Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1824-11-23
DO.MES lIU.
TRANSPORT, Ky NOV. 10.
PUBLIC CALAMITY


The State House is IN ruins. On
thursday morning last the Doorkeepers
OF the two branches Of the Legislature
had, as usual, made their Eres in the two
Chambers, between da, light and sun
rise. A little alter sunrise smoke was
discovered Issuing from the Cupola. The
cry OF fire rang through our streets, and
citizens, and members ofthe Legislature
and strangers rushed to the spot. But the
inside OF the Cupola was in blaze be-
tore any person could ascend to ii, and
the lire bursting out and increasing with
surprizing rapidly, soon LETT no hope of
saving the building. The wind at first
drove the smoke and flame directly over
the Auditor and Treasursr's offices and
the meeting house, and there was time
when these buildings and several dwell
ling houses and out buildings in that di-
recilon, were in great jeopardy. The
public offices were cleared of their books
and papers, as were also the rooms of
the Federal Court and Court Of Appeals !;
but most OF the furniture and books in
the tive Legislative Halls, were lost. 1t
was bnt few minutes before the whale
roof OF the House was in a blaze. All
the exertions ofthc assembled multitude
were turned to saving the adjacent bull
dings, particularly the Auditor and Trea-
surer's offices. A slight change 10 the
wind favored these efforts, and that bull
ding, though often on fire, was eventual
ly saved. In about two hours nothing
was left ofths Capitol bu the bare walls,
enclosing heap of smoking ruins.
In addition to the building, the value
OF public property consumed is very
great. Besides most Of the furniture and
books belonging to the General Assem-
bly,, all the papers relative to the bust
ness OF former sessions, which filled Sc
veral large presses, and were deposited
in one of the committee rooms, were
consumed. Near 1000 stands of arms
deposited in one Of the rooms on the low
or floor, were destroyed, only small
number having been saved. About 800
sets of the Digest of the Statute Laws,
nearly all the volumes of the Decisions
Of the Court of Appeals belonging to the
state, including the three last volumes Of
Littell's Reports, which have notyet been
distributed, were consumed. All the
printed Acts of former sessions Of the
Legislature, helangiug to the state, shar-
ed the same fate. The number Of vo-
Tunes destroyed, probably exceeds 5000.
The Stale House, furniture, &c. may
be estimated to be worth about $50 900
the arms $4,000 in specie or $4,000 in
currency, and the books at about 5000,
making total of about 100000 in cur
rency. There is, however, an immense
pile of brick walls, large portion Of which
is uninjured, and will be valuable, pro-
vided the State House shall be rebuilt
on the same site, and Of the same dimen-
sions, and at any rate the brick will be
worth something. ~
The State House was fine building
oftwo lofty stories, 100 feet long and SIS
wide, having on the lower floor rooms
for the Federal Court and Court Of APP
peals, Jury room, room which was
used as an arsenal, and broad passage.
In the second story were the Represen-
tatives chamber, large beau tiful room
Of an oval form, handsomely painted; the
Senate chamber, committee room, and
passage. y