The New York herald., 1851-12-25


OBSTRUCTION OF THE NATIONAL LIBRARY-NARRow
ESCAPE OF The cAPIToL-BAKER's HOTEL coNsUar
AED, ETC. ="
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS.
WASHINGTON, Dec. "a 1851.
The Congressional Library nearly destroyed by
Gre to-day, and the whole Capitol came very near be-
-5ng consumed.
The fire was discovered at haIpast seven O'Clock this
morning in the Library OF Congress by wstchman The
Games were first seen issuing from table the
centre of the room and enveloped the shelving
IN the northwest side few buckets Of water would
hen have suppressed the FIRE. but before they could be
rocured, the entire library in flames The smoke
was dense that the persons who rushed In
soe to any Of the con.en except four five por
.-raitA OF the Preside nts.
y me msrbls busts, and splendid csses-one Of them
sstsfuy adorned and filed with twelve hundred bronze
medals presented by vattemere-togethsr with all the
arlendid works of art in the cas- es were consumed
The entire library contained upwards Of $4,000 vo.
.ames, including the library Of Jefferson which formed
The nucleus AL in the main is lost The books in
an adjoining room Upwards Of twenty thousand in
udiDg the Law hbrsry) saved The total loss of
cooks is vsriousy estimated at between 100000 and
s25oooo; but no money can replace many Of the
works thus destroyed.
The root Of the library - all burned and the exterior
of the building the west blachened The psrapst
vail has expanded 10 render its removal necessary
At time such was the progress Of the flames that
the dome was In imminent danger well ss the roof of
ooth houses The dome ard roofs made OF wood
2sred over but lined inside with composition of pitch,
to render them waterproof
An engine placed In the rotunda, and every pas.
rage flooded with water The greater part Of the
water was conveyed in buckets.
The two chambers OF Congress are uninjured, and
business will not be arrested.
The utmost activity exhibited by all classes Of
,itizsns, thousands Of whom in attendance The
narines stationed here ordered out by govern
-ept to repair to the SPOT while the Mayor and other
authorities personally sxsr.ed themselves The whole
force Of ths mechanics and marines belonging to the
Navy Yard, worked necessarily till the flames
-ipgushed The President and members OF the cabi.
net were on the ground all the morning. giving drec-
-ions and urging the -emen workmen to almost
'-upsrhuman exertions.
We noticed prominently among the workers Senator
rJvin pasing the buckets along
-he water tsd to be conveyed into the Capitol from
he basus in the grounds, there being reservoirs
anywhere In the building itself
Owing TO the dense velume Of smoke all attempts to
anything when the IRE first discovered were
Insvaiiing The cold intense and the frsmen suf.
ssred very much The heat from the burning books in
he library was overpowe-ng but the ceiling being nre
oreof the roof was partially protected. ..
thas not yet been ascer.sned how the are originated
she brsry heated by nuss and there having been
40 In the for many years the hre must either
nave communicated through .he hot air huss been
c1s work OF ineendisry OF the whole matte
win be thoroughly investigated
zhe flames subiusd ty twelve O'Clock.
guard OF marines has detailed to watch during
me night
FIRE In the frsnin Ho;sl took place before daylight.
The boarders and the family Of Mr Baker escaped with
.difhculty.
THE LATEST RELATIVE TO THE FIRE.
"a wAsmSstoS, December 2t--loP NJ.
About sixty thousand volses Of the Library Of Con-
res ver. Destroyed exceeding in value quarter OF