Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1892-11-26
DESTROYED by Fire.

"The Breakers the elegant an
costly summer residence of Cornehr
Vanderbilt at Newport, R. l., was &
stroyel by fire last night. Blsaseeened
and crumbling walls of brichnd heaps
of ashes are all that noTemains of the
palatial villa, whiehfjor years had been
numbered amGg Newport's largest
and finest Gsidences. The fire also de-
stroyedi. Lii the valuable contents of the
vil vii; including furniture. bric-a-brac'
Wearing apparel and rare and costly
articles of every description. The fire
was discovered by Mr.. Vanderbilt him
self about 4:30 p. M, the smoke being
seen in the main hail. a telephone
message was sent to the city, and
still alarm was sent in, Mr.. Vanderbilt
thinking at that moment that the fire
was slight and easily within control. A
few minutes sufficed to show this to be
a serious mistake, and within two
hours the building and contents were
totally destroyed. The villa was To-
Gated at Ochre Point, nearly one and a
half miles from the nearest fire station:
Before the alarm could be sent out and
the apparatus reach the scene, the hre
was beyond control, and all that could
be done was to stay, rather than check,
the work of destruction. A general
alarm summoned the entire depart
ment, which was unable to work to adj
vantage. This was party due to the
small number of hydrants in, that Sec
ton of the city, where the houses occu,
by large grounds and are scattered
about at considerable distances. ltwas
also partly due to the lack of sufficient
water pressure, as owing to bad break
in the mains the water works had re-
duced the pressure one-half within two
hours previous to the breaking out Of
the fire. However, it is very probable
that nothing could have saved the
house. the fire having got such head
way. Yesterdays experience but con
firms that of previous years, that when
fire once gets well started in one G
Newport's summer villas outside the
compact section Of the city, the build
ing and contents are certain to be to-
tai loss.
A portion of the furniture was saved
seeming large in itself, but it was the
least valuable of all, and not much o.
that, while all the rich tapestries, rare
paintings, bric-a-brac and elegant decor
ations and furnishings of every sort
were beyond rescue. The house was
built about II or 10 years ago for ?
Lorillard, ofNcw York, and was bought
with the extensive grounds for $iOO,O0(
by Mr.. Vanderbilt in 1855. More thar
100000 was expended in addition:
and Improvements to the build
ing. 1t was of irregular shape, about
100 by so feet in size, from one to three
stories in height, the lower part @
brick and the upper Of wood, with nu
merous towers and gables. In single
hall were hung tapestries worth So0.O0O
Members of the family and servants
alike. lost all their clothing. Mr.. Van
derbilt and family found temporary
refuge in the gardeners cottage on the
premises and were entertained during
the night by hospitable neighhors
Mr.. vanderbilt cOllu give io dCC''ial'
estimate of his loss which, however, he
stated, was largely covered by insur
ance, placed through New lo!I
brokers. 1t is thought to be abou
100000. He said that although he hat
intended to remain in his cottage a
Newport until after Christmas holi
day, his family would now go at once
to their NewYorb residence. lie vii
probably build new and elegant villa
at an early day. The silver, jewel.
and other valuables of like nature
were placed in the safes by the ser
wants and are probably all right. Nh
Vanderbilt and family have only beer
there since October /, having spent tn
season elsewhere this year because o
the recent death of their oldest son