The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1881-03-10

of Minnesota
THE ALARM IN THE HOUSE
SCENES OF WILD EXCITEMENT.
1t was just about 10 minutes past 8 when
the house reporter, finding the debates on tn
bills before the committee of the whole unin-
teresting sauntered over to lie 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 op 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
Clark, Esq, had been before them; that
Col E. F. Drake was to argue the case of the
St. Paul l. 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 riotous tumult The membe
rushed from their seats, and the wide doom
leading TO the long. narrow hallway, were
thrown open, revealing q vast pillar of fire in
clouds into the hall. The strongest mel
blanched with fear. Some struggled to be
brave, but found no support The scene which
met all eyes through the open doors was terri
BILE, for the only exit seemed to be by the one
stairway, now so evidently onveloped in flames
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 heard, the voice of Capt. Hur-
tier, assistant sergeant-at-arms, 'the fire is
out" The doors had been closed, and but for
tho hurrying to and fro of the members, no.
body would have suspected that the destruc
ton was going on For moment a calm en-
sued, then cry from one of the members
came
"LOOK-ABOvE THE GALLERY"
Looking up small flame not larger than a
mans hand was visible in one of the hammer
beams. At the first alarm the gallery, which
had been crowded, had been instantaneously
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 fame, which immediately vanished, as
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;
PITEOUs CRIES FOR LADDERS AND ROPES
resoun ded in the night 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 men, including Coils.
Baxter, Geary, Hicks and Denny, made theft
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 Coz. 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
structions and announcements quieted many
but the fear that the fire was overhead, and
that the roof might fall at any moment. caused
open windows were 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 check. 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 those gentlemen completed their labors,
but he saw everything
COME SAFELY DOWN 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 mos
of the valuable contents of the building, the
loose records, papers, etc., but the general re-
greet for the loss of the building will be en-
HANGED by the special regret of the legal frater-
nifty 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 aud of the house contrived to save
the records and pending bills of both branches:
The supreme court records were saved. All
bills signed by the governor as we'll as great
quantities of Valuable records are safe in the
spacious vaults of the secretary of state. In