Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-03-02
THE SCENE IN THE SENATE.

At about 9:10 last evening, while the Senate
was in session, and working under the order
of third reading of House bills, that body was
startled from its comparative apathy by one
of the little pages rushing into the Senate
chamber and crying, "Fire! Fire! Everything
above is on frel" AS he came through the
the door the cinders from the dome Of the
capitol were falling at his heels. and dense
volumes Of black smoke poured into the room
and at the sam instant clouds of smoke were
collecting in the gallery, and the flames illu.
minated that portion of the chamber through
the windows Of the gallery.
Looking up over the chandelier it was seen
that the whole area over the east wing was in
flames. Senator's sprang to their feet, and
some excitable individual, whether Senator
or not, the GLOBE reporter did not think IT was
necessary to inquire, shouted at the top of his
voice, "Every man take care of himself
Some confusion ensued, which was consider
ably allayd by Senator Crooks saying in q
loud and Gear voice, which could be heard
above all the noise:
"Mr. President, move that the Senate do
new adjourn"
Lieut.. Gov. Gilman-'Sueh will be consid.
cred as ths sense Of the Senate unless obiec-
tions are made"
It Is needless to say no one objected to the
colonel's motion.
With eonsumate GOODNESS the lieutenant
s. governor remained at his post, gayel in hand
rapping leisurely upon his desk and saying,
Gentlemen, there ia no occasion for alarm;
there Is lime for all to pass out; do moi
crowd, etc. There was rush for the door,
however, and few passed out through the
door, but the flames had made such progress
as to make an exit by the usual avenue i'm.
possible In the meantime the smoke was ac-
cumulatng and was coming in through the
ventilators, making the imprisoned persons
feel decidedly nervous. The GLOBE reporter
then pocketed his pencil and manu-.
script and went to the cloak
room for his overcoat, and there he found a
number of Senator's passing out through a
snail window and dropping down therefrom
then. went to the further end of the Senate
chamber, opened window and swung himself
over to the roof of the portico over the eastern
entrance to the building and there, with some
ten or dozen others, waited for the arrival of
the fire department with its ladders
The room was quickly emptied of members
OF the legislature, its officers and visitors.
Eortuuately tueTe were OUT lew OF The latter.
Secretary Jennison and Assistant Secretary
Wedge remained at their posts, and, while the
cinders were falling through the ventilator
over the chandelier, packed up the records and
conveyed them to a place of safety. Some OF
the Senator's had presence of mind enough to
take the contents of their desks with them,
but the greater number didn't stop for any.
thing. With but very few exceptions Sena.
tors behaved with degree of self-possessiou
and good sense highly creditable
to them. About the time the last member had
left the chamber, the chandelier fell to the
floor, and everything was wreathed in flames
Senator D. Buck was found wading around
in the snow, trying to draw some consolation
from the hope that the bill for the payment OF
the old State railroad bonds was burned up,
but it is thought that General Jennison has
taken care of that, together with the rest OF
the documents pertaining to his department