Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-12-15
FIRE LAST NIGHT.

Shortly before 3 O'CLOCK Ihst o'Bus
an alarm of Gre was sounded and al
moss simultsueous With the departure
OF The spas ius from the houses tne
southeastern heavens became illuminated
lrom q blaze which suddenly shot up
vsrd from the frame building at the
shjo1ard which is used By the National
Electric Supply Company.
The fire had been discovered BY some
nsople who we're in The Delghborhood
at the time, and 1t Is thought that II
an entrance could have been Effected
into the building, possibly 1t could have
been extiDguished before any mstsrial
damage resulted. The doors, however,
could not be forced, nor could any one
get 10 the telephone In the office OF the
shipyard. Men ran to houses In the
peighborhood and used the telephones
to sound an alarm. The fire within the
bulldog was about to burst forth, and
BY the time tbs department reached the
scene. which was soon accomplished, the
structure was almost mass OF flame,
Illuminating the entire southeastern Sec
ton OF the city.
The firemen worked assiduously but
the FIRE was 90 fax advanced that it was
impossible to save the building nor the
one adjoining on the south which was
also destroyed. The boiler room ad-
joining the burned structures on the west
was saved.
There was for time some anxiety
for the Virginia police steamer Aceomsc
which was on the ways but short
distance south OF the pin factory, but
az the little wind that wss prevailing
was from the southeast, the fire was
kept OF safe distance from the steamer,
and the railways and railway build
log. The buildings destroyed we're
stocked with machinery, manufactured
locust pins, cross beams and lnm-
Der, and Il was apparent that the
structures and contents we're doomed.
Tons of water we're thrown on the hte,
mt the banks OF inHammsble material
burned throughout the entire night,
while huge clouds Of smoke we're pour
log from The ruins this morning, causing
apprehension and rendering 1t necessary
to send the Relief Hook and Ladder
truck to the scene In order that what re-
msined of the buildings could be pulled
down spd the bsuks Of Goals ex!iuguished
The Columbia engine remained at the
scene all night and during today.
The buildings we're owned by the Ma
riue Railway and Shipbuiding Company
of which Mr.. Park AgneW Is president,
and were leased to the National Electrl'
cal Supply Company, q Washington
corporation, of which E. g. Graham Is
president. The buildings and contents
were Insured.
Two of the 6remen-John Webster
and a young man named Wnestloy-
we're overcome by smoke while at WORK
in attempts to subdue the fire.
Mrs. r. E. Grover furnished hot coffee
| to the 6remen at times during the night
and nearly all day.
| This lie the third FIRE that hss occurred
| 10 the shipysrd during the past twenty
wears. The 6rst destroyed the engine
sud boiler room OF The railway aud con-
tiguous buildings, the second broke ou'
| 10 the structures recently used BY the
electrical supply company aud the con-
aagrstion practically wiped out the same
buildings last night. Apart from these
frame stable 10 the shipysrd grounds,
a short distance from the scene Of last
nights FIRE, was destroyed about a year
ago. ,,,
The insurance on the burned build
Iups, which we're owned by Mr.. Park
Aguew, amounted to $2,75O. This will
partially cover the fire loss. The iusur.
snce on the stock and machinery, owned
by the National Electrical Supply,
amounted to Sc, 500. This will go isr
toward covering the loss. Mr.. Graham,
president OF the company, wssin the city
today and said that he expected to re-
sume operations as soon IS possible.
The entire loss, 1t Is estimated oy
some, will reach nearly s16, 900.
Ohief Pettey and the 6remen worked
long and faithfully at the fire, many 81
them staying up sll night. Their actor
has been most fsvorsbly commented
unOn TODAY,