Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-02-11
LOCAL NEWS.
The Fire at the Smithsonian.

The Fire at the Smithsonian.
After the late fire at the Smithsonian Insti-
tute, the Board Of Regents Immediately took
measures to ascertain the origin, extent and
loss occasioned thereby, and Congress also
appointed joint committee on the subject
The Board OF Regents appointed sub COM
mittee-Mayor Waliach and Prot. Henry
who, after thorough investigation, submitted
the following report, which the Regents adopt
ed, and have laid IL before the Congressional
joint committee:
Report of tie Special Com ntittee Of the Board of
TO the Fire.
The special committee appointed BY the Board
at it's meeting on January 2Sth, 1865, to inquire
into the origin OF the fire at the Smithsonian
Institution, to ascertain the extent and char
acter OF the loss sustained and to make sug-
gestions as to what measures should be adopt.
building, respectfully report-that they have
performed the duty assigned them, so far as
the time and their means OF information would
permit.
1st. The Origin of the Fire.
The testimony has been taken Of all persons
connected W it'll the establishment that had any
account Of the whole is herewith submitted:
also, report from Col. b. s. Alexander, u. s.
A, who superintended the fire. procfing of The
main building, of his examination of the fiues
connected with the accident
1t Is evident from the concurrent testimony
OF these sources of information, that the fire
II
OF the main building, in the wood work i'm
mediately under the slate covering, and
that il was kindled by the heated air or
sparks from stove which had been tenn
poTarily placed in the room Immediately
below. and the pipe Of which had been
inserted, by mistake, into brick furrIng space
resembling fiue, opening above under the
rafters instead of into the chimney f1ue, which
was within few inches. 1t Is not known by
whom the hole into which the pipe was inserted
was originally made, but it is known that a
nrNfr irnfa Eo.,
at the time of the exhibition Of the Mechanics
Institute. No hre howe yer, had been In this
room for ten years previous to Monday, 18th
January, when the machinist and carpenter of
the Institution were engaged with several
other Of the employees in rearranging the pic.
tures of the Gallery, the weather at the time
stove above mentioned intending to remove it
as soon as the work was done. A coal fire
kindled with wood had been burned in this
stove for eight days previous to the confiagra-
ton, and it even appears from the testimony
that NO evidence Of combustion was obser yed
by person who passed through the loft six
hours before the breaking ont of the flames Ii
Is probable. however, that the wood had been
undergoing process Of charring for several
days.
On account OF the very extensive styla Of
architecture which was chosen, and the linn.
tied means at the command OF the Board, the
plan was first adopted of finishing the in terror
OF the whole editice with wood and plaster
The interior wood work, however, of the main
building, afrer the roof and exterior had been
finished. fell down. The Regents then ordered
The removal Of the wood work, and it's plas to
be supplied with In com bus tible materials, rem.
dering The whole fire proof, with the execution
Of the roof, which, being covers d with slate
was supposed to be safe. The only danger Of
the occurrence OF fire was supposed to exist in
the two wings and the towers, and TO ruard
against this especial precautions were con.
sfantly observed, VIII. No smoking was al
lowed in any part of the building at anv time
=. No lights were allowed to be carried from
one part Of the building to another except in
lanterns. j. Three coils OF large hose were de-
posted, ready for use, one in the upper story
and the other two on the first floor of the build
Ing; and there Were water pipes in the base
ment with faucets. 4. Barrels and buckets
Kept cons stantly filled with water, were dis
tributed at different points of the building 5
The rule was observed OF cleaning the flues
every autumn before the commencement of
fires 6. A watchman was enploye,i every
night, who made the rounds of all the rooms In
the building every hour, giving special attan
ton 10 those IN which fire had been kind,ad
during me day, including the apartments oc.
cupied by the family of the Secretary.
These precautions were, however, uuayail
ing, since the fire occurred at & point at which
IL was not al all expected. and to which access
could with difficulty be obtained.
= The character and erteat of the loss sustained.
The loss to the Institution was as follows:
FfTSf, The contents Of the Secretary office con-
sisting Of the Official scientific and m,sceIIane
Gus correspondence. embracing 35, ,0U0 pages OF
letters fcr1ften, ar least 5000 of which were the
composition OF the Secretary, and 5000 pages
OF letters recelced, besides the receipts Tor pub
hcatlons and specimens; reports on various
subjects which havA been referred to the In.
stltuuon the records of experiments instituted
by the Secretary fer the Government; four
manuscripts of original Investigations which
had been adopted by the institution for pubIi.
cation part OF the man eript material of the
report OF the Secretary for 1864 a large number
OF private papers and scientific notes of tbe
Secretary a series Of diaries and memorandum
books and duplicate set OF account hooks
prepared during the last twelve years. with
great labor by Mr. Rhees, the chief CLERK: and
about l00 volumes Of valuable books of con-
stdnt reference.
Second. The large collection of scientific
apparatus, including the donation OF the late
Dr. Hare. Third. A part OF the contents of the
Regents Room, including the personal effects
OF Smithson, with the exception OF his portrait
and library. Fourth. The contents of the
rooms in the towers, including the meteoro-
logical instruments, the workshop con tanning
lathe and large number OF valuable tools,
nearly all the stock on hand OF the duplicate
copies OF the Annual Reports, and many other |
public documents and books intended for dis
tribution to libraries, as well as quantity of
stationery, hardware. &c. Firm. The wood
cuts OF the illustrations contained in the Smith.
sonlan publications.
The loss TO ether parties was as follows:
l. The contents OF what was called the MIC
ture gallery, viz:--d, about two hundred nor
traits nearly all life size. painted and pr,ncnaI
ly owned by ar j. VI. Stanley, formerly OF this
city, and now OF Detroit, Michigan. These
Were on deposit in the Institution; b, number
of half size Indian portraits, painted by MIR,
King for the Governments; c, a copy in Carrera
marble OF the antique statue; known as the Dy.
ing Gladiator by John Gott, and owned by Mr.
j. u. Mcclure, OF this city.
= number of surveying instruments be-
longing to the Government.
j. The clothing, books and private effects of
seVerai or the persons connected with the In
sttution.
4. The library removed from Beaufort, s q,
by the Army, and also, that OF Bishop Johns,
from Fairfax Theological Seminary, given In
charge to the Institution by the Secretary OF
War, for safe keeping, which was stored in an
npper room in the south tower.
The losses to the Institution, independent of
the building, as far as they could be restored
by money, AREAS near as can be estimated about
82G, co., -es tsf 4-' 5-t rzg -.,,. ..
Although the loss which the Institu ion and
individuals have sustained is much to be re.
gretted, yet IL Is source Of consolation that bv
far the greater part of the valuable contents or
the building have escaped without injury
The valuable library OF the Institution, the
most extensive in regard to the transactions of