Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1881-03-09
THE ALARM IN THE HOUSE.

THE ALARM IN THE HOUSE
SCENES OF WILD EXCITEMENT.
1t WIS just about 10 minutes past when
the house reporter, finding the debates on the
bills before the committee of the whole unin-
teresting sauntered over to the desk Of Judge
Wilson for the purpose of interviewing him in
regard to the progress which his committee
was making in investigating the matter of rail
road lands unfairly exempted from taxation.
The learned gentleman, by whose side sat Mr..
W. P. Clough, partly succeeded in putting of
the reporter on facts known to him by stating
to him that the report Of the committee would
be made this morning. When, however, Mr..
Wilson found that the reporter was pretty we'll
posted, and that he knew the committee had
about decided that the Chicago, Milwaukee
St Paul Railroad company held lands
which should be taxed; that Grcenleaf
Clark, Esq, had been before them; that
COL E. F. Drake was to argue the case of the
St. Paul Sioux City road, in the morning, and
several other facts. the gentleman was about to
submit to an interview and foreshadow the
findings of the committee, when the fearful
cry burst forth.
THE SENATE IS ON FIRE!
Then the house immediately became the
scene of a riotous tumult The members
rushed from their seats, and the wide doors
leading to the long. narrow hallway, were
thrown open, revealing vast pillar of fire in
the rotunda at its end. The smoke rushed in
clouds into the hall The strongest men
hlanched with fear. Some struggled to be
brave, but found no support. The scene which
III y all eyes through the open doors was terri
bic, FOR the only exit seemed to be by the one
stairway, now so evidently enveloped in flames.
A leap to the ground was dangerous for the
height was at least thirty feet What
should be done? Several calm members
counseled calmness, but it had no influence
on the greater portion of the members; soon a
clear voice was he IT l. the voice of Capt Hur-
ter, assistant sergea 't-at-arms, s'the fire is
out" The doors had boon closed and but for
the hurrying to and fro Q the members, no.
body would have suspected that the destruc-
ton was going on. For IN, n"nt a calm en-
sued, then cry from one u. the members
came
'LoOK-ABovE THE GALLEY"
Looking up small flame not larger than q
mans hand was visible in one of the hammer
beams. At the first alarm the gallery, which
had been crowded, had been instantaneo,,sly
cleared On looking in the direction Indicated
the reporter detected the flame, and saw one
solitary individual sitting beneath it He lifted
his soft hat from his head and threw
it at the flame, which Immediately vanished, az
did also the individual Quickly the flame re-
appeared and many Of the members became
panicstricken.. A rush was made for the win
dows The sashes were thrown up;
P1rEoUs CRIES FOR LADDERS AND ROPES
resoun ded in the blight air. Some undertook
to throw themselves from the windows, but
were restrained by cooler comrades; others
sank down in fright, unable to help themselves.
Several of the coolest mon, including Coils
Baxter, Geary, Hicks and Denny, made their
voices heard, urging the members to keep
cool and promising relief. Mr.. Kendall mount
the speakers, desk and rapping heavily with
the gavel, announced that there was no danger
while Col Denny, from the summit of desk,
proclaimed that he had just returned from the
lower story by the stairway, aid that all could
pass down without fear of injury. These in
structons and announcements queted many,
but the fear that the fire was overhead, and
that the roof might fall at any moment. caused
quite panic among the more nervous, and the
open windows wore crowded, while the appeals
for help rang forth on the night air. Repre-
sentative Schmidt flung himself from the
window and escaped mninjured, except deep
cut on his left cheek It is rumored that
another man, not member, took the fearful
leap but the truth in regard to it is not known
Some of the strongest men on the floor of the
house displayed the greatest fear, and others
who would be ordinarily credited with nervous
ness and fear, proved the coolest
and most unconcerned. The re-
porter. perhaps, because he knew
under just which window the deepest and soft
est snow bank lay, was extremely COOL He
got on his overshoes and his ulster, and
crammed his notes into his pocket. then turned
to admire the admirable GOODNESS of the clerks,
who with admirable pluck proceeded to save
the records. And here, it may be stated, that
Chief Clerk Howard, with his faithful assist
ants Deakin and Daniels, saved every
thing. even to the defunct bills that had been
indefinitely postponed The reporter had gone
before these gentlemen completed their labors,
but he saw everything
COME SAFELY DOWN A LADDER,
and knows that the business Of the house
thanks to the faithful clerks, will not be inter-
rupted.
WHAT WAS SAVED.
Fortunately there was time to remove most
of the valuable contents of the building, the
loose records, papers, ETC., in the various ex-
ecutive offices but the general regret for the
loss Of the building will be enhanced by the
special regret of the legal fraternity for the
almost total loss of one of the most valuable
law libraries in the country. With creditable
presence of mind, the secretary of the senate
and clerk of the house contrived to save the re-
cords and pending bills of both branches. The
supreme court records were saved. All bills