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 Firemen a
Lively Fight for Many
Hours.
OFFICIALS IN A PANIC.
They Prepare for a Sudden
Flitting--Damages Only
$4,000.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill, April 10
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 I'M
der the roof, it was for a time
feared that the whole state house
would be ruined. The fire was dis
covered about noon by some janitors
in the senate chamber. Firemen 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 considerab BILE 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
brick fire wall, completely shutting
Oil the rest of the building. The
strong wind, however, caused the
names 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 afire. The frightened en-
ployeS in the various departments
OF the capitol were in
A PANICKY STATE
Hundreds of people crowded into
Lhe building to watch the fire, and
lear was expressed that the flames
Moulo eat their way to the inner
uome' which is of pine wood. At1.9o
however, the flames were under 90,
'roI' ana shortly after that the fire
was out. 'iie III I
Ill, me quantities of water poured in
lnrouSh the roof leaked through +bo
senate ceiling, causing considarob1o
damage to the frescoes and
ornamental reliefs in the sanata
CHA Der. The smoke penetra+od ~,
parts OF the west wing ava -,
aoodoiy caused considerable dam~
nse 10 the walls. Both Mbrar wow
4-iiiJuFeo. Before the fire got wo,1
teo' the doors We're c1oso5
parts of the building with ~
DER OF the house. are Who'll
-ilJured. Fear that the five III
spread caused several &c ~ "oulu
C-hc1aIs to make TIE state
PREPARATIONS TO MOVE OFT
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
treaSurers, auditors and other Off
ces all the books and money were
placed in vaults and the emploves
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 Whf
were engaged in making repairs
There is no insurance, as it has neve,
been the custom of the state TO in.
sure its property. A large force a
men has been set to work to renal,
the damage. 1t is feared that som,
OF the steel supports beneath til,
ROOF where the fire reigned bav,
peen SO warped that they will bav,
10 DE replaced with new ones. Sho,,1,
this be the case the entire roof on N,
west side will have to he form 49,,
and rebuilt.