunder, smashing many
cases Of models, and at onco men and women
rushed wildly into the streets, while policemen
ran from room to room ordering everybody to
depart, and general stampede was the result.
A general alarm was then sounded, and soon
the entire force Of the fire department was
brought TO bear upon the burning building.
1t is stated that several persons who wero
standing in the hallway whom the ralters over
hn.,l foil in ror, bu,tnI fhn ,uIGs atbDnv
them two ladies. Several officials about the
Patent Office arc of the opinion that the fire
was burning many hours before discovery.
Tic fire gained such rapid htaiway that
Capt. WIN. q. Brock. of the Potomac Force,
clcgraphcd to Baltimore for assistaLcc.
The ircmeu worked hard and kept the flames
corfncd to the upper portion oil the building,
but about -. 80 o'clock strong southeast wind
spraDg up and the flames spread 10 volumes
along G street driving everything 10 its course,
and the great multitude of Poop who had col
lectcd thercahouts ran pell NELL 10 every dIrec'
ton. People living in houses near by moved
their lurniture out, and scene OF the widest
confusion was rife, fears being entertained that
unless the wind died out other buildings ln the
vicinity would catch fire. A large force of men
were engaged removing papers and books from
the building.
n detachment of soldiers from the Arsenal
kept guard over the property taken from the
bulldog and placed on the L street portico.
Early in thu FIRE line was passed from the
exhibition room to the above poTtico to pass cut
the innumerable curriosities and VaIuabIes.
Every one was SD excited that chronometers,
choice crockery aud glassware. and everything
imaginable was thrown down tho steps and the
greater portion Of it lost.
Calls for help we're sent to Baltimore ADD
Alexandria. and were promptly responded to.
Three cDgincs came from the former aud one
engine and the Hook and Ladder truck from
the latter city. Nine steamers are now at work
on ihe FIRE.
9lfA6ut clock the livery stable of Gheen
Il Osborne, on G. street, hnlweCn 9th and 7th,
caught fire and vas entirely destroyed.
The Hydrauon engine, OF Alexandria, vas
stationed at The coroer of 7th and T streets,
but has been considerably impefed in its work
by the bursting OF hose.
The damage to the Patent Office has been
mainly confined to the upper story.
Several small bulldogs on the sonth side OF
G street, near 7th, have caught fire and are
now burning.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
WASHINGTON, Sept 24.-About ! l30 O. clock
THIS morning lt0 DrOko OUT III inc conservatory
over thu model room in the Patent Otice build
ing. In q short time ha entire upper portion CT
the west wing, on 9th street, from f to & stS.,
and the north side of the building, on G, from
9th TO 7th SITS. wore entirely destroyed. From
ZOO } t. 75,( models were destroyed, with tho
records belonging to them. All District engines,
two engines from Baltimore, one from Alezan-
dria and thu Government engines from the Navy
Yard end Misunderstanding ten in all.-were
soon at tho sceno, and al 2 80 p. m. had the fire
under control.
Sparks from the burning building set fire to
the large three story building on 9th street,
occupied as stable and patent cornico works,
and it WAS completely destroyed.
CARPETS, OIL CLOTH AND RUdGs.-First
fall opening Of au entire new stock in the above
articles The public is respectfully invited to
examine our immense variety and beautiful Sc.
lection Of styles and designs at remarkably low
prices Block Silks within the reach OF
everybody. Just received from the large
and special auction sale Of Black Silks 10
Philadelphia. Black Silks at IS, 90, 500
and $l25 per yard, tho biggest bargain ever
known in Silks since they were first made. Call
and look at The articles.
sp lS-lW l. EICHBERG.