The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-04-13
illinois, Magnificent State
House Burning.
The $5,00O,000 Structure Threat
ened With Destruction
Rapid Spread of the Flames and Diff
ficult Work of Firemep.

SPRINoFIELD, ILL.,, April 13.-lllinois'
magnificent s., 00O, 600 State House caught
fire in the Senate wing shortly after noon
today and in few moments il looked as II
that portion would be gutted. The fire
is supposed to have originated in one OF
the committee rooms, but from what
cause IL is not known. An
alarm was turned In and two
steamers and one chemical engine re-
sponded. The fire marshal soon discov-
cred he would be unable to con-
troll the fire with that force
and 30 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 it was with great
difficulty that the firemen could find
their way through the labyrinth
of Railways and rooms of the upper part
of the Capitol. In the wing OF the Capt.
tol where the fire was raging was the
and the Offices of the insurance and Ii
csnse commissioners and the agriculture
office.
Confusion prevailed among the clerks OF
the various offices and the hollis were
soon filed with excited girls and women.
The chiefs of departments remained cool
however, and in few minutes they were
safe.
Assistant Treasurer Whittemore at
once ordered his clerks to lock up
Ill themoney and books OF his Office
and then with them beat hasty
retreat. In Auditor Cores Office
matters did not run so smoothly. In that
department many women are employed,
and they became badly frightened
in consequence of the confusion.
With mnch difficulty the books,
papers aud records were bundled
into vaults. Meantime the fire contin-
ued to spread. There were not
enough fire plugs near the State
House to keep the firemen
working 30 the frsmen had to labor at
great disadvantage. The firemen reported
shortly that ali of the committee rooms in
the Senate wings and Senate chamber were
ruined, and that the loss would probably
reach from $4,000 to $4,000 and unless
the fire was soon checked would probably
reach s1,00O,OO0 while the state
house has been regarded a. practically
fireproof, the floors of all committee
rooms and Of partitions are of
wood, being extremely dry, burned
liked tinder. The arch roof
was of slate and tho beams supporting
Of steel, but it was raid that il fire was
not soon checked the intense heat might
90 warp them that the roof will
and the great dome, 365 feet in height,
would collapse. In such an event the loss
Mould reach from u, 100000 to s2,0Oo,0oO
The fire was probably started from the
tinner's stove, a large force of timers
have been sent up on the roof this morn
Ing 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 TO
speedily cope with the flames. The senate
chamber was speedily gutted and the ex-
pensiue frescoing is ruined.
At :95 p. m. the firemen at last got the
flames under control, it is now estimated
that the damage TO tho Senate wing of
the State House will amount TO from
ga, 900 to 100000. Most OF the damage
will result from smoke and water.