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


Shortly befors 8 o'clock last night
| an alarm OF FIRE was sounded and al
most simultaneous With the departure
of The sppa, atus from the houses the
southeastern heavens becsme illuminated
f,om a blszs rhich suddenly shot up
ward from the frame building at the
sbio5 ard which is used BY the National
Electric Supply Company.
The FIRE had been discovered BY some
people who were in tho Deighborhood
at The time, and 1t Is thought that II
an entrance could have been Effected
into The building, possibly 1t could have
been extipguished before any mstsria!
damage reaulted. The doors, however,
could not be forced, nor could any one
get to the telephone in the Office OF the
sbipyard. Men ran to houses in the
reighborhood and used the telephones
to sound an alarm. The Ere within the
bulldog was about to burst forth, and
By the time the department reached the
scene, which was soon accomplished, the
structure was almost mass OF hRne,
illuminating the entire southeastern sec.
ton of the city.
The fir.men worked assiduously but
the FIRE was so far advanced tina! 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 Accomsc
which was on the ways but a short
dislsnce south OF the pin factory, but
az the little Wind that was prevailing
was from the southeast, the fire was
Kept at safe distance from the steamer,
and the raiIwsys and railway build
log. The buildings destroyed we're
stocked with machinery, manufactured
locust pins, cross beams and lnm.
Der, and 1t Was apparent that the
structures and contents we're doomed.
Ton, of water we're thrown on the fire,
put The banks of inaammable material
burned throughout the entire night,
while huge clouds of smoke we're pour
Ing from the ruins this morning, causing
apprehension and rendering it necessary
to send the Relief Hook and Ladder
truck to the scene In order that what re-
NAMED of the buildings could be pulled
down aud the banks of Goals ex.inguished.
The Columbia engine remained at the
scene sill night and during today.
The buildings we're owned by the Ma
riue Railway and Shipbuilding Company
of which Mr.. Park Agnew Is president,
and we're leased to the National Electri.
cal Supply Company, q Washington
corporation, of which E. q. Graham is
president. The buildings and contents
were Insured.
Two of the fremen-John Webster
and young man named Whestlay-
we're overcome by smoke while at work
In attempts to subdue the FIRE.
Mrs. r. E. Grover furnished bot coffee
to the 6remen at times during the night
and nearly all day.
This is the third fire that has occurred
In the shipyard during the past twenty
years. The 6rst destroyed the engine
sad boiler room OF the railway and con.
tiguous buildings, the second broke ont
Ia the structures recently used by the
electrical supply company and the con.
fagratlon practically wiped out the same
buildings last night. Apart from these
q frame stable 10 the shipysrd grounds,
short distance from the scene of last
nights FIRE, was destroyed about year
ago. -,
The Insurance on the burned build.
iugs, which were owned by Mr.. Park
Aguew, amounted to $2,750. This will
partially covor the fire loss. The insur.
snce on the stock and machinery, owned
by the National Electrical Supply,
amounted to Sc, 500. This will 90 lar
| toward covering the loss. Mr.. Graham,
president of the company, was in the city
today and said that he expected to re-
sumo operations as soon as possible.
The entire loss, 1t Is estimated BY
some, will reach nearly $4,000.
Chief Pettey and the 6remen worked
long and faithfully at the fire, many of
them staying up all night Their action
has been most favorably commented
| upon today.