Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-03-22
A STATE CAPITOL AFIRE.
TRENTON'S FIREMEN GIVEN y
LIVELY JOB.

DuEulHS OF a CnlChkO nOJol.
TRENTON, n. j., March 21.-A large
portion of the capitol building in this city
was burned at an early hour this morn
ing. The fire seems to have been caused
by an explosion of escaping gas, which
ignited in some unexplained manner. Two
explosions were heard about O'Clock
this morning In the Quartermaster Gen
erals office, on the first floor, at the north
west corner Of the State House. The ex-
plosions were followed by flames that
shot through the windows. In ten min
utes all the apartments were in ruins.
The flames followed the steam pipes
to the floor above and quickly set fire to
the offices of the Clerk in Chancery. From
these the cOnfagration extended to the
Geological Museum on the third floor. In
this museum were many valuable State
relics, but the most valuable were sent to
the New Orleans exposition month ago.
There was lot of battle flags which were
rescued by tiremen at the risk of their
lives. The sword and saddle of Gen.
Kearney were destroyed.
ON TOWARD THE DOME.
The fire then moved back toward the
dome, and it seemed as though the SUI
preme Court room, Chancery Court room
go. The books and documents were hastily
removed from the Offices of the Comp
trOller, State Treasurer, and Secretary of
State. At O'Clock, however, the fire was
finally checked, although the engines con-
tinued playing on the ruins so that access
might be had to the chancery vaults where
many valuable papers relating to thou
sands of estates are kept. These vaults
are not burned. The loss Will not fall
arf aF %ho
building destroyed is the facade of the
original State House built ini1795. 1t was
altered and improved in 184S.
CONTENTS OF THE BUILDING.
The building contained the Quartermas-
ter Generals office and the Offices of the
Adjutant General, Comptroller, the Clerk
in Chancery, the Clerk of the Supreme
Court, Secretary of State and State Trea-
surer and the Museum. Only the Mu-
scum and Quartermaster Generals and
Chancery offices were completely de-
stroyed. The other departments were
somewhat damaged by water. The Chan
Gerry and Supreme Court rooms and Sem
ate and Assembly Chambers remain in
tact. The entire building is worth $780,
600, on which there is liberal insurance.
MANY BUILDINGS BURNED.
BELLEFONTE, Pa, March 2l.-A fire
broke cut last evening in the Brockerhoff
House, near the centre of the town, and
after burning half dozen buildings was
supposed to be eXtinguished, but about 10
O'Clock it broke out afresh in a grocery
store which had not previously been on
fire, and a dozen more small business
houses and the Opera House were destroy
ed. The loss is about $4,000. The pro-
perty is largely insured.
THE LOSSES AT BOSTON.
March JOoa Nv A.
burning of the Boston Machine Com
pany's works, in South Boston last night.
is generally placed at $25O,CO0. A large
amount of valuable machinery was
ruined. The insurance aggregates $120.-
600, divided among 81 companies
At O'Clock this morning the Conti-
mental Sugar Refinery storehouse, IN
South Boston, wasS totally destroyed by
fire, including 10,000parrels of sugar. The
building was opposite the machine works,
which were burned early in the evening,
and the fire was probably started by
sparks lodged on the roof. The loss on
stock is nearly 100000. The insurance
is $4,000. The building was insured for
$4,000, which covers the loss.
FATAL FLAMES IN A HOTEL.
CHICAGO, March 21.-About s O'Clock
tonight the Langham Hotel was discOy-
cred to be on fire. The flames started in
one of the lower rooms, caused by the up
setting of a kerosene lamp. In few
minutes the entire building was burning
from cellar to roof. About 100 guests
were taking supper in the restaurant,
and it is estimated that 100 more were in
rooms above. Some of the latter expert
enced difficulty in escaping. All the en-
gines which could be used did not avail
to save the building. Mrs. Belknap, an
elderly lady, was killed by jumping from
the fourth story. Subsequently a cry was
raised that the walls were falling, and
that the Bullwirkle fire insurance pat
rOlmen were inside the building. A por-
tlon of the south wall came down with a
crash. Six patrOlmen and two truckmen
were soon afterwards taken out of the
ruins, some of them Horribly mangled.
WORK OF THE PATROL.
AS soon as il was discovered that no
property in the hotel could be saved
Bullwinkles fire insurance patrol has
tened to prevent damage to property in
the adjoining building on the south side.
Mr.. Bullwinkle himself and six of his
men entered. Mr.. Bullwinkle came out
shortly after and was hardly in the street
when the south wall of the hotel
fell, taking that of the ad-
of the patrol inside escaped, but the others
failed TO appear from the ruins. After
great labor the firemen succeeded in
reaching and rescuing two of the patrol
men, who were pinned fast under the
bricks and timbers. These were Capt.
Sbepperd and d. Mullen. They were
badly bruised about the legs, but
were otherwise uninjured. Patrolmen
A. Jones and John Walsh were missing
up to IL O'Clock. 1t was supposed that
they were sufocated or burned bareath
the tons of debris which fell. A very
daring act was performed by officer NJ.
il. Marks. After it was supposed that
all the inmates of the hotel were out two
domestics appeared panic-stricken at a
window on the second floor. Marks rushed
into the building and shortly appeared
carrying both women, who were so nearly
sdtfOcated that it was necessary to place
them under doctors care.
WATER OF NO AVAIL.
All this time the immense volume of
water being poured into the building
seemed to have no effect on the flames,
Every window frame in the front was a
easement of flames, and the flames bun ST.
ing through the roof, lit UP the whole of
that part of the city. By the combined
operations of three or four fire companies
buildings were kept from being
ignited, but the damage to the one on
the south side is extensive, owing to tue
ldllIuS VI JuS WALL Inc lOLel was erect
ed Immediately after the great fire, and
though substantial looking outside. has
cen called "a fire trap 1t was former
ly known as the Burdick House, then as
tfe Crawford, and during the last two
months as the Langham. The building
occupied a lot quarter OF block in |
size on the southwest corner OF Wabash |
avenue and Adams street. 1t was pur-
chased last May by Cummings & Howard |
and leased to Shaw & Son. The latter |
lad just expended about $4,000 in re- |
pairs and Improvements, which had not |
been completed. Their total loss on i'll |
DroYements and furniture is about 500, 900. |
rhe insurance is $4,000. The building |
vas valued at about $150,000, and is said |
% be insured tor about half of that |
amount.
1t is believed that the loss on the |
building will be total, as the remaining !
walls are in tottering state. On the |
irst floor of the hotel were the following
stores: Keith & Son, dealers in pictures
md frames; a florist and an agency for A.
4arden's hand grenades. Their loss is
otal and the amount of insurance is at
present unknown. The first reports as to
he origin OF the fire were wide of the
mark. 1t was not the upsettlng of ker0-
ene lamp that started the conhagratio1,
'ut carelessness on the part of employ es
u the laundry in the basement. The
lanes started in the drying room near
he elevator shaft, and swept upward to