The Indianapolis journal., 1897-02-03
Smoke Filled the Structure While the
Assembly Was i'm Session and
Almost Caused n Panic.
LOSS PLACED AT $1,50O,O0O
DEPARTMENT BUILDINGS SAVED BN
A CHANGE OF THE WIND.
NOIunteer Firemen Incompetent 10
Fight the Fla lames-TemPOraryQ Quar-
ters Secured for the Lawmakers.

HARRISBURG, Pa, Feb. 2.-The Penn
sylvania State Capitol was destroyed by
fire this afternoon. The legislative halls
are i'm ruins. and new structure must
rise from the ashes that has served
meeting place of the Pennsylvania Legisla-
ture since 1S22. The flames within the short
space of one hour ate up one million and a
half dollars worth of property. The in
efficiency of the Harrisburg Volunteer Fire
Department is generally blamed.
The House was in session and the Senate
was about to convene, after "a few minutes
recess. about l o'clock. when the flames
were discovered Smoke could be seen in
small volumes pouring out into the Capt.
tol grounds from the House windows. The
members were not mindful of it until the
great clouds rolled by the windows. In
stantly there motion to adjourn and
all was CONSERVATION. In the Senate the
members were lolling about in their seats.
The place began TO smell of smoke, and
soon dense clouds rolled down the
elevator shaft. Senator John G. Grady, of
Philadelphia, quickly warned the Senator'S.
and there was a general hustle TO remove
effects. Fire alarms were sent in, and the
dignified Senate became a mass of bowling
men. Desks were being Jerked loose and
carried out. Tho same work was going
on in the House chamber.
Out in the the grounds great crowds
quickly gathered. The flames were then
shooting out OF the roof over the lieuten-
ant governors chamber. where the fire
originated. The fire department was slow
to arrive. and the hosemen about the Capt.
tol were doing their utmost 10 check the
blaze. 1t was useless. The fire licked up
the little streams of water. At last the
local companies started streams on the
Senate wing roof. now sheet of flames.
The water had hardly force enough to
reach the blaze Rapidly the flames de-
strcyed the roof and ate their way down
into the Senate chamber. The men who
were trying to recover property were driv-
| en- out. Tn. flames shot along the Senate
| roof. wound themselves about the dome.
and OF. TO the roof of the House chamber.
Although there was a heavy ram and snow
| falling. the woodwork burned like tinder.
! Soon there was fire in every portion of
| the building and there was no hope for
| the historic structure.
SEVERAL PEOPLE INJURED.
During the fire several persons were
| slightly injured by falling tmbers. For Il
| time it looked as though the adjoining de-
| a shifting wind saved them About OF CLOCK
| the flames were under control. the fire hav-
ing been confined to the Capitol building
The records of this session were saved. The
| contractor for the improvements in prog
| ress had an insurance of $40, 0O0 his CONTRACT
| not being finished
The departments i'm the burned building
| were the following: Senate and House ana
| committee rooms: Senate librarians room
room of the Senate chief clerk, smoking
| ROOM barber shop in Senate, the lieuten-
ant governor room, the room of the pres
| ident pro tenn, school department, House
| chief clerk S room, the resident clerk 5
/ room. two telegraph Offices room of the
| Harrisburg Legislative Correspondents AS
| ISOLATION paster and folders department.
| cloak rooms in both branches and the en-
| gine rooms.
| There is talk of finishing the session
| either in Pittsburg or Philadelphia, but
| Senate Librarian Miller says building can
| be secured here Superintendent of Public
! Buildings Delaney. who estimated the total
| loss to be $1,J000O0. said II will fight for
the rebuilding on the colonial style. We
| will have a meeting of the building commit
| tee as soon as the House and Senate com
.mittees can be appointed. | don't think
| that il is possible to take the session away
| from Harrisburg. which city is named i'm
| the Constitution as the place of meeting"
President Pro Tenn. McCarell of the Sen
ate. and Speaker Boyer, of the House. ana
| the members of the board of public prop
! erty met this evening to arrange for places
of meeting for both branches of the Legis-
lature tomorrow. 1t was decided that the
Senate shall meet in the Supreme Court
| md 40 For
meeting of the House in a room on the Sec
ond floor of the postoffice building Gov
ernor Hastings is expected to. send mes
| sage TO the Legislature tomorrow morning
| I'm reference to the destruction of the Capt
| tol building and recommending immediate t.
action on the part of the Legislature with
| a view to the restoration of the Capito
building. 1t is likely that joint sessions OF
both branches of the Legislature Will Do
held tomorrow or Thursday to decide upon
the future meeting places.
THE BURNED STRUCTURE
The burned Capitol was built early i'm the
century, but was nevertheless regarded a.
one of the handsomest specimens of Ionic
architecture in the country. The building
was of red brick, with white trimmings
1t was surrounded by a park of ten acres
and stood eminence almost in the
center of the city. The main structure was
two and one-half stories high. surmoUuted
by large dome from which a fine view
OF the surrounding country could be had
The Capitol's dimensions were: Length, Isl
feet; width, 50 feet. The cornerstone was
laid on May 81. 1919. by Governor Findlay
The building was finished in 1921. and was
first occupied by the General Assembly or
the Sd of January. lS22. On each side was
a wing, that on the north being occupied
by the Senate and the southern wing by
the House.
At each end of the building separated
1 4 hx- y