St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-04-14
CAPITOL. SCORCHED
Illinois Five-Million Dollar
Structure Suffers Severe
Damage.
MORE SMOKE THAN FLAME
But It Gave the Fipemen q
Lively Fight for Many
Hours.
MORE SMOKE THAN FLAME
OFFICIALS IN A PANIC.
They Prepare for a Sudden
Flitting--Damages Only
$4,000.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill, ApIll To-
Fire broke out out today in the SEN
ate wing of the state house, and,
famed by a fierce gale, ragged over
an hour, and caused a damage of
s25. 900. During the fire the greatest
excitement prevailed among the in
mates of the state house, and owing
to the high wind and the difficulty
of getting at the fire, which was un-
der the roof, it was for time
feared that the whole state house
would be ruined. The fire was dis
covered about noon by some janitors
in the senate chamber. F'iremen and
employees of the state then spent
half an hour of vain search for the
LOCATION OF THE FLAMES.
1t was finally located on the roof
along the western side of the senate
wing, where timers had been en-
gagged in repairing the roof. A
general alarm was Immediately
turned in, but by the time the de-
partment arrived the fire had al
ready attained considerable head
way underneath the metal covering
of the roof. The distance 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 stream in that way.
To do this heavy lines of hose had
TO be drawn to the roof. This re-
quired time, and when the streams
began to play the fire had crept along
from the senate wing to the base of
the dome. Here, fortunately, was a
prlck tre wall, completely Shutting
Oil the rest of the building The
strong wind, however, caused the
hames to burn fiercely, and dense
volumes of smoke penetrated all
quarters OF the state house. Through
the windows at the base of the dome
the smoke oozed out and gave the
impression that the whole building
was aflre. The frightened en-
proves in the various departments
OF the capitol were in
A PANICKY STATE.
Hundreds of people crowded into
lhe building to watch the fire ara
lear was expressed that the f1ar,oe.
would eat their way to the inner
oome, which is of pine wood. Ati.oo
however, the flames were under oo,,
'iol' ana shortly after that the five
was out. 'iie IRE
The quantities of water no,roa ;;
through the roof leaked tbro,,nh a..
senate ceiling, causing consider.h,e ,ne
water damage to the frescoes ans
~ I'D mental reliefs in the saw
chamber. The smoke penefra ted ~,
paits OF the west wing and ~
piooaply caused considerohIo ''
hse 10 the walls. Both lfh,,. -; uf'iii-
stait: s4aili1ured: Before the fire got wele n,a'7
.ar'eo' the doors were cIosad wen
80 go parts of the building wit, o ~
'iiioer OF the house, are wbo1,- 'iie
a. snIured. Fear that the fro 10y un-
epl eda caused several of -, "oulo
C-hcials to make u the state
PREPARATIONS TO MOVIE o,,n
the property left in their charge.
The adjutant general, who has in
his care the battle flags, trophies
and relics Of the Mexican and civil
wars, made arrangements to take
them to place of safety. In the
treasurer's, auditors and other Off
ces all the books and money were
placed in vaults and the EMPLOYEES
moved out, fearing the ceilings
might fall. The origin of the fire
Is supposed to have been a timers
furnace, which had been left on the
roof at dinner time by the men who
We're engaged in making repairs
There is no insurance, as it has never
peen the custom of the state To in
sure It's property. A large force of
men has been set to work to renair
the damage. 1t is feared that Soma
OF the steel supports beneath tbe
lool where the fire reigned have
peen SO warped that they will have
10 De replaced with new ones. Sho,,1d
thls De the case the entire roof ON ~
west side will have to be form o,.
and rebuilt. ou'