Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-01-17
A ANNIVERSARY OF GREAT FIRE.
Forty Buildings Destroyed In It's
Path from Royal Str ct to the Potc-
mac-Ioss 100000.

Path from kOyai SiF CT 10 thc W.
mac-Loss 100000.
On Thursday, January Is, 1877
seventy-six years ago-occurred the most
destructive confagration in the history
of Alexandria. Shortly before O'Clock
on the morning of that day fire originating
in Green's cabinet factory, which stood
on the site now occupied by the Hotel
Fleischmann, communicated to the adj
Joining houses, and, famed by brisk
northwest wind, spread rapidly in
southeasterly direction destroying nearly
all the buildings in its path to the river.
The day was bitterly cold-the mercury
in the thermometer registering 130-but
cold as the weather was the firemen and
citizens turned out with alacrity to the
assistance of their neighbors. AS an
auxiliary to the fire department
"bucket brigade" was quickly organized,
the line extending up Prince street from
the river, and buckets of water were
passed from hand to hand to points
where most needed. Among the most
energetic helpers in line were many
Young women who rendered effective
service.
The Alexandria fire department at
that period consisted of the Friendship,
Sun and Relief engine and hose COM
panies-a force totally inadequate to
cope with fire of that magnitude, and
Mayor Roberts realizing that fact called
on the authorities of Washington and
Georgetown for assistance. When the
message reached the Mayor of Washing
ton he at once ordered out two fire COM
panies with their engines and hose and
shortly afterward two more engines were
added to the assisting force. The
Georgetown fremen also came down
over the turnpike, bringing their engine,
and rendered valuable service. All the
marines at the Washington barracks
we're also ordered here and brought an
engine with them, and though they did
not arrive until the fire was under con-
troll, they afforded important service as
guards.
The first succor arrived in this city
about II o'clock, and was followed by
successive supplies. The Alexandrians
exhausted by fatigue and anxiety, well
coined relief from that quarter as almost
providential. The engines having the
river for the source furnished copious
supplies of water and though the
streams descended in the form of ice
and seet, mantling the firemen in icy
garments, but one of the engines was so
frozen during the day as to be disabled.
The fire commenced on the east side
of Royal street between King and Prince
streets and extended to Fairfax; thence
down Prince to Union street. The
number of houses destroyed, besides
back buildings, was about forty, and
the value of the houses and goods des-
troyed was estimated at 5000, 900. The
Fire Insurance Company of Alexandria
was a considerable loser by the fire
The principal sufferers by the loss OF
were Mr.. Hill, Mr.. Brochus,
Mr.. Dodds, Mr. Harper, Mr.. johnson,
Mr.. Rumney, Mr. Reed, Mr.. Murphy, |
Mr.. Hepburn, Messrs. G. and j. 7.
Thompson, Miss Wilson, estate of P.
G.. Marsteller, John G. May, Mr..
Howell, Mr.. Nightingale, Isabel Howard |
and several others. The Office of the |
Alexandria Gazette, then located on
Fairfax street, was in such danger,
though the building escaped, that the
material was all hastily removed and |
the paper in, consequence, missed three
daily issues. During the progress OF
the fire refreshments were most literally
distributed by the people of Alexandria |
to their visitors and great deal of hospi- |
tality and good will were displayed.
Congress appropriated $40, 900 for
the relief of the Alexandrians.