The Washington herald., 1909-05-13

Fire yesterday morning destroyed an
entire block in the wholesale grocery ard
lumber section Of Alexandra, Va. and
for few minutes. It looked as II further
damage would be done. The loss is said
10 be between SS5.e00 and $4,000.
/ The time that the oity's fate hung IN
the balance was brief. however. for The
freUnen soon controlled the situation. In
/ the path OF the flames and promising 10
De one or the first old landmarks 10 fall
was the old Braddock House. surrounding
( the old J. c. Carlyle mansion. erected fn
17Sz and IN its prime the shelter for
many notable personages. chief among
them being George Washington. who on
its front steps received his first army
commission
Valiant work on the part Of the bucket
brigade. commanded by william W.
Simpson. saved the old structure from
catching fire.
Flames Spread Rapidly.
The flames started about 10 o'clock in
the planning mill Of ". A. smoot & CO..
lumber dealers. on Lee street. near Cam
sron. and. gaining rapid headway, soon
enveloped the whole half acre OF more
OF land piled high with dressed lumber.
The Offices OF the company finally were
invaded BY the flames and with hardly a
halt, jumped across Cameron street and
began eating away a. piles OF lumber
stacked or the opposite side OF the street
Surrounding property was damaged and
threatened until after I o'clock. when the
IRE was under control by the department.
assisted BY two steamers and the Fire
lghter FIRE boat. from Washington.
The flames leaping high IN TIE air and
carrying burning brands. together with
the heavy pau Of smoke. made the Ere in
tensely spectacular. and attracted bun
dreds Of persons from Washington and
from TIE outskirts o. the city itself.
Practically every resident % the Virginia
city who was able 20 walk or ride visited
the scene
Reports as 20 the extent and Importance
Of the blaze were exaggerated as the
news spread. and al noon reports received
In Washington indicated that the whole
city was in flames
Principal Losers.
The principal losers n the IRE were
the firm Of Smoot & Co. composed OF
". A Smoot and W \. SmOot. II. Iuna-
Der dealers. with Offices and yards IN ne
southeast portion OF the block bounded
by Cameron. Lee. Union. and Queen
streets; II. K. Field & Co., the Co-by
Bakery COMPANY. Walter Langley and
Ulysses .. Roberts The house Of Fred
ord. az 20l Cameron street. was badly
iured BY water.
W A. Smoot- ST. estimated his loss az
between S75.9G5 and SS0.0Ge HIS place was
gutted by the flames, and practically none
OF his Mil effects or lumber can be used
The loss Is partially covered by insurance
Henry x Field. of Field & Co. esti-
mated his loss 10 be about S5o00. partially
covered by insurance About 500 damage
was done 10 the bakery OF Corby Broth
ers. and practically the entire furnish
ings of the house occupied by Langley |
& Roberts. at 1E7 Lee street. were dam
aged by FIRE and water, entaiIing a loss
Of about SO. Other property owners u
the vicinity sustained minor losses.
Viii in Operation
The Smoot planning mill was in opera
ton when flames were discovered near
the engine Within a few minutes the en-
tire mill was a mass OF flames.
". A Smoot. ST. was in the once
when the cry Of FIRE was raised He ran !
nearly two blocks 20 the burning mill /
and AZ the risk OF his life rescued valu- /
able specifications stored there. These /
papers would be hard 10 duplicate. and |
their loss would have added materially 10 /
the damage. Mr.. Smoot sustained burns /
about the hands in saving the papers.
Within fifteen minutes after the first 4
Of the flames was seen the entire south 4
ern portion Of the block vas wrapped in /
smoke and fire. Il ate its way south 4
ward. famed BY gentle northerly breeze. 4
Huge lumber piles were euveloped, and 4
the fire then invaded the Offices OF the /
company. Quick work on the part OF en- /
ployes saved the safes and once effects. /
although many valuable papers Of the /
firm stored in the top floors were burned. 4
Despite the efforts Of the Alexandria
hTenen Of the two engine companies, the
flames leaped Cameron street and gained
a foothold among the lumber piles OF
Smoot & Co. and Field & Co. on the
south side. Old Columbia. a reserve en-
sine. was manned half an hour after the
alarm was turned IN. and six streams Of
water were playing on the FIRE without
any semblance Of checking its advance
Relief from Washington.
Fire Chief Pettey. Of Alexandra, and
Chief Of Police Goods tslegraphed to Com
missioner Macfarland and Fire Chief
Wagner. at Washington, for assistance,
and Engine Companies IS and were
sent on Southern Railway fat cars, ar
living az 11.40 o'clock.
Other messages brought Commander Sut-
ton. Of the harbor precinct. on the police
boat Vigilant. and as the calls Of dis
.ress continued orders were given 70 get
the fireboat Firehghter of the ways at
he navy yard. where she was undergo
ne repairs
After hard work the Fi-efghter was
aunched and towed 70 Alexandra by a
naval tug.
Each Of me Washington steamers Z
urned two streams on the IRE. and the
Tirefghter's crew manned SIX streams
which under the judicioUs management ,
# Deputy Chief Sullivan and Machinist
Robinson. soon controlled the situation. ,
Other Property Threatened
Although the hremen put forth their
est efforts. the flames threatened adjoin-
ng propertv. and numerous bucket brig