Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-21

1857. fire occurred In Georgetown. caus-
ing the destruction Of sew
Fire In eral dwelling houses The
GEORGETOWN fire started in the house
of Mrs. Magruder. mother
of the mayor of Washington on the south
side of West street. An adjoining build
ing was also ignted and both were con-
sumed Blazing shingles carried the names
across the square to the residence OF Com
modore Cassen. which was. soon burned to
the ground The property destroyed was
valued at from $lS.0W to $4,000 The
Washington fire department Joined the
Georgetown companies and rendered Eeo-
man service in combining the flames to the
buildings that have been named IN the
George town correspondence of The Star,
printed April 16, 1857, is the following
acinON ledgment:
THE conduct of your Washington fire.
men. IL their prompt appearance on the
ground and activity in trying to stay the
devouring element, will long be REM "A
ed by our citizens. After all danger was
past the firemen Of your city were taken py
our citizens to the hotels of Mr VIM.
Hazel and MIS-. S. Lang and to Forrest
Hall and supplied with refreshments. Inc
very best feeling appeared to exist among
the firemen during the entire time they
were together
Ii is to be hoped that there was no con-
nection between the refreshments served IN
Georgetown and the failure of the local
fremsn during the night TO save the total
destruction of four buildings on street
between 18th and 18th streets. .
In TIE Star of April II, 1891. is the fol-
lowing account of an incident OF the &c rye
iowa fire which indicates thai tie
Brave yourg women of half century ago
Girl. were piucky:
We understand that VIII lie the
fire was raging on Wednesday, afternoon
several !rdiv idtials representing themselves
as Gremen insisted upon entering the dwelt-
ing of respected clergy man situated IN
the same block as the burning buildings
The articles in the house having been pre-
pared for removal by the family. IT was
not considered advisable to admit strangers
and a young daughter of the minister TOOK
her position at the front door and gave
the parties notice that they would not De
allowed to enter. Previous to taking hef
stand. while packing up, servant aus
covcre d revolver in a bureau drawer. ana
for fear of accident handed it to the young
lady who deposited it in her dress pocket
for safety L pom her arrival at the front
door the parties, not satisfied with her
refusal signified their intention. in rough,
ruWdyish manner. to enter. when, as d
last resource assured that everything de-
pended upon her determination the little
heroine stepping back, presented the re-
volver and Informed her uEcouth VISITORS
that the first man that attempted to pass
her would be dead man.. 1t Is needless
10 say that the individuals retired. The
weapon in question was purchased some
years since by the reverend gentleman ioI
seif-preserN aiicn IN q foreign iano' ana
since his return has been laid aside-un-
loaded
The many Instruments used by odd
Probs'' in his measurement of the weather
factors are practically all of
Wind modern invention. Half a CEN
Gauoa tury ago the thermometer and
barometer both Of compare
tiyaIy simple style We're almost all he had
to aid him in his forecas,ing. In The Star
of Arril II. 1857, is news paragraph
which indicates that his equipment was
then expanding somewhat:
IN passing the Smithsonian Institution
Yesterday we noticed a new erection Oh
the top of one of the southern towers of
the buildings. and upon inquiring ascer-
tanned that it is an thermometer, a
machine for recording the direction and
velocity OF the wind. The record is made
bv a pencil moved by ciockwork on a sheet
of paper This particular instrument Is the
invention of Mr.. Osler of England. ana
constructed Ter tne oiltlIStHidu
stitution under the direction of DR.. Small
woe of Montreal. Among the meteoroiogi-
cal objects of interest at the Smithsonian
Inst tuition is a large barometer. in which
the place of mercury is supplied oy SUI
phuric acid. On account of the compare
tive lightness of this liquid the range or
motion is very much increased; SO much
so that the changes in the atmosphere may
be noticed almost from moment to moment,
particularly during storm.
WASHINGTON lacked a large place of pub
lie assemhlage in the sos. even as today it
seriously needs a convenient hall
Public for the accommodation of con-
Need ventions and the inaugural bali. In
The Star of April 49, 1857, is a
news paragraph which touches upon this
| point:
AN adjourned meeting of the board of
directors of the Metropolitan Mechanics
| Institute was held last night at the alder
| mems room, City Hall. The meeting was
| large and enthusiastic a great many new
| members being present-Mr. G. p. Wannall
fourth vice president. in the chair. There
was considerable discussion with regard to
a proper building for the annual exhibitions
! of the institute. The committee who had
been appointed to report plan for this
|
| as practicable. and 1t is supposed that they
| will be able to do so by the next meeting
| night. Mr. Il. Z. Walter. the new president
| of the institute who is out of town at
present Is understood to have drawn a
| plan which it is believed, will be adopted
| by the committee. The plan embraced a
| new market house on the site Of the present
| Center market. with a large hall in the
| second story for the purposes of the inst!-
| tute If the corporation would take the
| matter up and build the first story. no
| doubt the institute would finish the build
| ing by forming a joint stock company,
| which could easily be done; ard thus the
| citizens would have, In place of the In
| sufficient. unsightly building now used,
! comfort BILE as well as ornamental mar
| ket house and the institute. without the
| great expense involved every year In the
| construction of temporary building, have
I a large and comfortable hall. which would
| be place of resort for our citizens.
PEACE.