Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-26
YEARS AGO
IN THE STAR

In this column last week was printed an
extract from The Stars account Of the fatal
Alexandria fire. Suspicion Of
A1e1anorla an incendiary cause ran so
Fire. high that an Investigation
into the circumstances fol-
lowed. The Star OF Monday, November
10. 1855. contained the following aoesunf Of
the action Of the local authorities:
In the afternoon (Safurday) the mayor
called together q number OF our most ac-
tive fremen and others and commenced an
investigation. The proceedings were strict
ly private. and after q sort session the
matter was adjourned over until this morn
ing: OF course we do not know what trans
pfred in the investigation, but the evidence
before the community lie that Immediately
upon discovery of the flames the watch
tried in vain to effect an entrance on either
the front or back; upon the back door being
broken open 1t was discovered the fire had
Deem kindled in the third story and con-
neetions made between the straw-filled
crates with gunpowder and camphened
wfck-camphened wick wrapped around the
crates; and in some cases interviewer In
the lattice work. Further evidence exhib-
its that while the firemen were engaged in
the upper story the cellar was fired; that
the freproof building of the establishment
entirely separated from 1t by thirty-foot
public alley-was found to be smoking; all
its lower entrances were tried and found
fast; the door being broken open, the stair
OF this building was seen to be on fire; that
insurance had been effected In various COM
panaes to the amount OF $4,000. which it is
said Is far above the value Of stock. This
evidence has. been deemed by many suff1-
ctent for suspicion, but no legal charge has
been made and public opinion is now too
much excited to justify an accurate judg-
ment in the case
The elder theater-goers OF today will per-
haps remember the performances of the
fifties Of the last century,
Wallaeks and the following paragraph
Acting. from The Star Of November
20, 1856, may provoke direct
"reminiscences Of the occasion mentioned:
The National Theater last evening was
well filled with a very fashionable and
highly intelligent audience. who greeted
the distinguished tragedians. ]. w. WAL
lack and Mrs. Malinda Jones, with unmis-
taxable manifestations of their high APP
probation of the manner in which they rem
dered the text Of Shakespeare in their re-
spectfve parts of Macbeth and Lady Mac
beth. Nothing can be more difficult in q
hfstriontc way than to satisfy such an audi
ence in great play. Those who do SO may
1airiy be written down as having assembled
to the top-round of the theatrical artists
professional ladder Mr.. Wallack is lust
now In the full vigor of manhood, and has
evidently improved step by step in his
twenty years professional experience, until
he has fairly become the very first (generan
tragedfan in America at this time. There
are American pieces and one or two others
in which Forrest may excel him. but In
classic-Sha kespearian-dra Kean only
has been his superior on this side Of the
Atlantic. This was the first occasion on
which it was ever our good fortune to see
Mrs. Malinda Jones on the stage, and we
rejoice that 1t was our good fortune to see
her Lady Macbeth. in which she, too, excels
day evening next they play the tragedy
OF Werner. which is said to be the master
piece of Mr. Wallack AS such it cannot
fail to fill the house from parquet to cell
ing"
The destruction of a fire engine house is
always to be regarded as one OF the anon
allies Of life. Such an oc-
Engine House casion is recorded In The
Burned. Star of November %. 1855,
IN part, as follows
This morning at IL O'clock smoke was
seen issuing from the caves lin the rear) Of
the roof of the Perseverance Engine House,
and on several men, who were engaged
in sweeping out the market house, break
ing open the back door, they discovered
the premises in flames. An alarm was in
stantly given and soon the apparatus was
removed beyond the reach Of danger. A
few taps only were given on the bell, the
burning and partially destroyed rope-pulls
preventing the ringing Of that monitor. sss
The Metropolitan Hook and Ladder Com
pany were promptly on the ground. and, to-
gether with their brethren connected with
the engine organization. went manfully to
work. But there did not seem to be O.
plentiful supply OF water; at all events It
was not thrown upon the building in time
to prevent the spreading Of the flames
which. extending to the steeple, occasioned
much solcitude for the fate of the bell
That was the point. therefore, to which
many eyes were directed. At last
the bell was burnt from its fastenings and
1t fell outside of the engine house and near
ly to the front gutter, not being injured
apparently by its contact with the earth
struction of all the interior woodwork and
the roof. besides injury to the walls
The "know-nothing'' party was still active
in local as well as national politics and
members Of that organ
Know-Nothing ization paraded through
Parade. Washington and George
town on the night of Mo-
vember IS. 1855. as thus described in The
Star Of the next day;
THE know-nething procession last night
caused not a little stir in. this city. The
streets were thus rendered more than
usually lively, many men. women and chill
dren being abroad to witness the display
From four to six hundred Baltimoreans,
coming hfther in a special train of cars for
that purpose, swelled the ranks OF the Dis
trict of Columbia jubilants. bringing with
them transparencies and a band of music
There were but few torches in the process
sion, the light OF the full moon. probably,
causing the participants to dispense with
flambeaux. Many transparencies. however
with devices and notices were borne above
the heads of those who composed the NOV
ing mass OF human beings. Bands OF mu-
sic enlivened the proceedings, while occa-
eionally huzzas and cheers for Sam varied
the performances. In addition there were
discharges Of cannon and the explosion OF
rockets. All who took part in the process
sion seemed to have merry time. Bon
fires were flaming In various parts Of the
city and here and there was an illuminated
dwelling. The program comprised eight
miles of marching, but whether or not the
entire distance was travelled we don't
know"