The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-04-14
cHARRED rHE CAPITOL.
Springfield. IiI.. Visited by the Monster
Fire Field.

Spring field. Iii., Visited by the Monster
Fire FieIt.
SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,, April 13.-The mag
nificent 100000 state house caught IRE
in the senate wing shortly after noon to-
day and in n few moments II looked as IL
that portion was doomed.
The fro Is supposed to have originated
In one OF the committee rooms, but from
what cause is not known. The fire spread
rapidly aud soon the whole immense
building was filled with smoke, so IL was
with great difficulty the firemen found
their way through the labyrinth OF hall
ways and rooms of the upper part OF tho
capitol.
In the portion of the building whore the
fire was raging the auditors Office, state
treasury and offices OF the insurance CON-
missioner and agricultural board are To-
Gated.
Wild confusion prevailed among the
clerks and soon the halls wero filed with
excited girls and women. Tho chiefs OF
departments remained cool, however. and
in a few minutes all valuable papers and
records wore locked up in the fire proof
vault. There were not enough fire plugs
near the state house to keep the engines
working, so the flremen labored ut a great
disadvantage. The hremen reported
shortly that all committee rooms in the
senate wing and the senate chamber were
ruined and tho loss would probably be
from $50, 900 to s75000o and unless the
fire was soon checked would probably
reach 81, 100000.
While the state building has been 70.
garded as practically fire proof, the fioors
of all committee rooms and partitions are
of wood. This being extremely dry
burned like tinder. Ths roof was made
OF slate aud the beams supporting IL o.
| steel, but Il was seen IL the fire was not
soon gotten under control. the intense
| heat might so warp them that the rooi
with the great dome, 35 feet high. would
collapse. In such an event the loss
would reach 81, 10000 or g, 100000.
The fire was probably started from q
timers stove. large force of tinner'
having been sent upon the roof to-day C
make repairs. IL Is said thcy left thell
stoves burning when they went TO lunch
| A gale was blowing during the progress
of the fire and the hremen did not seem
to be able TO cope with the flames. The
senate chamber was speedily gutted ant
all the expensive frescoing ruined.
Captain William Sands, custodian o.
the capitol, said there were heavy firs
walls between the north wing and ths
dome, so there was no possible danger o.
the fire reaching the dome. He also sais
there was no possible chance for the fir
to reach tho south wing. At As p. IN
the flames were under control.
II is estimated that tho damage to th'
sentate wing will amount to $4,000 o
100000. The greatest damage will result
from smoke and water.
At 2:l5 y. m, the fire has been entircl
subdued, but the senate wing was hoode'
with water. The state library escapes
with slight damage. Tho room occupies
by the enrolling and enerossing commit
tee was flooded and IL Is believed man
important bills have been destroyed. A
there was no insurance the entire los
will fall upon tho state. At one time th
fire looked SO serious that Adjutant Gen
erai Orondorf and his assistant, Colons
Bayle, who occupy rooms In tho sout
wing. ordered the janitors to pack up Oh
Illinois battle flags OF the late war an
carry them into vaults.