Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-05-30
BIG FIRE IN ALEXANDRIA,
Burning Of Shoots Tannery-An Entire
Block Wrecked-Loss $4,000.

Shoots extensive tannery was burned this
morning, the fire raging from midnight until
daylight. The tannery Of @. c. Smoot 4 Sons
has beer established for three-quarters Of
century, and carried on by father, sons and
grandsons, and has expanded from a small
establishment at the corner Of Wilkes and
Washington streets to spacious leather works
covering nearly the entire block bounded by
Washington, St. Asaph, Wilkes and Gibbon
streets, with subsidiary works at Sperryville,
Va, and on the 7th street road, Washington.
The houses and sheds covered ground 246 by
800 feet, with all the most improved apparatus
for dressing skins, grinding bark tanning
leather, &c. All except the northwest corner of
the establishment end the southern sheds
is now ashes, c.. led wood, ruined walls
and the debris q great confagration.
Mr.. Geo. W. Walker the watchman, about IL 80
o'clock last night saw light in an unused
room near the center Of the work, on the north
side, and at least 40 feet from the furnace. On
Fastening there he found the wood work ablaze.
At first he attempted to fight the fire single
the fire extended rapidly, and unfortunately
the vigilant dogs which guard the place kept
out all persons that, seeing the light, might
have fastened to his assistance. Mr.. Walker,
finding his efforts fruitless, gave the alarm, and
still kept up his efforts, aided by neighbors,
men arrived. The flames extended very rap
idly east and south, and more slowly
west. The light material fed the fire
and the flame and heat blinded and scorched
the fireman that fought it step by step. Water
seemed useless upon the great column of fire,
and in q few hours the roofs were gone, the
walls fallen, great masses of leather burned,
the sheds and machinery destroyed, and the
entire place, except the sheds on the south and
small brick building on the corner, was a
- hale xuhi nh Iaxy H..
watts full of the tan liquor and containing TO-
500 sides of leather, in value, when completed,
some $4,000. A portion of the stock of fin
ished leather, the ofice-books, &C., and the
skins in the watts were all saved, but, as the
bark-mill is burned it will, 1t is said be diff
cult to keep up the supply Of the tanning
liquor needed. Fortunately Campbell's bark
mills, now unused and only 200 yards away,
may be brought into requlsltlon In the emer-
gency. The loss is estimated at $50, 900 to $780,
OOO which may be increased to 200 if the
leather proves loss. The insurance, which is
all with Wise 4 Co., is only about S12, 900 on
the burned property, much of the total insur-
ance Of 1000 being placed on sheds and
bark that were not burned. Great fear il ex-
pressed that the works may not be rebuilt and
the business may be transferred to the Sperry-
vile branch Of the establishment.
OTHER ALEXANDRIA NOTES.
The observance of Decoration Day here was
limited to the closing Of the banks and the
corn exchange and the keeping Of Sunday
hours in the mail service. The schools and
courts were opened and business went on as
usual At the Soldiers cemetery the graves
were informally decorated by the superinten-
dent and q committee.
The circuit court of Alexandria county,
Judge Keith continues its session and is en-
gagged this morning with the trial of Charles
G. Watkins agt. The National press brick
company. Watkins had his arm cut off by
brick machine and he claims $4,000 dam
ages. The suit of VIM. Winters agt. The
National press brick company, claiming $4,000
for injuries ensuing from fall of a bank of
clay upon him has been abandoned in con-
sideration of 5000 paid to him by the company.
Ascension day services took place at the
Catholic and Lutheran churches to-day.
Truman Abrams died suddenly Of heart
disease at his farm near Clouds Mill on Tues
day evening last and was buried to-day.
Mr.. Philip Dwyer, OF this city, has been
proposed as engineer Of the Hydraulon steam
engine, now in charge Of Policeman Bontz,
acting engineer.
The UNIVERSITY ExAMINArIoN.-The returns
of the University of Virginia examination in
this city was received to-day from Charlottes-
vile. G. A. Ballard, of st. Johns academy,
and Lucy NJ. Graves, of Mt Vernon institute
Miss NJ. A. Roacb), pass in all branches with
honor and are awarded gold medals by the
university. All the others passed in some
branches.