Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1882-11-20

and rain, northerly ycering to easterly
winds, stationary or lower barometer
FIEE-About half.past two o'clock this
morning police officer Frank Belts discoy-
cred smoke issuing from the millinery store
Of Mrs. Palmer & Mrs. Proctor, on King ST..
between Pitt and st. Asaph, and upon going
was on fire. He Immediately gave the
alarm, and, with policeman Franks.
broke open the doors, and tried 10 extin-
Suish the fire, but vas unable to do so,
the flames spreading rapidly, and soon
resulting in one of the largest con1agra-
tons that hes occurred in this city for Il
long time, destroying five buildings on King
street and one on Pitt The flames also set
fire to several houses in the neighborhood,
which, however, were cxtinguishcd without
much damage resulting. Owing to the IIy-
draulion steamer being at the shops under
going REPAIRS the Columbia was the only
engine in service, and but for the untiriDg
efforts Of the members of this company,
nobly assisted by the members of the Nv
draulion and Relief Hook and Ladder Com
panies and the citizens generally, who al
ways lend willing aid in SUCH cases, the
losses would have been much heavier than
they are The fire burned until seven
o'clock ti:s morning and for II long time the
flames were so bright and shot up so iarinto
the sky that the whole surrounding country
was lighted, and during the time the scene
Of the fire was visited by crowds Of both
men and women attracted thitGer by the
excitement and to witness the wild spccta
Gle. The heat at times was so great tina!
the paint on the neighboring houses was
blistcred and scorchcd, and at one time the
engine had to &c protected by screen made
of boards kept wet. rs otherwise it would
have been impossible for the engineer, Mr.
Campbell, to have remained at his post
which lie did however, until the
flames were extnguished AS it was
the paint OH the engine was so
blisted that it will have to be renewed
The steamer kept two streams constant
ly playing on the fire, one line Of hose being
commanded by Hydraulion and the other
by Columbia men and all worked faithfully.
The buildings destroyed were the following:
Store occupied by Mrs. Palmer & Proctor,
and owned by Mr. John Larnun the build
ing was insured, but the stock was not; bar
Der shop occupied by Thomas T.. Dulary,
and also owned by lIr. L;,niion : Dulanv's
loss will be about $500 the amount of his
insurance in the Virginia Home Company :;
building occupied by ]. ID. Dyycr as lew
elrv store, and owned by Mr. r. w. Bai!en-
ger the building WAS insured in ;iIc Queen
Company for 81 500 there was no insurance
on Mr.. D's stock; cigar store occupied by
Geo. Lash and owned By John Lannon:
corner house occupied by B. f. peakc Is u
hardware store. owned by Mr.. John Ian
non Mr.. Pcake had an insurance on his
stocks for $1,000 in the Connecticut Cum;a-
ny, but the loss will amount to $1,000;
paint shop Oh Pitt street, occupied BY Mr..
Hobson. The flames after slightly dnnlu,
ging the warehouse Of Mr.. Pcakc and the
carpenters shop of Mr.. VIM Gibson. leaned
to the roof of the three story house ahioin-
ing, owned by Mr.. J. L. Pascoe and occu-
pied by Mr.. Gibson, and were not ex,in-
guished until the roof was so damaged
that it had to be almost entirely renewed to-.
day. Mr.. Lannon's property was insured in
the Connecticut for 81, 800 and in the British!
Home Company for $1,000. The origin OF
the fire is said to have been undoubtedly
the work ofan incendiary, for there was no
fire in the stove in the store, where it was
first discovered nor had there been any
one there since Saturday night, when tho
place was locked up.