Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1914-02-02

FIRE WAS CONFINED.
Thousands of People Witness lneffec-
tual Efforts of Firemen to Check
Conflagration.

The SUI Zen bursting out OF fire
about half-past two o'clock yester-
day afternoon in the fertilizer works
of Herbert Bryant's Son, conducted
by Arthur Bryant, or the northeast
corner of Montgomery and Lee
streets, caused considerable excite
ment and in few moments several
thousand persons had gathered in the
vicinity. Huge volumes OF black
smoke assembled, ana a roaring blaze
was soon licking up everything in the
way of combustibles which were in
the structure.
The wind, which had been from the
southwest curing the early part OF
the hy, veered to the west and be-
came brisk, sending sparks and en-
bers into the Potomac, but fortu-
nateiy clear Of the Old Dominion
Glass Works ana Augustus Deans
shipyard, the latter south of the
burning building.
Considerable anxiety prevailed lest
the wind would move to the north
west or north, in which event the
glass works and the ship yard would
have been meraceS. At the latter
pace tug boat was upon the ways
and many motor boats were high
a.,d :.rv uaon the l.r1rHd. Haet the
fire reached the shipyard considerable
valuable property would have been
destroyed.
The wind, however, kept from the
west, and although it was brisk, the
smoke had clear swee pto the river,
which rendered it possible to confne
the fire to tire fertilizer plant.
The situation of the ioomed build
ing was such as TO render it en-
tremely difficult, if not impossible.
for the fire department to do any eff
fcctual service although every effort
was made 10 extirguish the flames,
which ragged furiously about an
hour.
The chemical engine from the town
Of Potomac was rushed to the scene,
but those having it in charge found
themselves practically impotent 20
check the progress Of the conflagre-
ton. which was destined to burn it
self out
The fertilizer factory adioined the
plant of the Ola Dominion Glass Com
pany. Employees of that company
kept a stream of water on the build
Ing and coal pile in order to save ii
from taking fire.
The Alexandra fire department,
was, of course, on hanl and rendered
all aid possible, but, it, too was handi-
capped by reason of the distance OF
the main water plug to the fire and
the difficulty experienced in running
the hose to the scene. Besides the
stream of water at their commans
was weak.
box car belonging to the South
cm Railway Company, loaded with
nitrate of soda. which was on sr~e
track and close to the burning
structure, took fire and was practi-
eally destroyed y
The loss is estimated at $4,000,
which is thought to be covered by m
su,snce. The building will be restor-
ed as soon as possible. The origin OF
the fire is unknown.
The Bryant Fertilizer Company, at
the foot Of Duke street suffered a Sc
rious loss byn ,fpe, ,opearly seventeen
wears ago. In June, 1897, the works
eat the foot of. Duke street took ire
and tho plant was practically elimin-'
ated. AT that time the Pioneer
Mis- ipere destroyed and sevensI
otl.er aui,dings in, the neighborhoo1.
In 1895 tie buildings of the Alexan-
,iria Fe~tlizer and Chemical CON-
pany, at the foot of Princess street
met similar fate.
YeStea,..ay's FIRE was the second
f12rce confiagat.on which has oc-
Cured Oh the river front in short
tine. In September, 1872, the. Globe
Mills, an old Alexandria landmark,
"-as tetally destroyed.
\ few weeks ago q fire Of less mag