Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-05-12
DISASTROUS FIRE.

w. A. Smoot & Co.'S Planning Mill,
Office Building and Four Other
Structures Practically Destroyed
Thousands of Dollars Worth OF
Lumber and Building Material De-
stroyed---Heroic Work of Firemen.
Alexaudr added another serious dis
sstor to The fire annals of the city ABOUT
ten O'clock tnis morning when blaze
and volume OF smoke ascended quickly
from the southern end of w. A. omoot
d Co.'s planning mill, on the soatnesst
corner OF Cameron add Lee streets. Al
though an immediate alarm was sounded
aud quick response made, 10 almost
less time than it takes 10 tell 1t the huge
structure, occupying one-foortn OF the
block, was a roaring mass OF flames. Inc
heat soon became intense, 80 much that
1t was virtually impossible for the hre-
men TO remain near eoough to check the
flames. A stiff northwest wind famed
tne FIRE, and in few minutes time EN-
bers we're being waited through the air,
falling Un roofs OF buildings 10 some H.
stances as fer south as Duke street.
Ga both sides OF Cameron street huge
piles OF lumber had been placed, and
these we're soon burning furiously, while
the building material 10 the doomed
structures which was also feeding the
flames filed Cameron street, between
Lee and UOiOn, With macs OF flames
many feet high.
The flames rosred as they forged their
way into the piles of lumber on the
south side OF the square, and they, too,
were soon added TO the pyre.
The frame houses on the southeast
20 nCr Of Cameron and Lee streets were
seen TO be doomed, aud the only hope oil
the fremen WAS that the three-stofy
brick building adjoining on the south
would prove buffer and Keep the fire
iiom crossing the alley aud into the
planning mill OF Henry K Field & Co.,
10 which event the fire would doubtless
have burned all the buildings on the
river front south of Cameron street.
The fremen worked heroicslly for
about two hours to prevent this, although
at times it looked rs though their labors
would prove futile.
At times huge tongues of fame pro-
tIuded half way across the alley only to
be beaten back by STRAINS OF water from
the engines.
The mill proper vas at at this juno
ture a roaring mass OF flames, while the
blazing lumber piles were bringing the
fire nearer and nesrer to the dwellings
on the southeast corner. The frame
house on the northwest corner aud the
brick houses on the north and west OF
it demanded the attention Of the 6remen,
IS these at times caught FIRE from the
terrific heat,
As the FIRE progressed the rear por-
lions of the frame houses on the south
east corner we're blazing and doomed to
des ructioD, while the roof Of the brick
building adjoining on the sOnth wss
a6re in several places.
At this critical juncture two 6remen
assembled the pyIamidsl roof of the brick
house carrying hose with them. and
facing the hea', smoke and flying embers
fought the flames as they moved toward
them.
The flames from the lumber piles we're
in the mesotime still endesvoriDg 10
force their say across the alley, menscing
Henry K. Field & Co.'S planning mill on
the south side, but at each critical
moment when it appeared it Vss about
to accomplish its purpose, the frefghters
forced it back.
The roofs of buildings ia the rear OF
stores on the north side of King street
were at times smoking, and men were
kept on the roofs with buckets of water
engaged in extinguishing the small
blszes before they assumed dangerous
proportions.
Ia some instances rickety structures
10 the path of the FIRE we're demolished.
1t was nearly neon before it was seen
that the fire WAS under control, but it
was a long way from being extiuguished,
as a space occupying at least a square
was a mass of burning embers from
which flames still danced high, render.
ing it impossible for people to come in
close proximity Of the scene of the
disaster.
The Alexandria authorities, when they
realized that the fire was likely to over
tax the three engines of this city,
telephoned to Washington for assistance.
1t was hoped that the Flre6ghter would
\ be able 10 steam to Alexandra and aid
in preventing the spread of fsmes.
Unfortunately the steamer was out OF
commission and undergoing repairs, but
the Washington authorities made a
quick response by placing fire engines
Nos and Is with combination hose
wagon and a chemical engine on q
special Pennsylvania Railroad train with
orders to proceed to Alexandria as
quickly as possible. The apparatus was
10 charge Of Assistant Chief Sullivan,
and when the train reached Union street
the engines were placed on the wharf
at the foot OF Cameron street and We'd
with the Alexandra apparatus in sub
during the flames. Shortly before one
o'clock the Firefghter made her ap-
pearsnce of this city. The steamer
vas towed here by the U. S. tug6oat
Tecumseh. She wss Immediately
docked a, The foot of Cameron street add
soon bad four lines OF hose playing on
the fire.
A squad Of Washington policemen,
which had been seut here by Msior
Sylvester, arrived on an electric train
aud rendered material aid to the Alex
sndria officers in keeping crowds back