Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-08-06
THE MARKET HOUSE, LIBERTY
HALL AND MARSHAL HOUSE

F1hTIS.
Repeated Inquiries have been made
at this office as to the date of the burr-
ing of the market house, Libe :
ty Hall, and Marshal House. Iu
its account of the burning OF
the market house, nearly thr, e
columns of the Gazette were used in ills
edition of Friday, May 10, 1871. We
have only space to reproduce portion
OF that account: "At half past twelve
o'clock last night (May Is, lS1l) fire
was discovered in the frame building
ou the corner OF Royal street and mar
tet alley, occupied by George a. Hunt
ipgton as grocery and liquor store.
rne alarm was instantly sounded aud
in short time the entire fire depart
ment was on the ground aud at work,
out despite their efforts the fire sprend
rapidly aud in a short time the entire
market house with its stoepe and
WASHINGTON lodge were e vtloped il
flames and the site upon which they
stood soon presented but q mass tf
charred and blackened walls and tn .
bers. Policemen Hepburn, Walker
aud Franks passed the building in
which the fire originated after II
o'clock on their rounds and at thai
time everything was quiet After they
separated the first named officer went
to the station house where ne stayed 8
few minutes. Ga coming down stairs
he smelled fire. and on looking up the
alley saw smoke issuing from the neigh
borhood above mentioned. He at once
ran in that direction, and ascertainipg
that the fire was in the store Of Mr..
Huntington, burst open the door.
de looked around for some meth
cd of attempting TO extinguish
the fire bat saw none. In a
few minutes from the time he en-
flames. At 5 o'clock Chief Engineer
Holmes, with his carriage, the Colum-
bia and South Washington steam fire
engine companies, with the hose car
risges and the metropolitan Hook and
Ladder Co. had arrived here on the
steamer City of Alexandra, and were
hard at work. On account OF the search
ty of water one of The Washington
steamers was stationed at the wharf al
the foot OF Cameron street and forced
water from the river into the other, sta
toned at the scene OF the fire, by which it
was thrown with effect upon the flames.
The Wgshingtonians were Hospitality
entertained and returned home on the
seven o'clock boat this morning. The
assistance they rendered was valuable. "
From the Gazette Monday, June a,
1872:
"The old landmarks of the city are
slowly but surely disappearing. A
wear and q month ago the old market
house was destroyed, and now it is
the reporters mournfu province to
chronicle the destruction of the
old Alexandrian theatre, more re-.
Gently known as Liberty Hall, around
which cIuug many revered memories.
About half-past eleven O'Clock last Sa :
urday night, while many persons were
vet on the streets, smoke was seen is
suing from the burnt building, aud the
alarm being sounded the fire depart
ment was speedily on the ground and
at work. &c. The fire. it is supposed, ],
was the work of sn incendiary, though
there is no clue by which the criminal
can be detected. Messrs. Geo. K. ShinD
and James p. Coleman, who were
among the first to discover the lire, saw
a light in the basement Of the building.
In response to q telegram for assistance
steam fire engines No. and No. > and
tho NIatroDoliten Hook and Ladder
Company. of Washington, arrived here
on the ferry boat City of Washington,
but too late to go into service
1t is generally stated that the Mar
shall House fire occurred on February
22nd. one falling into the error by rea-
son of the ball of the Hydrau'ion com
pauy. which occurred on the night OF
the Ere, which was Monday, February
24th, 1873 The account OF the parade
of Saturday, February 22nd, 1873, is
published in the Gazette in its edition
of Monday, the Oath, and one can judge
of its completeness when six compact
columns OF the Gazette was devoted TO
describing the events of the day. OF
the burning of the Marshall House in
its locals Tuesday, February %, 1873,
| Ia column article it says;
One by one the old land marks OF Al,
exandria are disappearing at the fell
touch of the incendiary's torch-the
Marshall Housa-the house made ever
memorable by the death of E lsworth,
shot by Jackson OF the commencement
of the civil war for tearing. down the
Confederate flag that was flying over 1T,
and by the blood OF J ckson' shed
while I defending bis own property.
The flames were discovered st aooul
tweive O'Clock last night by Officers
Jones and Christopher Lyles' who were m
walking down King street at that llme' m
and who Instantly sounded the alarm m
The fire department was speedily OF Oh
the ground, the steamer Columbia De. @
ing little behind time, in conse quence
of having been misled by one Of a, tns
alarm bells which struck the ,l IDlrn
ward. The steamer Hydraulion tooh
position at the intersection OF hlng
and Pitt streets, and the Columbia a. n
Pitt and Prince streets and soon sucl
an avalanche of water was thrown