Evening star., 1899-03-06
AFFAIRS IN ALEXANDRIA
Fire Partially Destroys Building Occupied
by the Southern Railway Company.
Damage to Structure Estimated to BE
Between 81 1000 and II $780,
Loss Of Records.
Evening Star Bureau,
No. 721 King St.

ALEXANDRIA, Va, March @, 1899.
Fire broke out at $50 O'Clock this morn
ing in the large building corner of Fairfax
and Oronoco streets, which is used as the
Alexandria freight office for the Southern
railroad. including the mailing room and
ticket office of the Round Hill division. For
more than two hours the flames obstinately
resisted the efforts of the fire department,
| and were finally controlled only by the most
extraordinary exertions.
When the firemen arrived they were con-
fronted with serious difficulty in reaching
the flames, which were smoldering high up
under a curiously constructed roof of diff
ferent layers of slate and tin, and cut up
into many gables and valleys. The first eff
forts were directed from the ground. The
hose was then carried inside and up into
the second story. This position was aban-
doned for an attempt to scale the roof:
Several firemen were at one time cut Off
from exit by a cloud of Sunocating smoke.
From two opposite windows they appeared
and called for help, and ladders were
speedily run up to their rescue.
Worked From the Roof.
Long ladders were then stretched to the
roof, which was forty-five or fifty feet
from the ground. and soon the fremen
were scrambling over gables, dragging the
long hose after them. 1t was found eX-
ceedingly difficult to cut away the heavy
layers of slate and tin, but a manhole was
finally opened and then the flames were
reached. A hole was also cut through the
brick wall in the apex of gable, up to
which ladder was placed and hose
stream directed under the roof. During
these operations clerks and firemen were
busily engaged in removing to place of
safety such of the records and furniture
as could be secured. About IL o'clock the
Ia ct pYtipp11Shad the old build
ing presenting a scene of desolation.
Chief Petty was present and lent his as
sistance to Acting Chief r. E. Gronan.
Damage Not Heavy.
The value of the building, which is
large, two-story, old-fashioned brick struc-
ture, is estimated at $1,000 partly covered
by insurance. 1t contained papers and
records of the company covering business
of the past ten years. Many of these were
| utterly destroyed, and this perhaps consti-
tuted the most embarrassing loss. Employees
! of the company variously estimated the
damage to the building at from $1,000 to
| 81 500, but this, it is said, is very low
| figure. The books and records saved were
removed tc a building nearby, where busi-
ness will be continued until the old office
can be repaired. The fire started above the
| claim room, It is supposed, from a defec
| tive flue.
Smallpox on the Decrease.
| Only one additional case of smallpox has
! been reported to the health department
| since Saturday afternoon. The new patient
| was found in the family of Philip Williams
colored, living at No. 1923 Duke street. The
premises were put under the usual quar-
antine.
Since Saturday several convalescent pa
| tients have been released from quarantine
and their premises fumigated. They are
| as follows: Sallie Francis, No. 81 North
Alfred street; Enoch Brown, No. 424 North
| Patrick street: John Clarke, No 219 Com
| merce street; Joseph Petit, No. 115 South
| Payne street; John Haskins, No. 515 North
| Pitt street; Lucy Elven, No. 633 North Pitt
| street; Belle Carter, No. 513 North Pitt
| street; Arthur Lee, No 1915 Wythe street;
| Sallie Timbers No 632 South Washington
street. and Albert Perry, No. go North
| Patrick street. All excepting Petit and
Perry are colOred.
l. Mayor Simpson gives it as his opinion
| that the mild disease is rapidly dying out
The epidemic had been narrowed down, he
| thought to less than fifty houses, contain
( ing perhaps an average of three patients
There are at present but few white people
suffering from the disease in Alexandria.
F"Iice Court Proceedings.
Mayor Simpson this morning disposed of
| the following cases in the police court:
Berry jones' charged with fast and care
| less driving, was dismissed.
Annie Branton and Annie Lee, charged
with fighting and disordery conduct, were
assessed 81 each.
Mandy Jones, charged with disorderly
conduct was dismissed.
The case of Lewis Darlington, colored.
charged with assaultng Matilda PondeX
ter, was continued