Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1851-12-27
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
THE NATIONAL LIBRARY DESTROYED BY FIRE !

THE NATIONAL LIBRARY DESTROYED bf FIhE
THE FIRES which occurred on "Wednesday morning
in our city will long be remembered with distinct
ness of beyond ordinary confagrations
The first in point of time broke out little past one
o'clock in the Franklin Hotel, at the northeast
corner Of d and Eighth streets, kept by Mr. Thomas
Baker. It was communicated, as we learn, from
the bedroom Of ledger in the upper story, and
had got so great hold of the building before the
engines could be brought to bear upon it, that by
no efforts could the house be saved though the chief
part of the furniture was happily rescued from the
devouring element The building was owned by
Mr. Patrick Kavanagh, and was insured.
The second fire, in point of time, but by far the
most considerable in magnitude and Importance,
took place at about quarter to eight o'clock in the
spacious and beautiful main Library Room of the
Capitol, whereby about thirty five thousand volumes
of most choice and valuable books were destroyed,
together with precious collections Of manuscripts,
paintings maps, charts medals statuary and articles
of ueyt, the property Of the Government and People
of the United States. The origin Of the fire is
veloped in mystery, which we hardly think will
ever be cleared up. From the best information we
have been able to obtain, it appears that smoke or
fame, or both, were observed through the windows
from without Immediately upon this Mr.. Jno. W,
Jones, one Of the guards in nhA.e ~ ~ CAPITOL,
with anosher person, q Mr.. Hollohon, forced their
way into the Library BY the principal entrance, and
found that the large table at the north end Of the
room was on fire. together with portion Of the
shelving and books in the alcoyes on the right or
northeast, and between the table and the door at
the north end Of the room leading to the law library
At this time Mr. Jones says that half dozen
buckets Of water would have suffced to extinguish
the FIRE. His companion and himself perceiving
this, Immediately ran below for the purpose Of bring
ing the requisite fluid but the draught which their
entrance had necessarily produced lent such vgor to
the flames that, by the time they returned, the
whole room was irrecoverably won to the power Of
the destroying element. The flames seemed to
glide over and above the gallery as if its material
were of the most combusble character; for scarcely
any appreciate time was occupied in wrapping the
whole vaulted hall in mingled volumes Of smoke
and fire.
At the earliest possible moment the fire compa-
MES Of the city repaired to the scene the Columbia
as we think, being the first but its hose being in
frozen condition. from its few hours before at
the fire on Eighth street, with the thermometer at
Zero had to be taken to the gas factory, the
canal, to be thawed. Five minutes afterwards the
Anacostia engine arrived, and its apparatus being in
good working condition. it was the first to act with
effect In quick succession seven engines were on
the ground, calamity vieing with each other to
render service.
/. + - - 4 Y
Very soon a body Of United States Marines from
the Navy Yard were ordered up to assist in bearing
water, keeping order, and protecting property and
very useful indeed did they prove throughout the
day. A large engine was drawn up the steps Of
the East Portico, and another into the Rotundo
and from thence supplied jet Of water Of great
power and efficiency This was done, we believe,
without any injury being sustained by the great his
torical paintings around the Rotundo walls.
Notwithstanding the fortunate circumstance that
the walls of the Library rose 50 high as, in mea-
sure, TO separate that department of the Capitol ed
fee from the rest at least to the extent of giving it
distinct roof, it was found that fire had communi
Gated to the main roof which was, however, stopped
by the gallant members of the Anacostia Company,
who cut away with their axes SO much Of the roof
as seemed to be in harms way. In like manner, a
portion Of the stairway leading to the top Of the
dome having taken fire, it was extnguished by the
same devoted band.
The heat from the fire at the distance Of the pill
lars in front Of the Library (or the fire itself never
reached them) was SO great as to scale them off in
places quarter of inch thick, taking not merely
the painting but the stone under it.
We have stated above that about thirty-f thou
sand volumes Of books destroyed this is est-
mated from the supposed number saved, which is
twenty thousand, the original contents Of the Libra
ry being about ffty-fve thousand volumes in all
The contents only Of the principal hall were con-
sumed, the north room and Law Library not having
been visited by the fire, owing to the thickness Of
the intervening walls.
Besides the books, number of superior paint
ings, hanging around the Library walls and between
the acoves were included in the destruction OF these
we can call to mind Stuarts paintings of the first
FIVE Presidents an original portrait Of Columbus;
second portrait of Columbus; an original portrait
Of Peyton Randolph portrait of Bolivar; por-
trait Of Baron Steuben by Pyne, an English artist
of merit one of Baron De Kalb one Of Cortez !;
and one of Judge Hanson, Of Maryland, presented
to the Library by his family Between eleven and
twelve hundred bronze medals of the Vattemare ex-
change, some Of them than ten centuries old,
and exceedingly perfect, are amongst the valuables
destroyed. OF the statuary burnt and rendered
worthless we recoect statue of Jefferson; an