Evening star., 1895-08-19
AFFAIRS IN ALEXANDRIA
The Most Disastrous Confsgration in That
City in Many Years
Several Houses Burned and n LOSS Of
&25,OOO-Firemcn Injured-Other
Interesting News.

This city was visited yesterday afternoon
by one Ct the most disastrous connagra-
tons tfat has been its fate for many years
past. ard damages to the amount Of about
$4,000 are the result. Shortly after
O'Clock fire was discovered In the wood
yard of Mr.. George W. Jones, on Princess
street between Payne and West, and it is
supposed to have started in the engine
room. An alarm was turned in as prompt
ly as possible. but before the engines had
arrived on the scene the fire had gained
considerable headway and caught to Mr.
Jones residence. adjoining. which was in
lcng frame row. 1t was evident that the
firemen would have hard fight. and they
went braveiy to work The fire spread
rapidly' and ignited pile of wood adtoin-
ing the house of Mr.. F. A. Scriyener. on
me me right, and soon that building was in
names. After fighting the fire for some
Tune 1t was found that the burning build
ihgs could not be saved, so the streams
were turned on the surrounding buildings,
iE order that the fire might be confined as
much as possible. About this time some
thing got wrong with the Hydraulion en-
sine, and 1t only was able to throw a very
poor stream. In addition to this, the heat
ifom the burning buildings became so in
tense that II scorched Engineer Bontz and
the engine had to be moved to a distant
plug. 1t was seen that nothing could save
Ine row on Princess street. as eight houses
were IN blaze, and Fire Warden Brill
directed that the water of both engines he
tnrown on the houses on Payne street and
tne stables in the rear. The reserve engine,
Wm. A. Smoot," which belongs to private
parties. was sent for and soon added two
streams to the battle against the flames
and by its aid the fire was kept within
the limits. though the entire row Of build
was LEFT but charred mass, with a totter-
ing chimney here and there.
Extent of the Loss.
The losses are heavy and only partially
covered by insurance. Mr.. H. K Scrivener
lest good many household goods
The houses were owned mainly by Aitche-
son & Bro. and were valued at $4,000,
The dwelling, store and wood yard were
owned by Mr.. George JONES' and were val
ued at 5000.
In the rear were several stables, which
are also a total loss. Some contained
horses. but they were taken out before
the buildings caught fire. These stables
were valued at $500. and were partially in,
sured.
Mr.. Barney Simpsons house, 32s North
rayne street. was partially burned. but his
loss Is covered by insurance. There was
only about $4,000 insurance on Mr. Aitche-
cons houses, and their value was about
slO.OoO. 1t Is estimated that the total loss,
as stated. will reach $4,000 while the in
IS. 600 '"'' so0u'
During the fire Mr.. Edward s. Lead
Deater. who is an old fireman, and was at
one time chief of the fire department. while
removing some telephone wires from the
ROOF, caught hold of a live wire and re-
ceived severe shock. His left hand was
hadiy burned and he had to be carried to
with the exception of badly burned hand
William Simpson, a member of the Column
pia FIRE Company, was struck on the head
n hao Inn fol 1t
slightly cut.
Considering the fact that the fire depart
ment Is @ purely volunteer one and the
city has no reliable fire alarm system, the
nfemen deserve great credit for the man
er In which they confined the fire to the
space burned The fire was raging from &
O'Clock until long after last night before
1t was gotten under absolute control
Large crowds of people visited the scene
last night. and all day today the inhab-
itants OF the burned buildings could be seen
searching about for their property which
mad been saved, though damaged.
Police Court.
Acting Mayor Snowden returned from a
ten days vacation Saturday night, and pre-
sided in the mayors court this morning.
There were some twenty-odd prisoners in
the dock, and the first case called was that
of Howard Shelton. Jacob Brookes, Andrew
jackson. Roy Webb. John Washington,
Charles Parker, Charlie Tyler Howard
Mitchell and Isaac Washington, charged
with gambling. They were fined s. each.
James Drayton, charged with indecent
conduct. case continued until o'clock to-
night. Mary Harris was next called.
charged with assaulting jeff Porter. When
asked by the mayor why she had assaulted
the man she replied: 1--WE had some words
last week, and I told him / was going to
nx him. SO when saw him just smashed
MIN In the head with hatchet" She was
~ vl-oc Gr4 CD
being drunk in the street VIM Gary, who
had escaped from the chain gang. was
sent back, with ten days additional to
serve. Edward Steelyard, charged with as
saulting George King. was fined 81 30. Pat
rick Cairnes. charged with larceny, was
held for further examination.
Lively Chase.
At an early hour this morning Officer
James Griffin learned that a colored woman
named Georgianna Franks had been fight
ing with her friend. Henry Graham, on
Saturday night, so he procured a warrant
for their arrest. When he went after the
woman she saw him coming and struck out
on dead run. She got good start on the
officer, but he followed her across fields
and over fences. until they reached Four
Mile run. when the woman started to wade
or swim across. When she found she could
not do so she returned and gave herself up
to the officer, and he brought her to Alex
andrfa on local train. When Officer
Griffin arrived at the station house he had
hardly regained his breath and looked as IL
he had been through a thresang machine;
his clothes were badly torn by the barbed
wire and other fences through which he
had crawied in the wild chase. and he was
covered with mud. II am little dis
figured, but I caught my bird" was his
smiling remark to the captain when asked
about his condition.
Raided the House.
On Sunday morning. about o'clock,
while Officers Dean and Wilkinson were
walking their beat In the northeastern Sec
ton of the city they heard suspicious
noises in house adjoining Lucas Hail."
on North Henry street. On investigation
they found that gambling was going on on
the inside. With the assistance of Officers
Atkinson and Howfson they raided the
house and caught ten negro men around a
crap table. The men We're locked up, and
In the police court this morning We're fined
IS each.
A Quiet Sunday.
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