Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-04-13
ILLINOIS CAPITOL ON FIRE
Flames in the Five-Million-D Dollar Struc-
ture at Springfield.
Damage in the Netghborhood of
S1OO,OOO-Dfmculty In Fight.
ing the Flames.

SPRINGFIELD, ILL.,, April 13.-Illinois'
magnificent s5.OO0.OOO state house caught
fire in the senate wing shortly after noon
today, and in a few minutes it looked as
II that portion would be Quilted. The fire
Is supposed to have originated in one of
the committee rooms. but from what cause
it Is not known. An alarm was at once
turned in, and two steam and one chemical
engine responded. The fire marshal soon
discovered that he would be unable to con-
troll the flames with that force. and so
turned in a general alarm. calling for all
the engines in the city.
The fire spread rapidly. and soon the
whole of the immense building was filed
with smoke. so that 1t was with great diff
Guilty that the fremen could find their way
through the labyrinths of. Railways and
rooms Of the upper part of the capitol.
In the wing of the capitol where the fire
was raging was where the auditors Office,
the state treasury and the offices OF The
insurance commissioner and agriculture
board are located. At once. when the fire
broke out wild confusion prevailed among
the clerks of the various departments. and
soon the halls were filled with excited girls
and women The chiefs Of departments re-
NAMED cool, however, and in a few min
utes all of the valuable papers and records
we're locked up in the fire-proof vaults.
Assistant Treasurer Whitmore at once Or
dered his clerks to lock up all the money
and books of his office, and then. with
them. beat hasty retreat. In Auditor
Cores office matters did not run so smooth
ly. In that department many women are
employed, and they became badly fright
ened. Increasing the confusion. With much
difficulty the books. papers and records
were bundled into vaults. Meantime. the
fire continued to spread.
There were not enough fire plugs near
the state house to keep the engines work
ing, so the fremen had to labor at a dis
advantage.
The firemen reported shortly that all Of
the committee rooms in the Senate wing
and Senate chamber were ruined. and that
the loss would probably reach from $500. 900
to $75O.OOO. and. unless the fire was soon
checked, would probably reach S.OOO.OO0.
While the state house has been regarded
as practically fireproof the floors Of all
committee rooms and Of partitions are Of
wood and. being extremely dry. burned
like finder. The roof was made Of slate
and the beams supporting 1t Of steel. but it
checked the intense heat might so warp
them that the roof with the great dome,
365 feet in height would collapse.
In such an event the loss would reach
from 81 100000 to S2.OOO.OO0.
The fire was probably started from tin
ner's stove, a large force Of timers having
been sent up on the roof this morning to
make repairs. 1t Is said they left their
stoves when they went to dinner. gale
of wind was blowing during the fire and
the firemen seemed unable to cope with the
flames.
The senate chamber was speedily Quilted
and all the expensive frescoing Is ruined.
Latee-At Las pm. the firemen at last
got the flames under control. 1t is estimat-
ed that the damage to the senate wing of
the state house will amount to from $4,000
to 500, 900 Most of the damage will result
from smoke and water.