Evening star., 1896-10-19
ALEXANDRIA AFFAIRS
Further Details Of Last Nights DISASTROUS
- Fire. = =
Clearing Away the Wreck - Coming
Piedmont COnvocation - Electric
Railroad once Robbed-Notes.

eastern section, of the city, he heard cries
of "F1rer' "F1re! Fastening to where he
thought the sound came from he found
that 1t was the night watchman at the
works of the Alexandria Fertilizer Chemi-
cal Company. located on both sides of
South Princess street, at its intersection
with Union street. Officer knight hastened
to the gas works, from which place he
turned in an alarm, and: the fire department
responded quickly, though there was but
one eugine-the Columbia-in: service, the
Hydraulion being held up for repairs"
Streams were gotten into play and the
names fought heroically, but the high wind
Glowing at the time made It almost impos--
'sfble to do anything with the raging fire
further than to keep 1t from the gas works,
which were Immediately adjoining the
burning buildings.
It's Origin.
From what could be learned from those
first on the scene the fire originated in
the southwest corner of the large frame
storage warehouse on Princess street,
which was separated from the Office by
an alley and ran back to q large brick
warehouse known as the 'distillery,' and
is supposed to have been of an incendiary
origin, inasmuch as there was no apparent
reason for the fire starting. The foreman
told The Star man that that corner had
been recently cleaned out and there was
nothing in it.
There have been many small fires of an
incehdiary origin in this section of the
town lately, and 1t is believed that this
is but another Of the same kind, as alb
soluteiy no other reason can be assigned
for its starting.
The fire spread quickly toward the river
and as all the buildings were Of frame the
whole block was soon seething mass of
flames, leaping and jumping from place
to place at a furious rate. Soon they
q
freight tracks Of the Southern Railway
Company run. and on which were q num-
Der of freight cars standing Those caught
despite the efforts Of the firemen, and soon
from the cars the fire caught the large
frame warehouse Of W:n. A. Smoot 4 Co.,
from which 1t was cal ried by the wind to
Fish town." adjoining. which was COM
pletely wiped out, only one small frame
shanty standing to mark what was once
the pride of fishermen" and a famous
landmark.
The Columbia fire engine was working
hard, but. unfortunately. one of the cylin-
der heads was blown out, and she had to
be shut down and plug streams put into
play. This being very low point, the fall
from the reservoir gave the water consider
able force. The steamer VIM. A. Smoot,
which belongs to private parties, was sent
for and put into service.
Some Explosions.
During the progress of the destruction of
the warehouses of Smoot & Co. and the
fertilizer company explosions as IL Of dyna-
mite shook and startled the city. 1t was
thought that these were caused by the exs
plosion Of oil tanks on the railway, but
these were not in the track of the flames
This was found to be, however. caused by
tanks Of nitrate of soda exploding.
While the damage to the fertilizer COM
pany is great 1t Is in the main covered by
insurance. Mr.. John p. Robinson. president
ard manager of the company, said: I'VE
are unable, of course, at this time to esti-
mate our loss. but it is quite large, though
partially covered by insurance. The fact
Is he said, Il haven't had time to think
about what the loss is"
The company will lose largely on account
of not being able to run and fill orders their
supplies and ingredients having been great
ly damaged. and, Of course, none of this
can be touched until the loss is adjusted by
the Insurance companies. Mr.. George s.
French, secretary Of the company, express
ed pretty much the same opinion.
Ihe onice OF the company did not CATCH
paratus were saved unhurt 1t is remark
able beyond expression that the city gas
works, Immediately adjoining the burning
buildings. did not catch fire or blow up
were kept playing on the gas tanks ali
night. and ir this way they were kept. to a
certain extent, cool.
The southern wires of the Postal Cable
Union street, were all knocked down. the
names burning many of the poles.
The Losses.
The loss of the Southern Railway Com.
pany on account of burned cars will amount
to 5000, which is covered by Insurance :,
The Alexandria Fertilizer and Chemical
Company and VIM. A. Smoot & Co. will
amount to $4,000, partially covered by In
surance.
j. Mathews, fish merchant, seventy bar
rels of roe herring and seventy-five empty
'hogsheads; insurance, 800
Mrs. Knight, building, valued at 5000:
500 insurance.
VIM. Javins, fish merchant, 800; no in
surance.
James Humbleton. fish merchant, $500.
Theo. Ballenger, fish merchant 1900
Hickman Bitter, fish merchants $500
Charles King & Sons. car load of $50 bar
rels of -four
F. 8. Harter, car load of oil.
Cotton Seed Oil Company, one tank oil.
Joseph Smith, while trying to get a boat
out Of one of the burning buildings was
quite badly burned.
The flames were gotten under control
streams were kept playing on the smolder-
ing ruins until a later hour.
The railroad company had q large gang
of men at work cleaning up the tracks and
removing the cars that were destroyed by
fire..
The Alexandria Fire Department, which
is purely volunteer enc, with the excep-
ton of the drivers and engineers, did its
usual gallant service: but q department
many times larger would have been unable
to cope with the flames, and the little Co.
lumbia engine, which, by the way, has won
first prize in interstate contests for the
past four years, did effective service until
the cylinder was blown out.
Piedmont COnvOcatiOn.
convocation Of the Protestant Episcopal
Church will be held in Christ Church
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of this
week. A large number of clergymen are
expected to be present and the daily serv-
ices will be largely attended. The follow
ing is the program: Tuesday-11 am. serv-
ice and sermon by Rev. r. X. Massie of
Fauquier: $3.50 p.m., business meeting of
convocation; 1880 pm, brotherhood service
and sermon by Rev. F. w. Clampett of
Baltimore. Wednesday-7:3O am, quiet
hour service, conducted by Rev. G. w.
Nelson Of Warrenton: II am, service and
holy communion, and convocation sermon
by Rev. g. o. Mead Of Fauquier; $3.50 D.
M, business meeting and reading Of essay
on the Work Of the Holy Spirit" by Rev.
c. E. Ball Of Alexandria; 80 pm, service
and sermon by Rev. E. L. Goodwin of Gull
peper C. H. Thursday-9:30 Am, business