The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1881-03-10
CAPITOL FIRE GLEANINGs.

We last week gave the particulars
IF the burning Of the State Capitol at
st. Paul, and which, closely follow
ing the destruction of the Insane
Asylum, falls with disastrous effect
upon our youthful commonwealth.
But no people on Earth meet disaster
with Il holder spirit than the plucky
Minnesotians. Scarcely was there an
hours delay in the proceedings of the
Legislature in session at the very mo-
ment of the fire. The two bodies met
1T different points in the debris and
ut once adjourned to Market Hall,
kindly proffered for the purpose by
It. Paul authorities. A reporter of
the Pioneer-Pres alludes to the
House after it assembled in the new
quarters in this graphic paragraph:
The members as they came in had, without
exception, sad, forlorn look. They had all
visited the ruins, and il IL not u matter Of
wonder that they should have experience
ed feeling Of regret "a they viewed the
blackened walls which had so recently enclos-
ed the bright comfortable hall To which they
mad become so attached. The speaker called
for "rdor Mt l0:3O and the chaplain made u
most appropriate prayer, alluding to the ter
rible disaster, and returning sincere thanks
for the divine mercy in sparing the lives of
his children who were exposed To such fear
full danger. Grouped around the tables the
members sat, wearing their ovcrcOats and
hats, and even then suffering from cold. A
recess was proposed until the hall should be
heated but II was opposed almost unanimous
ly, rs the labor to he accomplished required
every available moment. Many n Joke about
beer gardens passed among the gentlemen as
they sat around the tables; and indeed they
bore such mOurnful aspects that 1t seemed as
IL "A temperate indulgence in liquid encourage
ment would have done them good.
The speaker sat in his own chair, saved from
the fire, behind u common kitchen table. He
was armed with quite heavy mallet, and was
forced to use it SO constantly that 1t was well
that the table upon which he played his noisy
TATTOO was not Of expensive material. At his
left stood an elaborate and ornamental piece
# black walnut furniture, borrowed from the
municipal court room, and in its numerous
pigeon holes and drawers the chief clerk had
deposited the multitude of bills and tho rec
'rds. The first assistant kept hts journal at
I small table, and the second assistant read
his bills and called tho roll from a table ad-
Joining. In the rear Of the officers the report
ers occupied small tables.
a bill was promptly passed appro.
priating $4,000 for rebuilding the
Capitol and work will no doubt be
pushed along with rapidity until our
state officers are again housed and
substantially =. shoi, fvrmrr vuu
Portable quarters; but let us suggest
that the hall for the House of Repre-
santave be arranged differently and
seated so that the presiding officer
can more readily catch the voice of
the members.
The valuables in the vaults and
safes were found in good condition,
and it also transpires that there was
a small insurance on the State library
and upon the books and documents in
the State Historical Society rooms.
The United States Marshal commu.
nicated with Attorney General Dew.
ems and the court room in the custom
house was promptly rendered the
Judges of the Supreme Court for tenn
p)rary use, while most of the State
officers were quartered in the Market
Hall building.
Many ludicrous scenes occurred and
jokes perpetrated by the members
and others. One Senator saved his
desk, and promptly a resolution was
passed presenting him the same.
Senator Adams offered an amendment
that the frame Of the window through
which Senator Buck escaped be also
presented to our own Senator. Sena.
tor Buck promptly moved to amend
still further by presenting to Senator
Adams the hole through which that |
Senator made his escape.
Considering that attendant and nee.
,ssary confusion the business of the
session was closed with more regular.
ty and dignity than would naturally
)e expected. The session adjourned
'ine die Friday.