Alexandria, Virginia Fire
June 3, 1897
ALEXANDRIA’S FIRE.
Loss $500,000 – The Washington Firemen Called
Out.
Alexandria, Va., June 3. – The greatest
conflagration that ever visited Alexandria broke
out in Bryan’s
fertilizing mill on the river front early this
morning, and raged with great fury for about
three hours, doing a total damage of about half
a million dollars. The entire block bounded by
the Strand, Duke, Union and Prince streets, was
almost completely wiped out. Only one warehouse
with its contents was saved in this area.
A high wind was blowing and for a time the
whole town was threatened. Besides the
Bryan
warehouse, the Old Dominion Brass works, the Old
Dominion Boat club,
Atchinson’s Coal yard, and the Old
Pioneer mills were all quickly destroyed. The
fire extended for two blocks along the river,
burning many wharves to the water’s edge.
The Washington fire department five miles away,
was called upon for help.
The Aspen Weekly Times, Aspen, CO 5 June
1897
BY TELEGRAPH.
FURY OF THE FLAMES
Alexandria, Va., Has a Terrific Fire This
Morning. Half a Million in Property Lost.
Alexandria, Va., June 3.
The section is covered principally by warehouses
and manufacturing properties. Definite insurance
figures are not available. The alarm was turned
in at 12:20 o’clock this morning and when the
firemen reached the scene, the
Bryan
warehouse, a large frame building with metal
covering, was beyond saving. A fierce wind was
blowing and for a time the whole town was
threatened. The fine house across the street
from the Bryan place was immediately raged to
the ground and the flames gained in fury and
swept to the Old Dominion Brass works, the Old
Dominion boat club, De
Atchisons coal yard, the
Godfrey
Laundry company and the Old Pioneer mill, all
being quickly gutted.
The fire extended for almost two blocks along
the river and burned most of the wharves to the
water’s edge. The Washington fire department,
five miles away, was called upon for help, and
Engine Company No. 4 under
Assistant Chief Belt was sent down on
ferryboat. The block meantime had become a
roaring blaze but the firemen did effective work
and by four o’clock this morning the flames were
under control.
North Adams Transcript, North Adams, MA 3
June 1897
Articles transcribed by
Jenni Lanham. Thank you,
Jenni!
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