The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-04-14


broke out to-day in the Senate wing Of
the State House and ragged for an hour
and caused damage of $4,000. Dur
the fire the greatest excitemeut pre-
vailed among the inmates of the State
house, and owing to the high wind and
difficulty in getting at the flames, which
were under the roof, 1t was for a time
feared that the whole State house
would be ruined.
TIE fire was discovered 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. II was
finally located on the roof along the
western side of the senate wing, where
timers had been engaged in repairing
the roof. A general alarm was imme-
diately turned in, but by the time the
department arrived the FIRE had
already gained considerable Roadway
under the metal covering Of the roof
The hremen had great difficulty in
getting their lines of hose on the roof.
The distance from the ground was over
100 feet, the smoke was overpowering
and they were compelled to 90 on the
roof and cut holes in the metal sheath-
ing and run in their streams in that
way. To do this heavy lines Of hose
had to be drawn to the root. 1t re-
wired time, and when the streams began
to play the fire had creps along from
the senate wing to the base of the dome.
Here, fortunately, was brick hrewall
completely shutting off the rest of the
building.
The strong wind, however, caused the
flames to burn fercely and dense VOL
umeB OF smoke came from all quarters
| OF the state house. Through the win
dows at the base of the dome the smoke
oozed out and gave the impression that
the whole building was a6re. The
frightened employees in the various de-
partments OF the capitol were n q state
OF pauic. Hundreds of people crowded
into the building to watch the fire and
fear was expressed that the flames would
eat their way to the inner dome which
Ia OF pine wood. At 1870, however, the
fire WAS under control and shortly after.
ward was out.
Quantities of water poured in through
the ceiling, causing considerable dam
age to the freecoes and ornamental re-
liefs In the Senate chamber. The
smoke penetrated all parts Of the west
wing, anu mas proDeDly caused much
damage to the walls. Both Libraries
were uninjured. Before the fire got
we'll started the doors were closed, and
these parts OF the building, with the
chamber OF the house, were totally up-
injured. Fear thas the fire would
spread caused several Of the State off,
;ials to make preparation to move out
the property left In their charge.
The sdjutant general, who has in his
| care trophies and relics OF Mexican and
Civil wars, the battle flags, made ar
rangements to take them 10 a place of
safety. In the treRsurer's. auditors
and other Offices, all the books and
money were placed in she vaults and
the employees moved out, fearing that
the ceilings might fall The origin of
the fire is supposed TO have been tin
ner's furnace, which had been left on
the roof at dinner time by the men who
were engaged in making repairs. There
is no insurance.
A large force of men has been set TO
work to repair the damage. 1t is feared
that some OF the steel supports beneath
the roof where the FIRE originated, have
been so warped that they will have to
be replaced with new ones. Should
this be the case the entire west side
will have to be torn out and rebuilt.