Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-06-03
AN EXTENSIVE CONFEDERATION.

neer Mills Mass of RuinS---Th
Most Destructive Fire Ever Know
in AlcXandria---A Desoiatc Spec
taclc.
A sorry picture was presented t.
early risers this morning. Over squar
of the river front was a mass of smold
ering ruins-impending walls anG
stacks of tottering chimpeye told tn,
story-there had been q fire and it hst
burned over a section at one time the
busiest in Alexandria's history-the
space on the Strand from Duke
to Prince street. Nothing but char
red piles were left of wharves
which in times gone by were the re-
cep'acles of shiploads of West India
sugar and molasses, and upon which
direct importations of articles from
nearly every cline had been deposited
The "big mill" as it was called, erect
ed at a cost of $50, 900, which had stood
silent monument for years to the
prosperity which at one time animated
the sections time when commission
stores were south of the mill-was no
more. What last Scptember's storm
had spared of it had been licked up by
devouring flames. What was many
years 20 Lambert & McKenzie's CON-
mercial house another interesting land
mark and reminder of better days.
had suffered like fate, as had also the
mammoth warehouses used by Fowle
& Co. when agents for the Peruviau
government and into which the merry
stevedores formerly stored direct i'm
portations from the Chincha Islands,
all relics Of better times-now seething,
smoldering debris. The building in the
olden times used by Josiah H. Davis as
plaster mill what were once
Lewis McKenzie's, Philip II. Hooff's,
Isaac Paul's, K. /. T. Wilson's, John
McCracken's and Ebenezer Bacon's
commission houses and ship chandleries
we're in ruins. These old landmarks
had been gazed upon with interest for
many years by the older residents, re-
calling "reminiscences of half century
ago Some of the buildings had in re-
cent years been used for other pur-
poses, while others bad become the
refuge of bats in the absence of human
occupants.
About half-past twelve o'clock last
night the crew of the transfer tug
Beaverton in passing Capt. Herbert
Bryant's mill, which occupies the site
upon which the late ]. E. Nevett once
had commission house and later E.
Rosenthal conducted spoke factory,
saw light in the engine room of the
mill. They thought it singular, but
one of their number suggested that
schooner consigned to Captain Bryant
had reached this port and that probably
preparations were being made to un-
load her. 1t seems that the fire had
gained considerable Roadway before
any one discovered it, and bright
light was visible before any alarm was
sounded. Police whistles and cries Of
fire soou brought numbers into the
streets, and in few minutes quite a
crowd was gathered at the foot of Duke
street. 1t was at first supposed that
the fire could be confined to the mill.
which is of brick, though the fact that
the Hydraulion engine alone was in
service and stiff southeast breeze was
prevailing caused apprehension among
the more thoughtful. The flames
gathered Roadway remarkably fast, and
before it could hardly berealized the de.
vouring element had crossed the Strand
via the tramway connecting the mill
with the frame warehouse on the west
This building is square long, and the
fire having reached it the roaring snap
ping flames bid defiance to human pow
err. The intense heat and the fresh
breeze soon brought desolation to the
brick structures on the north, the
woodwork of which burned like tin
der, and in q short time the entire
square was roaring furnace. The
whole city was illuminated by the
blaze and sparks were being waited
through the air as far az Fishtown, and
several buildings squares away were
set on fire but saved from destruction
by watchfulness and prompt attention.
The heat was intense, and soon the
Old Dominion Boat Clubs house was
emitting smoke, and it was seen that
that structure, too, was doomed.
Tongues of flame later began to pro-
trude from it which spread with great
rapidity and soon it was roaring mass
OF fire. About this time it was noticed
that flames were steadily ascending the
elevator Oh the north end of the Pioneer
Mills, but the exertions of the fire de
partment were most needed at this
time to prevent the fire from crossing
Prince street, as it seemed probable
it would do, when the entire river
front to Fishtown would doubtless be
wiped out.
The elevator at the mill was of wood
and was erected outside of the brick
work of the mill, and some thought it
would burn off and fall into the dock
It was long time being consumed,
and by the time the embers dropped
off banks of smoke were pouring from
the windows and the huge structure
afforded additional material for the
general conhagration.
1t was apparent at an early stage OF
the fire that one engine and hook
and ladder truck could not successfully
cone with the devouring element, and
during the late stages the Columbia
and the auxiliary steamer VIM. A
Smoot were brought into service. Aid
was requested from Washington, and
after the fire had ragged for three hours
the steamer Columbia of the ferry line
reached this city with steam engine
nd hose carrispes hoard. Put the fire