Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-11-20
FIRE AT THE OVERALL FAoro

FIRE AT THE OVERALL FACTORY
About hslf-Dsst seven O'CLOCK last
night the prolonged blowing OF steam
whistle which seemed TO be on the river
front attracted attention. After blow
Ing steadily for over minute 1t emitted
q series OF short blasts, indicative oil
alarm, The telephone 10 the station
house was ringing at the same time and
10 less time than it takes to tell 1t az
alarm had spread all over the city to
the effect that the Globe Flour Mills
were burning. This was, ho~sver,
soon shown to be mlstake. Wolfe
Mr.. Peter Lawrence. the head miller o.
the Globe Flour Mills, had dis oVereo
the FIRE aud blown the whistle at Che
mills. that property was not burDiog,onI
h,mes were ascending from the east end
ofMr.J. ZInmerma0's overall factory,
on the south side of the dock ct the foot
of Queen street.. There we're many peo-
ple 10 the streets at the time, and In few
minutes time oumberless persons were
hacked on Uoion and Queen street.
The FIRE department was with the ad-
vance guard aud lost no tim 10 getting
to work. The fire was in the extrems
eastern end OF the building and near
the able, and by the time the bremen
cot 10 work tongues OF flame were
protrudiDg through the upper floor and
elevator shaft, while overalls and raw
materials we're burning like finder.
Tbs eastern end of the building was foil
of smoke aud for q time it was impos-
IN
some subsequently were enabled 10 90
40 they we're forced to retire to escape
suff ,catiou. Powerful streams OF water
were deluainS the iutefior OF the build
loo. and their effect was soon manifrs'
Ladders we're placsd Gainst the walls
OF the burning building, and the ire
men gained entrance by meas OF the
windows. Everything that could be
saved was taken out, including al the
books OF the factory. The third hoor
was very little damaged. Iu the rear
OF be building is the stable, where are
ouartered the horses of Mr.. Zimm er-
mans coal yard. This ia one story
frame affair, With q loft. AS soon as 1t
was learned that the building was on
fire one of the employees OF the factory
turned the horses, eight 10 NUMBER,
out. The stable was very little
damaged. The factory which Is OF
brick and two and one'half stories
high, still remains intact, but the STOCK
and machinery are completely ruined.
The loss. covered by insurance, as far
as can be estimsted. will reach the sum
of e6 900. The origin OF the fire Is IN.
known, Some say that 1t started
simultaneously at the east end OF the
building, and 10 the factory, at that
end, while others cay that the nre
started from the outside of the build
ing. nc the east end, where there were
a nun Der of boxes. There was reason to
believe some people were bent on
pillsQing, and several policemen
we're kept busy watching those who
seemed to want to steal. One man
was arrested 90 he was leaving the
building With the bosom Of his shirt
stuffed with overalls. Officer Davis
noticed boat pulling of in the dark
ness and ordered the occupants to re-
turn and submit to an examination.
They failed to obey the summons
promptly and the officer fred hi' re-
yolyer. which had the desired effect,
but the men proved TO be sailors from
q schooner anchored Ia the stream and
had merely rowed to the wharf to wit
ness the progress OF the Ere. Among
the first to arrive at the factory sf.er
the alarm was sounded were several
boys who were employed there. With
rare forethought they made their way
through the binding smoke to the
Office and brought out all Of the books
and papers Of the drm. The 2 MINER
man factory began operations 10 the
early spriog under suspicious circum.
stances, aud at the tins Of the IRE had
more orders on hand than could I've
filed. Sixty-Ave hands were employed
MIR. Zimmerman will Immediately
secure a suitable building and resume
the maDufactnre OF overslls. 10 the
mes time The present building will he
repaired and placed In better condl-
ton for his purposes than 1t was before
the fire. Orders for the manufactured
articles are still Increasing, one for
large amount from o Northern firm
having come 10 this morning. 10
short time everything will again be In
running order.
SHE HAD "A 81 900 BILL.-Ruth Jones
= i'll HI nj 10