The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-09-29

address Ito Gen. Grant, who
Said he thanked the workingmen for
Sth eir very welcome address, and
thought this reception 'Giwes themoSt
honorable he could meet with. Al.
luding to what Mr.. Burt had said
concerning the late civil war, Gen..
Grant said he had always been an
advocate of peace, but when war was
declared he went to the war for the
cause which he believed to be right,
and fOughtto his best ability to secure
peace and safety to his nation. In
regard to the relations between
America and England the General
said that friendship now existed
between the two countries, which he
fully believed was increasing, and
which would in common with in
dustry and civilization increase with
the future.
Gen. Grant expressed pleasure at
his enthusiastic reception in all the
towns in the north of England and
said he was glad good feeling between
England and America was warmer
to-day than it had ever been. A
banquet was given in honor of Gem
Grant in the evening by the mayor
of New Castle. In response to a
toast to his health the General said
his reception in New Castle exceeded
anything he had expected, and had
been the warmest and best he had
had or could have had.
THE PATENT OFFICE AT WASHING
TON ON FIRE.
Especial to Cumberland Alleganian1
WASHINGTON, Sept. 24.-This
morning just before noon the cry of
fire brought out the engines, when it
was ascertained that the Patent
office and Interior Department build
ings were on fire. These buildings
cover two full squares and are in the
very heart of the city, with the Post
Office Department just opposite and
covering another square.
These buildings are both Of stone
and fire proof-the frame work of
the roof being all the wood used in
the construction. The fire originated
in unused rooms used for storage of
rejected patents, and Immediately
under the roof.
AS soon as the large area under the
roof became filled with smoke it
forced its way down into the rooms
below, where large number of
ladies were employed. AS soon as
the building was discovered to be on
fire they set up scream and rushed
out, and soon after the ceiling and
roof at the northwest corner fell down
upon the stone floor beneath, and the
rumor sOon spread that Il large num-
Der of ladies had been caught among
the falling debris and killed. The
fire at no time made very great
display, though smoke emerged in
volumes from every quarter of the
building around the two squares.
Immense crowds of people gather
ed around, and dispatches were sent
to Baltimore and Alexandria for
additional fire apparatus althoug the
district has six steam engines I'M
surpassed in the United States. 1t
was not fire engines that was needed
so much as the availability of reach
ing the fire hemmed in between inn
immense stone walls four feet thick
and sixty feet high. But little prog
ress was made the first two hours i'm
staying the flames; and not until
four Baltimore engines and one from
Alexandria arrived about 1880 p. n.y.
was there any perceptible change i'm
favor Of the tiremen. The light
material had princi pally been burned
the loose paper consumed, and the
deluge of water dampened the build
ing throughout before the flames
WSiS Sotlch IuucI COuliOl. Dy lllTeG
O'Clock the fire was entirely under
crotrol of the firemen.
Another fire also occurred near the
Patent Office building about o'clock
in Osborn's livery stables, which de-
stroyed that building entirely.
United States troops were placed
on guard about the Patent Office to-
protect the Government property
brought out of the building, among
which were the original Declaration
ofIndependence, the war implements
and suit of George Washington, &C..
In fact, nothing was destroyed but
models, principally rejected Ones
and papers relating thereto,
The damage to the building is esti-
mated to be very heavy, though the.
loss Of the property stored within
will not reach over $4,000. The
Patent office was burned in 1886, and
at that time occupied two-story
wooden building in the present