The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-02-03
1T WAS REDUCED TO ASHES
Historic State Capitol Burned u
the Ground. II
STRUCTURE HAD STOOD SINCE 1922.
Senators Were Unable to Remove All
OF Their Property In the senate
Chambcr--Thc Loss In Heavy.

liarr,eburs Pa. February 2.--trhc Penn.
sy>Wnia STATE capitol was destroyed BY
fire this afternoon: the Legislative hufis
arc In ruins and rev structure must
rise from the asher of the building thnf
has served as n meeting place for the
Pennsylvania legislature since 1872. Tho
flames. within the short spaco OF nm hour,
ate ur si.bco.ooo worth OF property. The
inefiiclemcy OF the Harrisburg volurtcsr
fire department is generally blamed.
The house was In session ana the sonata
was about to convene, after few uhnutc1
recess. about o'clock. when the fiamts
Were discovered. Senator John O. Grady
OF Philadelphia quietly warned the sem
ators and there was Il general hustlinE to
remove effects. Fire alarms were sent IN
aud the senate became a mass OF howEng
men, Desks we're icrked loose and cor
rlcd out. The same work was going on
In the house chamber.
Out In the grounds great crowds quickly
gathered. Tho flames were then shooting
out %! tho roof ovcr the lieutenant sov-
urnor' y chamber, where tho fire. or ginated.
The IRE department. WAS slow to arrive
and tho hoscmen about the capitol were
doing thor utmost TO cheek the blaze 1t
was useless. The fire licked up the lHtl0
streams OF water. fiapdly the flames do.
stroyed the roof and ate their way down
into tho senate chamber. The mon who
were trying TO rn.over their properly
were driven out. The flames shot along
he senate roof. wound Themselves about
Tho denic aud on 10 tho roof of the house
chamber. Although there was heavy
rain AMI snow fnainR the woodwork burn.
Oi like finder. Soon there wsls fro in every
portion OF the building and there waa no
hone for the historic structure During
the fiiN several PERSONS were EllIhtly In.
iured by ialling tmbers
For 81 Time dt looked us though the adj
Joining department buildings would be do
stroNed. but the shifting OF the wind saved
them. About O'clock tho flames wsre
under control. the fire having been con-
fined to the capitol building. The records
OF this session wcre saved. There Is talk
OF finishing the session either IN Pittsburk
or Philadelphia, but Senate Librarian NM
Ter says building can he secured here.
Suncr iutesndvlt of Public Buildings De
l9noN ostimAtes the total loss 10 be 81, 800,
Op There is not much over $780, 900 insur.
hnce on the building and contents Accord
ing to the statement OF tho treasury ofn-
Gals. The burned capitol was butlt early
NJ the century. but was regarded as one
OF the fandsomest specimens OF lonN
architecture IN the country, The b,ridtuE
was of red brick with white trirnnrfnEs
IL was surrounded by a park OF ton acfes
ana stood on an fstancncc almost in thu
ccftcr OF the city. The main structure waa
two and q hnlf stores high sirmotinted
by large dome. from which fliic view
Of the surrounding country could he had.
Y he corner stone was laid on NAV 81. INA
The building wns frs, occupied In 1899.
IN each eide was a wing. that on the
the southern wing by the house AT caci,
end or the building. separated from II by
narrow ~pnce. are located this two b,liii
ings containing tho State treasury depart-
niicnt, tho adintnnt generals Office and
other State offices. Tho adjoining build.
iugS saved.