Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1881-05-30
LOCAL MATTERS.

AioShh MAIIERS.
1hc Reaticr Probabilities N1vG0 ISL
ger 'h1 fiddle S'aes warmsr lar washer.
:oGshefly 10 westerly winds and slight changes
III barometer during the rest of Monday, follow.
~ ~ increasing couiiness end light local Isins
by Tuesday morning.
FIRE AND BABY BURNED TO DEATH About
t"sht2 mluu:es 10 eight O'clock Yesterday
lntraIcg lire broke Out ia tho Contra of row
or OF, I'VE ifanc h3uses on Gi5bou street, between
Washington a1G Calunbrg. An asrp beicg
scuadad the ilro department was promptly 90
the ground. but owing to the Roadway the
names had gain, d and the short supply Of Wa
ter. the cHoEis If the 6remen apd neichbtr5 10
saVo INC property were in vain, end all the
houSea W'r, Almost totally destroyed. The
otlck house on the corner of Glb5on and Co,
Iumeu5 streets, occupied by MIR. Sweeney, was
only slightly damaged. Tho sCc)nd house. from
the corner, tho FIRST of tho frame row. owned
aud occupied BY Mr.. Dlpiol Sullivan, was com.
plccly wrecked snd largo smount of tho fur.
nlture it contained destroyed Tho other four
houss were owned by Mr.. John Kelly, odd &C.
cup!od by Messrs. John Shenuey, Thomas Dow.
ncy. Richard Robiusoo, aud John DIVER. The
house occupied by MIR. Downey was totally de-
sroycd, together with all it contained, the for.
rlturc and clothing of the family. Oay tho
frames Of the other three houses wero left stnnd
lag. Hhl!c the families occupying !hem les.
NEST Ct hcr furniture.
Mr. y Sulllvan's house and furniture was i'm
surcd 10 the Fire Association of Philadelphis,
OF which hlcssra s. II. Jsnney & Son are the
agents 10 this city. for 81 .0O0 Tho four houses
OF Mr.. Jvhu Kelley were Insured 10 the Granite
add Vrg MIA State lnsuralco Companies, of
Richmond, Mcss1s. S. IL. Jannoy e. Son az ents
10 tNis city, for $l,I00. Tho damage to Mr..
John SRoeaty's hous, is also fully covered By
Insurance IN the Fro Association Of Philadel-
nh's. Tho furniture of tho occupants of Mr..
hel!ey' four houses IVES uninsured.
The ssdiess part OF this destructive fire was
the burning to death OF the little child of MIR.
Thomas Dowoty. Mrs. Downcy was ct her
mothers when Tho fire broke out and MIR.
Do~nay had Just left tho h1uso to 20 to work at
the Vrsi5ia Midland depot. Two little chill.
dren, Charles Flancis. aged three years, and
Clarence DoWncy, about ten moths old, were
IN the house alOno at tho time. Charley Dow
ney, leaving his little brother in bed, appesred
st. the window of the burniug house ard was
assisted OUT No one supposed lhtr, was
anothcr chlid 10 tho house. As soon ss tho
parents arrived Oh the scene they erq1ired for
their babe, aud were Informed that it mad been
taken cut OF tho house. Search WIS made for
the child blt j, could nowhere bo found. Tho
refort that ono Of Mr.. D0wney's children had
baen e!tln tic turuiOg building spread rapidly.
tha distress OF tho parents Was great. Efforts
TO reach the child wcre made, but those max
ing them Ware driven back by the fl imes. Soon
The Ioot The hlus. tell in sDG rush WIGS made
to secure the body OF the child. After short
scEIch ID the iuna tho apprehensicrs of oil
proved to be ocrrcc.. for the chsrred, uoreeog-
hzibio remains OF the infant, which but few
monc.t5 before bod been left by its rarents
laughing and cfowleg 10 bed. were discovered.
The head Of tho c1lld Was burned in most
horrible maDGer, ard porti.n Of the limbs
were gore. Ina remains were placed 10 box
snd removed to tho residence OF Mrs. John
Verdon. tho mother Of hlrs. DJWuey, from
"hccc1 tha !ulersl took phcj this afternoon.
The c'us, OF tbs fire. which originated 10 the
house. Occupied ty Mr.. Dcwney. is unkntwo,
bu; /. 10 supposed by some that the larger Of
The t~0 children s, erred u match, a1d liehliue
y, became ill!httntd. threw il upon the
flor near the ted, aid ran TO tho wicd w.
y hc,s think . ist Ct the bulldog caught Il
from iha c1inn,y the uiGht before, add smou.
dtfug FL eight. bc.st i0rth in flames directly
sttcr tic departure Of Mr.. Do.pey from the
hols!. Nj. Dawney ssys he hsd not been gone
from ,ho house ten minucs when no saw The
tlImIs. AID rushed back to ad his dwell Al
u!0s: rurocd 10 tho ground. He further states
that thlra bad baen no fire ia the house of eny
klat SIEGE the tight before. He thinks that
bis i!llo son must hsv3 proaared match from
snmo where, ard Lighting it, accidentally sat
lira to tho bed clothing. The houses wtro Of
:ncA l;iiaUiabIa mstcri.l that 10 l;ss than ten
minutes after tie tlrr wls discovered, the whola
ioS vas 10 tlImss. NJ fro department. in the
world, even Unltr tho most favorable circum-
sarc23 ronil Gavj saved The properly.
The peoHe OF tho Fourth Ward arc loud ia
:htir coz plains CT the mauntr 10 which they
have been trs,ted by the city. They say their
Interests hsyo been left unprotected, notWith-
s'auaing they Contribute Que fourth OF tho rev.
oru1 OF the corporation. Tho Ward is almost
entirely without gas lamps or water plugs.
Mr.. J. L. Sweeney iuroished the flnmen
with breakfast and Messis. Geo. r. Hill and
Geo h. Ffetch contributed hot cof9e during
the progtes1 OF the fire.
Bold BURGLARs.--A bold, daring attempt