Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-01-27
THE BURNING OF THE
SMITHSONIAN IN
STlTUTE
The Anxiety Of the Public.
Description Of the Building and its
OOnteRts-The Crest Loss of the
Country, sc.

whole country. In Washington the ex-
citement was very great. The Washing
ton Chronicle describes the excitement as
very great at the time Of the fire. The
furniture of Professor Henry was slightly
Injured in being carried out. The flooring
of the second story was freproof, but the
upper part of the building was made
chiefly of North Carolina pine which
burned like tender. The Chronicle gives
the following description of the building F.:
The first story of the building consisted
of one large room, 200 feet by so and rs
feet high, the ceiling of which was sup
ported by two rows of columns extending
the whole length st the middle of the
space corresponding to the principal en-
trance were two wing walls, BY which,
with the addition Of screens, the whole
/ space could be divided into two large
rooms, with hall extending across the
building between them.
The upper story was divided into three
apartments without pillars, lecture room
N the middle, and two rooms, each so feet
square, on either side. The one on the
east for apparatus, and for meetings of So
cieties, committees, &c; that on the west
was occupied by Stsuley's Indian Gallery
snd other collections.
In the north tower we're the offices of the
Secretary, Prot. Henry; of the assistant
secretary, Prof Baird, and the rooms of the
clerks, Mecsrs. Rhees and Force. Scarce
anything was saved in these rooms.
In the south tower were the Regents
room, depOsitsries of records, and Of the
personal effects of James Smithson, Sc.
also an original painting by Bergham, a
rural scene, the property of Smithson; q
marble head Of St Cecelis, by Thorwald-
sen, &c; ikenesses of Chief Justice Tsney,
Chancellor of the Institution Hon. Rich
ard Rush, of Pennsylvania; and Senator
PeRrce, Of Maryland, distinguishsble alike
for their devotion TO the interests Of the
Institution, Of which they have been Re-
gents from its organization, and for their
valuable services.
In the large hall at the south entrance
70 the building were q number of articles
OF special interest. The most prominent
Of these was the ancient sarcophsgus,
which was brought TO this country on the
trigste Constitution by Commodore Elliott,
from Beirut, In Syria, in 1859. Thessrco
Phagus was believed to be the repository
of the remains of Roman Emperor, and
was intended for those Of President An
dI ew jackson, which the general, however,
refused to accept. Also a large collection
OF IDOLS from Central America, presented
BY z. G. Squier.
The Plc.ure-room was regarded as one of
the best in this country. 1t was one hnn-
dred feet in length, and, by occupying
part of the tower, width of severity
i've feet had been secured. The ceiling
was twenty-five feet high, smooth and un-
broken, with the exception of sn oval
opening above TO admit light on the plat
form. 1t thus powerfully reflected the
sound of the speakers voice to the hearers
and being SO low, this reflection blended
with the original sound and simply rs-en-
forced It.
There was also in this room large Fres-
mel lens, such as is used in lighthouses, and
various instruments for the illustration of
light, hear, sound, dia-magnetism, &c.
Also German steam electrical machine,
imported from Csrlsruhe, Germany, which
was constructed by c. Isenlohr expressly to
order. The effects produced by this ma-
chine Were wonderful. 1t consisted prin-
cipally of tubular steam boiler resting
upon glass columns to secure insulation.
The boiler being about two-thirds filed
with the purest water which, being heated,
produced pressure of steam equal TO six
atmospheres. The steam, at this high
pressure was allowed to escape through
very small openings. The electricity was
thus produced by the friction of the psrti-
eles Of water against the inner surface of
the oriHces of the Jet pieces, through which
the steam issues. This machine charged q
battery of sixteen large jars in thirty sec
onds. Also, large electrical machine on
an elevated platform. This instrument
was constructed by Dr.. Robert Hare, of
Philadelphia.
The apparatus room contained q large |
and valuable collection of instruments, |
prominent among which was the munia- |
cent donation Of DR.. Robert Hare, Of |
Philadelphia, who, when he resigned the |
CHAIR Of Chemistry in the University of |
Pennsylvania, which be filed with honor
to himself and his country for nearly
thirty yssrs, presented to the Smithonian |
the instruments ofresesrch and illustration
and used by himself during his
long and successful scientific career. Be-
sides the above, there was q full set of
pneumatic instruments, Of superior size
and workmanship constructed expressly
for the Institution, by Mr.. Chamberlain, Of
Boston; set of ingenious instruments for
wave motions; large electric
al machine; Pages electromagnetic in
ltrument, sc.
The collection of Indian port1aits COM
prising probably two or three hundred
faithful pictures of the most celebrated
,hiefs that ever lived-painted entirely BY
Mr.. Stanley, an artist residing in this city,
turing period of forty yeArs-msny Of
hem sketched from life itself, was one of
he leading features of this noted resort.
n addition to the gallery, several curious
pecimens Of the Ingenuity and taste dis
,lsyed by this untutored raes were care
ully and tsstefully arranged, and formed
10 slight addition TO the wonders of the
Institution. The variety Of characters
portrayed In the countensnces Of the chiefs |
rom the most unciviliEed to those who
lad enjoyed the advantages Of society and
dueatloni formed striking lesson of what
ould be accomplished by the philanthro-
list who felt inclined to use his efforts in |
eforming and teaching this much neglect.
d and fsst-disappesring element Of our
population.
Mr.. Stanley owned this collection Of
sintings, and hsd Just cause to feel proud :
f his noble work of art. He cannot be
% deeply sympathized with. The labor !
f lifetime has been consumed in one
hort hour. We presume It was not gen.
rally known that these pictures were in
iyidual property. Persons would natur- :
ny suppose that they belonged to the i
government. During yesterday afternoon ,
lady from Michigan, who was authorized
report description Of the gallery, WITH
view to induce the purchase Of the
,etion by that State for the bensS col.
visited the hall in cor Il of its