Kansas City daily journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1892-1897, 1897-02-03
PENNsYLVANIA'S STATE HOUSE DE-
STRoYED By FIRE.
LOSS is A MILLION AND A HALF
STRUCTURE 4 MAGNIFICENT ONE,
ALTHOUGH BUILT IN 1870.
Legislature Mas in Session at the
Time of the Fire-AII Its Records
Were Sayed-CnpitOI Likely
10 BE Rebuilt Mt Once
Other Accidents.

Harrisburg, Pa. Feb. 2.-Tle Pcnnsyl-
vania state capitol was destroyed by ire
this afternoon. the legislative halls are in
ruins and new structure must rise from
the ashes of what served as meeting
place of The state legislature since 1872. The
flames, within the short space of one hour'
ate up 81 100000 worth of property. The in
efficiency of the Harrisburg volunteer tre
department is generally blamed
The house was in session and the senate
was about to convene. 1t was about
O'Clock when the flames were discovered.
Smoke could be seen in small volumes
pouring out into the capitol grounds from
the house windows. The members were
rot mindful of it until the great clouds
rolled by the window. Instantly there was
a motion TO adjourn, and all WAS conster-
nation. In the senate, the members were
lolling about in their seats. The place be-
gan to smell of smoke and soon deep clouds
of smoke came down the rear elevator
shaft. Senator Grady. of Philadelphia.
quickly warned the senators and there was
I; hustle TO remove effects. Fire alarms
were sent ILL., and the senate became Il mass
of bowling men. Desks were being jerkcd
loose and carried out. The same work was
going on in the house chamber.
out in the grounds great crowds quickly
gathered. The flames were then shooting
out of the roof over the lieutenant gov
crnors chamber. where the fire originated.
The fire department was Slow 10 arrive
and those men about the capitol were do
ing their utmost to check the blaze. 1t
was useless. The fire licked up the little
streams of water. At last the local COM
panies started streams on the senate wing
roof, now sheet of flames. The water
had hardly force enough to reach the
blaze.
Rapidly the flames destroyed the roof and
ate their way down into the senate cham
ber. The men who were trying to save
property were driven out. The flames shot
along the senate roof. wound themselves
house chamber. Although there was a
heavy rain and snowfall, the woodwork
burned like tinder. Soon there was a fire
in every portion of the building, and there
was no hope for the historic structure.
During the fire several persons were
slightly injured by falling timbers. For Il
ment buildings would be destroyed, but a
shifting wind saved them. About 2 o'clock
the flames were under control, the fire hav-
ing been confined to the capitol building.
The records of the session were saved
There is talk of finishing the session in
Pittsburg or Philadelphia. but Senate Lii
brarian Miller says building can be Sc
cured here.
Superintendent of Public Buildings Della
ney, who estimates the total loss to be
81, ,500OO said: Il will fight for rebuilding
on the colonial style. We will have meet
ing of the building committee as soon as
the house and senate committees can be
appointed. don't think it is possible to
take the session away from Harrisburg.
which city is named in the constitution as
the place of meeting
There is not much over 100000 insurance
on the building and contents. according to
the statement of the treasury officials.
The burned capitol was built early in the
century. but was, nevertheless. regarded as
one of the handsomest specimens of Ionic
architecture in the country. The building
was of red brick. with white trimmings It
was surrounded by Il park of ten acres and
stood on an eminence almost in the center
of the city. The main structure was two
and half stories high, Surmounted by d
large dome. from which fine view of the
surrounding country couldsbe had. The cap
itols dimensions were: Length. $50 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 on the
Sd of January. 1922
On each side was a wing. that on the
north being occupied by the. Spnate. and
the southern wing by the house At each
end of the building. separated from il by
a narrow space. are located two buildings
containing the state treasury department
ana adJutant generals office and other
state Offices About 100 feet south is the
modern granite juilding known as the ex-
ecutiNe building. recently erected at a cost
of nearly a million dollars. for the accom-
and secretary of state This building also
shelters the state library. and a portion of
is one of the finest in the world. and until
two years ago it was quartered in the
structure destroyed to-day. II was the dam
ger from fire that constantly menaCed the
library in the old building that induced the
authorities to erect the tireproof structure
in which il is now located.
There are three fire comDaninS nm tho
ground tonight. and the fire stin burns in
the cellar and part of the house.
President Pro TEN McCarrell of the sem
ate. and Speake- Boyer. of the house
ani the members of the board of public
property met this evening to arrange for
places Of meeting for both branches of the
legislature tomorrow II was decided that
the senate shall meet in the supreme court
room, AID arrangements were made for
the meeting of the house in Il room on the
second floor o. the pOStOfiicc building.
Governor Hastings is expected TO send a
message TO the legislature tomorrow
morning in reference TO the destruction of
the capitol building and recommending i'm
mediate action by the Legislature with a
view to its restoration