The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-11-10
STATE SPECIALS.
The Old Capital Building at Austin Was
Yesterday Reduced TO Ashes by
Accidental Fire.
The Archives of the State Were Saved,
However, by Students, But All
Else Valuable Destroyed.
The Former Editor of the Sun 81 Gates.
vile InflictS a Dangerous v )and
Upon An Antagonist.
A Negro Shot and Killed at Georgetown
by a Young Man Of that Tom.
Several Railroad Accidents on the
Extensions West of San Antonio.
Two More Burglaries at Sherman-..New
Town on the L. & st. l.. K. II.
Other State News of Interest.
A Negro Shot and Killedat Georgetown
by a Young Man of that Tom.
Several Railroad Accidents on the
Extensions West of San Antonio.
Two More Burglaries at Sherman-..NeM
Town on the L. & ST. l.. K. II.
Other State News of Interest

Austin.
Special to the Herald.
AUSTIN, November 9.--About noon to-
day smoke was seen issuing from the state
capitol, and discovering that ii came from
the back room adjoining the attorney
generals office, the secretary of state, with
the assistance of his clerk and others, broke
open the door, which was locked. A
dense cloud of smoke issued forth
rendering the effort futile. Smoke was also
discovered ascending in circling spirais
from the northwest wing of the building,
and the alarm being sounded, the hook and
ladder company, followed by the engine
companies, were promptly on hand.
Owing to the defect in the last
state legislature of a bill making
provisions for supplying the capitol grounds
with hydrants the fire brigade was forced to
take position outsidethe capitol wall where
the hydraulic pressure proved insufficient
to get up stream The flames spread rap
idly and within an hour and half nothing
remained of the old capitol but the bare
walls which proved to be fire-proof in
a superior degree. The archives of the gov
ernment were all saved, for which much
gratitude is due to the scholars of Professor
Beektops school, the largest of whom hay
ing arrived among the first on the scene,
rushed into the smoke and did gallant
work. The library containing among
other treasures, an ancient history
of Mexico, the only. one that
was eYtant, and which cost in
both houses of the British parliament of a
hundred years, was entirely destroyed.
The geological specimens we're also destroy
ed, but as duplicates ofthose are at Atlanta
the loss amounts to nothing. The Texas
reports were also destroyed, involv-
ing a loss to the state of $4,000
All the portraits in the hall OF
the house of representatives were
destroyed except General Burleson's s.
Fortunately Mr.. Huddle, ma,
tive artist, had been taking copies OF
lhe presidents of the republic, and
the subsequent governors, which
office, and as 1t was the last to catch fire
they were saved All the daguerotypes
and ambrotypes were burned. The origin
of the fire is unknown. A porter and an
express man had entered the book-room
yesterday, and it is surmised that a
spark from pipe or cigar may
have been dropped carelessly. A gentle.
man while passing the back room three
quarters of an hour before the alarm wa,
given, smelled tne smoke. There could
| have been no possible object in an incen.
diary setting fire to the building
with the purpose of Fastening
up the construction of the capitol
as the building plans and specifications Of
the new capitol have been approved, and
the act of burning down the old building /.
loss to the city in the labor that would be
required to pull il down. The building
was not insured. For the present the execu
tive and state departments will be In the
supreme court building, the attorney gen
erals office in the land Office and
the oflices OF the adjutant
general and the commissioner of insurance
| statistics and history in the Brugerhofl
building. The building plans and specih-
cations OF the new capitol were saved. Upon
the suggestion Of Governor. Roberts, the su
perintendent of the public grounds thi,
evening made complaint before Justice
| Gregg, to cause an investigation OF the fire
The investigation will go on tomorrow,