Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-05-13
THURSDAY EVENING. MAY 10, 1909.

the subject Of conversation among many
in this CITY, and the heroic work OF the
FIRE department is justly commended
by all. Staying the spread of flames
which we're licking up iuAammable
material on a area of half square and
which was rapidly forging toward the men
IS a prairie fire famed by northwest
wind, was sn object lesson to thousands
who watched the uDtiriug exertions OF
the members of the department and
citizens generally. Strangers who were
In the city yesterday and witnessed the
devastation were loud 10 their praises OF
of the Alexsndrisns. Ia connection
with the above the prompt response OF
the Washington authorities in sending
their FIRE steamer, engines, fremen and
q squad Of police to this city bias further
csmented the good feeling which has here
tofofe existed between Alexsndrlsns AND
peopIe of the capital city. Az soon as
the reouest for aid reached Washington
Commissioner Macfsrlsnd directed Chief
Wagner of the fire department to render
all assistance necessary. AS the hrebosl
Fire6ghter was on the ways at the navy
ward receiving repairs, engine COM
pspies 4 and IS were directed to proceed
IN Alexandria at once, under command
otDeputy Chief Sullivan and Machinist
Robinson. Cspt. McLane, of No. Is,
and Capt. Brown, of No. 4, each tool
twelve men to operate their engines auo
hose carriages. Within four minutes
after the arrival of the Washington sp.
partus Chief Sullivan had eight streams
Of water playing on the fire. Later The
Fire6ghter was run off the ways. and
the crew ordered to hurry with her tc
Alexandria. As 1t would take SOM
time to get up steam on the 6rebost,
Rear Admiral Leutze, ,comWandaDt al
the yard, ordered the naval tugboat,
Tecumseh to tow the boat to Alexan'
dria. Steam was gotten up on the way
down. and within a minute after she had
been tied to the wharf of the Mutual lee
Company, Capt. Stulz had four add.
tional streams of water working. Capt.
Sutton, commander Of the harbOr police,
took six men to Alexandria on the po'
lice boat Sylvester to help Chief Goods
men. The men of the two engine COM
pauies worked until the. fire was prsct-
cslly extinguished, returning to Wash
iugton about 7 o'clock, but the 6rebost
continued eight until after So'clOcE
when she left amid the cheers OF
mauy Alexandrisus on the wharf.
The action of the chiefs of the depart
ment in Washington and the command
ant Of the navy yard in allowing Alex
andrisns employed at those places to re-
turn to their homes when 1t was reported
that their city was burning, wSs thought
ful aud kind aud, as it should be, is ap-
pracisted. The fire which was one Of the
fiercest ever seen in Alexandria, and
which at times assumed alarming proper
tons, was by no means as serious loss
financially IS has been stated in out-of-
town papers. The Gszstte's estimate
Yesterday needs little revision, aud the
bulk of the loss Is covered by insurance.
As is known, most of the loss and incon.
venience to business occasioned by the
FIRE are sustained by W. A. SmoOt q
o., and this is the third time within
the psst fourteen years the head Of the
firm has had to gaze upon smoldering
embers and blackeued walls, the rem
nauts Of years of toll. As on the other
occasions, he has the sincere sympathy
OF his many friends, who reslize that be
will soon by bis industry and indomi-
table will rise superior to the last tempo
rary setback The people of Alexandra
have not forgotten bis noble action dur
log the coal famine q few years ago when
he refused tempting offer by dealers of
another city by which he could have
realized thousands of dollars, but con.
tiuued to sell his stock at old prices to
Alexandrisus, although coal bad doubled
In value. The late James r. SmoOt,
long head Of the mill aud lumber bust
ness, manifested an equally open. hearted
nature the morning after the cyclone Of
1895 when the price of roofing materials !
took q sharp rise. He was offered con-
siderable advance on his stock by Wash |
ingtOn dealers, which he refused aud
ordered his manager to continue to sell |
the msterial al former prices, aUd to let |
unfortunate Alexandrisns who bad no |
mOueY bat whose property bad been |
damaged have enough for their wants on |
credit.
As STATED yesterday the Oonsolids.
ton Cosl Company, Of Baltimore, that
day announced that q deal had been |