Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-01-14
FIRE LAST NIGHT.

Suffer Considerable BOss-Partial
Demolition of an Old Land mark
Energetic Work of Firemen Horse
Burned to Death.
Shortly after six O'Clock last night
people living in the neighborhood had
their attention attracted by smoke which
was issuing from Risheill d Sons plan
ing mill on the south side of Wilkes
street, near Royal. A crowd soon gath
cred, although no one seemed to know
exactly what to do, but an alarm had in
the meantime been sent in. By the
time the fire apparatus reached the scene
smoke had almost enveloped the build
ing and it was being gently waited by
the wind for squares away. The fire
had acquired considerable Roadway and
was raging in hay, shayings, lumber and
other infammable materials. The doors
and windows being shut and the interior
and exterior of the structure enveloped
in huge banks of smoke, it was impossi-
BILE to ascertain just where most OF the
fire was raging. Fortunately the late
prevailing northwest wind had consider
ably abated, and although huge columns
of smoke assembled skyward carrying
with them myriads of sparks, the latter
SCARED and sailed high in the air and
were mostly consumed before they could
alight on nearby buildings, although peo-
pie living contiguous to the scene suffer-
ed some apprehension before it was def
initely known that the danger to adj
joining property was over and that the
fire was under control. The engines
were put to work as soon as possible,
previous to which an attempt had been
made to save two horses which were on
the ground floor. One was brought out,
but the other persisted, probably having
been sufIocated by smoke, and later
several workmen at the mill who were
soon on the scene managed to secure
their chests of tools.
The fremen soon had four streams
playing on the building, but the flames
had made such rapid Roadway that it
was realized early that the mill was
doomed as well as part of the foundry
proper; that is that portion on the south
east corner of Wilkes and Royal streets.
Although every endeavor was made to
prevent it, the flames eventually burst
through the roof and windows of the
planning mill on every side, when
columns of fire shot upward, illuminat-
ing the southern heavens, and forming
startling but weird picture.
A line of hose was stretched to the
south of the doomed structure and tor an
hour or more steady stream of water
prevented the flames from licking their
way across to the foundry proper while
other streams playing on the north con-
centrated the fire in the brick building,
which eventually burned out.
The flames made their way to the
adjoining structure, old Jameson ma
chine shop, now the Alexandria Iron
Works, and soon the upper story of that
structure was also enveloped in flames.
Although streams of water were inces-
sanity shooting into the building, it was
apparently a long time before the fire
showed signs that it was about to be
conquered Floors had burned, rafters
been consumed and highly infammable
lumber, saturated with turpentine, banks
of shavings, wooden patterns, &C., had
burned like finder.
The fire was necessarily a stubborn
one from start to finish, but those en-
gagged in staying its progress were equal
to the occasion and worked heroically
to confne it within the bounds of the
brick structures and we're successful.
1t was after midnight before the fire.
men ceased from their labors. A large
crowd of people was attracted to the
scene, and many of them remained
until late hour.
The origin of the fire is unknown,
although there are several theories,
among them that of spontaneous COM
bustion. Some say it broke out on the
second floor over the engine room,
Others that it originated in a heap of
manure on the ground floor near the
engine room. The fact that the interior
was packed with thick smoke when the
fire was discovered rendered it impos-
sible to say with certainty where it was
first kindled.
The planning mill, in which the fire
originated, is of brick with tin roof.
1t was comparatively new, having been
built few years ago for the purposes
for which it was used. AS is well
known, the building to the west has
been an Alexandria landmark for nearly
half century, having been used as a
machine shop by the late Thomas
Jameson; later during the civil war;
by Alexander Mcdonald, and subse-
ouently by Jameson & Collins, and
Curtin & Butts who recently had it in
corporated as the alexandria Iron
Works.
The proprietors OF these industries
have the sincere sympathy of every one
in the city in the loss and discontinue
to which they have been subjected.
This is the second time during the past
twenty years that Mr.. Risbeill has had
a plant destroyed. 1t is hoped that,
phenix-like, each victim Of last nights
fire will rise superior to this setback
and that the hum of their machinery
will soon be heard again.
Risheill & Sons had 81, 200 insurance
on the machinery and material in the
planning mill. They estimate their loss
at betweens,$S, 900 and $4,000. The
buildings which are owned by the
Alexandra Iron Works, are insured as
is also the machinery, which was badly
damaged. Their policies aggregate
nearly 81, 900, but the officers of the
comnanv estimate their loss at figures