Evening star., 1877-09-25
Loss to the Cover ment and the Public.
DAMAGE BY THE OTHER FIRE,


When our second extra went to press yes
terday the fire at the Patent Office building
was under control, as also that at Gheen &
Osborns stables, but at each place the fire.
rem continued at work TO thoroughly extin-
guish the flames and prevent their bursting
forth again.
THE BALTIMORE FIREMEN.
1t was 12:i5 o'clock when the Baltimore
authorities were asked for assistance, and in
fifteen minutes afterwards several pieces Of
apparatus, including Nos. and steam en-
gines and hose carriages, were in the rail
road yard, but ii was not until los o'clock
that the train started. On this train, with
and 2 companies, were John NJ. Hennick,
chief engineer of the Baltimore fire depart
ment; j. Frank Morrison, superintendent
police and tire-alaTm telegraph; Dr. j. NJ.
Namble, phN siciau of the ire department,
Charles L. Holloway, fire inspector; +. IL.
Flack, assistant fire inspector. Samuel Re-
gtster, fire commissioner, ana others. TniS
train did not reach here untn , Il o'clock,
and Oh its arrival was received with cheers.
III Will be remembered thai the train whi n
took our firemen to the great fire in b ali.
more a few years since made the run there IN
fl minutes Notwithstanding the delay,
the DaltimOreans arrived just ia the nick of
time, Tor the fire on u street, aud Fastening
up New Jersey avenue aud G street they
were soon in active service playing on the
fire from the east side, while the Washington
and Alexandria hremen attaC keu the fire ia
the front.
The second train with engines 3 and 1 left
Camden street depot at Ia o'clock and
reached here at Iii, making the ruu in II
minutes. These Were also soon in service.
Their efforts were principally directed to
saving the property about Gheen and OS-
bornes. II was pleasant sight TO see these
men working beside the AleXandrians, and
TO aid in saving the property Of our citi-
izensi and when their labors were over, they
were highly complimented. To them great
credit is due. Mr.. Minton, of engine No. /,
OF Baltimore, bad his arm badly cut while
running hose through rear window at the
stable, and he was at once attended by Sur
geOn Wamble, of the Baltimore department.
THE ALEXANDRIANs.
AS stated in yesterdays STAR, Alexandria
responded TO the call of the authorities here,
sending the steamer Hydraulion aud the
ReliefHOok and Ladder Company with their
eer Lead dbetter, eX- Mayor Latham, and other
prominent citizens came The S! .ameT took
position al the corner of eth and F streets and
played on the south end OF the til street wing
of the Patent Office, doing good work.
THE GOVERNMENT ENGINE ANACOSTIA.
When word was sent to the navy yard for
the Anacostia steam engine, which is kept
there for the protection OF Government prop
erty, il was delayed some time by red tape
before 1t was put in charge OF Lieutenant
BOhrer, United States navy, and guarded by
seven marines. This engine was worked by
Dan Johnson, engineer, and was located at
the northwest corner of the post Office build
ing and threw powerful stream along side
of the Hydraulions stream, working up To
1o0 pounds OF steam.
SECRETARY sCHURz THANKS THE WASH
lNGIoN FIREMEN.
The Washington fremen were addressed
by the Secretary as follows:
GeJtICniea Of The FIRE Department Of WGSh-
TgtOE.-I am very glad 10 meet you after
bot days work, and Il was hot for some, in-
deed, as every one OF you are aware. In saw
f1,saI
you being OF course first on the ground, you
may also claim the chief merit, for il Is oW-
ing TO your intrepidity that the fire did not
get control of the whole building before tn
welcome aid from Alexandra and Balti-
more arrived. Therefore, IL is you, first o.
all, that the thanks of every one conaected
with the department, in fact Of the govern
ment ard the PEOPLE of the United States are
due. [Cheers.I Ideem IL a high privilege to
express to you my gratitude. can bear tes-
timoDy TO the fact that in point of intrepid
ty, bravery, and fearlessness, the fire depart
ment Of Washington cannot very well be ex-
celled by any other. tCheers.l And now,
tired you certainly, tnasmuch as il tired me,
who has not done as much work as any OF
you, bid you good night, and every one OF
you can go To bed with the consciousness
that he has done good days work. lCheers
WORTHY EXAMPLE.
Yesterday morning when the fire broke out
IN the Patent Office, Mr.. H L. Gregory, stove
dealer On the Avenue, hearing that the
Alexandria engines had been telegraphed
for told Richard Purcell and Thomas Hen
shaw TO quit work and he would pay them
for their time while with their engine, the
former CMr. PurcelD being firemen OF the
Hydraulton engine of Alexandria, Va.
AN INVESTIGATION.
The Secretary will institute a thorough in
vestigation with a view OF ascer:aining the
origin Of the fire.
CLEARING THE WRECK.
A large force of employees was kept busy
last night clearing away the debris. The fire
still smouldered on the upper floor OF the 9th
and q street wings, and occasionally a
shower OF sparks would arise. Several en-
gines played steadily on the ruins in the
upper story all night. AT 10 O'Clock the ma
rines were relieved by the police and left for
their quarters at the Navy Yard.
Secretary SchuIZ and his private secre-
tary slept IN their office last night. This
mornir guards were placed at all the doors
ard no persons were admitted without
passes. Inside on The main floor everything
was confusion. The north and west halls on
the main floor were blocked up by desks and
chairs and carpets, which had become
ceiling of every room. Clerks were engaged
In cole citing and classifying books and re-
cords cor which were sadly mixed up during the
II not Knowing what to do, and wondering
whether there would BE- any discharges in
consequence OF the cOnfiagration.
The department advertise ses to-day for pro-
posals for temporary roof for that portion
OF the building burned, proposals to be
opened on Thursday, this week, at noon.
1t is fact worth noting, that the western
roof, which was burned yesterday, was sup
ported by iron girders, while the eastern
roof, which escaped, is supported by wooden
rsfters.
AS a rule, the rooms on the main floor on
the Tth street ard + street win IS a unic.
tuIed except slightly by water.
On account of the confusion no female em-
ployes were admitted to the building to .day.
II is believed that in q few days, however,
the work Of the department will be going on
as usual.
wRIGHT'S BUILDING TO BE RENTED
A number Of buildings have already been
offered the department, among them the Cor
coran building, corner 18th and streets;
W1ignt's, corner sth and G streets; LIE Droit.
conner Sth and streets; Lenman's corner
New York avenue and 10 street. and the Sec
opd National Bank, 7th street, near F. The
Secretary has concluded to rent Wright's
building temporarily, and the clerical force
OF the General Land Office will probably be
transferred there In q day or two. The Land
Offjce records are unipjured.