Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-16
ALEXANDRIA.



The Deis furniture factory in New Alexan-
dria was destroyed by fire last night. The fire
was discovered shortly before 10 o'clock and
the alarm given. but the Alexandria fire depart
ment had no means Of sending its apparatus
across Hunting creek, and as the plant at New
Alexandria has no means of extinguishing fires
on buildings the immense establishment burned
nearly all night, and this morning is an entire
wreck. The building was Of brick, two stories
in height, 800 feet long and go vide, fitted with
machinery for the manufacture of house
furniture and the interior fittings of buildings.
The establishment was carried to New Alexan-
dria last summer from Canton Dover, Ohio, the
proprietors Of New Alexandria having erected
o building to accommodate the Deis Company.
Some hundred men were employed there, most
Of them skilled workmen from Ohio.
The fires were banked at the close Of work
yesterday afternoon, but shortly before 10
O'Clock the Waterman discovered fire creeping
into the engine room. He at fitst attempted to
extinguish the flames, but finding that impos-
sible put his pumps to work and filled the boil
ers. but the fire made brisk Roadway and soon
spread through the building and wrecked the
new works. The loss il estimated at over
S100, 900, and all the insurance will not reach
$4,000. The establishment will be rebuilt and
work resumed early next season.
THE HUNTING CREEK RAILROAD SPUR.
The committee on streets not being ready to
report the act giving the Richmond and Dan
vile Company the right of way tor railway
tracks on Union and Lee streets south of Jeffer-
son street. the matter has been further post
poned, but measure for this purpose will be
reported at an early period, perhaps this even
ing. and the councils will undoubtedly give the
privilege asked for.
THE OUTRAGEOUS TREATMENT OF MISS FINNELL-
At the investigation Of the recent transac-
tons at the basket factory in New Alexandria
reported by Miss Finnel, the officers of the
company heard all parties last night. The OPP
eratives alleged to be implicated in the rude
joke denied the correctness of Miss Finnell's
statements of her wrongs, but a further exam
nation will probe the matter to the bottom.
NOTES
Mr.. W. A. Price has been appointed chief
jailer Of the Alexandria Jail by City Sergeant
Smith, and John McCuen has been made line
man of the electric light works, vice Price,
resigned.
The Alexandria Musical Association an
nounces one of its pleasant rehearsals for next
Tuesday evening.
Fire Burning Three MOnths in a Tree.
From the Albany Morning Express.
Near 1. s. Fowlers farm house, at the foot
of the Greylock group OF mountains in Williams
town, stands an elm tree that has been famous
for many years on account Of its unusual size.
Twenty or more years ago the late Prof. Albert
Hopkins Of Williams College took measure
ments, which Lowed the first limb to be IO5
feet from the ground. The trunk is "a feet in
circumference ut the base. 1t is believed there
are few, if any, larger elms in Berkshire county.
August it was struck by lightning. 1t is
thought a section of the elm was hollow. az the
tree was set on fire and has been burning ever
since. On the night Of August Is the tree was
struck by lightning a second time.
This seemed remarkable then, but much
more wonderful is the fact that the tree is still
burning, and has been constantly from that
time. Most of the time it has been a slow.
smouldering fire, but Mr.. Fowler says that
election nie at it broke out greater than ever
before. and sent column of flame twenty-five
feet above the top of the trunk which mas been
gradually reduced until it is now not more
than thirty-fve or forty feet high. The illumi-
nation was such that Mr.. Fowler's neighbors
hurried to his place, supposing one Of his
buildings was on fire. 1t made a light by
which one could have read newspaper
twenty rods away. Mr.. Fowler believes the
tree will burn to the ground, and saws his son
is preparing to plant young elm ON the site
next spring.