The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-14
FIRE IN A CAPITOL
ILLINOIS sTATEHoUsE DAMAGED BY
SMOKE AND FLAMES.
Almost a Panic Among the Employees,
Who Made Preparations to Move
Out-Roo3 Partly burned.

SPRINGFIELD. ILL.,, April 13.-Fire broke
out to-day In the Senate wing of the State
house and, famed by a fierce gale, ragged for
over an hour and caused damage of $4,000.
During the fire the greatest excitement pre-
vailed among the inmates of the State
house and, owing to the high wind and diff
fculty in getting at the fire, which was
under the roof. it was for time feared that
the whole Statehouse would be ruined.
The fire was discovered about noon by
some janitors in the Senate chamber. Fire
men and employees Of the State then spent
half an hour of vain search for the loca-
ton of the flames. They were finally To-
Gated on the roof along the western side
of the Senate wing, where timers had
been engaged in repairing the roof. A gem
eral alarm was Immediately turned in, but
by the time the department arrived the fire
had already attained considerable Roadway
underneath the metal covering OF the roof.
The firemen had great difficulty In getting
their lines of hose to the roof The dis
tance to the ground is over 100 feet. The
smoke was overpowering and they were.
compelled to go on the roof and chop holes
in the metal sheathing and run their streams
in that way To do this heavy lines of hose
had to be drawn to the roof. 1t required
time and when the streams began to play
the fire had crept along from the Senate
wing to the base of the dome: Here, Tor
tunately, brick ire wall completely
shutting off the rest of the building. The
strong wind, however, caused the names TO
burn fiercely, and dense volumes OF smoke
came from all quarters of the StatenoLse.
Through the windows at the base of the
dome the smoke oozed out and gave the
impression that the whole building was
afire. The frightened employees in the va
rious departments of the Capitol were In a
panicky state. Hundreds of people crowded
into the building to watch the fire and fear
was expressed that the flames would eat
pine wood. AT 100, however, the names
were under control and shortly after that
the fire was out.
The quantities of water poured in through
the roof leaked through the Senate ceiling,
causing considerable water damage 10 the
chamber The smoke penetrated all parts
of the west wing and has probably caused
much damage to the walls. B s n1rar i,aIs
started the doors were closed ana tnese
parts Of the building, with the chamber OF
the aouse are wholly unn1are ssveraI Of the
State officials to make preparation 10 hiUve
out the property left in their charge. Inc
AdjItant~general VINO mas IN ms M Ca care H .ne
can and civil wars made ARRANGEMENTS 70
take them to a place of safety In the
the books and money were placed in vaults
and the employees moved out, rearing tnat
the ceilings might fall.
been timers furnace which had been lett
on the roof at dinner time by the men
who were engaged in making repairs. mere
is no insurance as IL has never been the
custom of the State to insure its own prop
erty. A large force of men has been SET
to work to repair the damage: IL Is tea tba
roof where the fire relgned nave peen 50
warped that they will have to pc replaced
with new ones. Should this be the case the
entire roof on the west side will have to be
torn out and rebuilt.