Red Lodge picket. [volume] (Red Lodge, Mont.) 1889-1907, 1897-02-06
THE CAPITOL IN RUINS
HISTORIC STRUCTURE ATT HARRIS
BuRG DESTROYED BY FIRE.
Served as the Meeting Place OF the
FeIHs'iN;sni;s State Legislature
for Seyenty-Five Years.

Harrisburg. Pa, Feb. 2.-The Pennsyl-
vania state capitol was destroyed by fire
this afternoon The legislative halls are
in ruins and 4 new structure must ,ise
from the ashes Of the structure that has
served as a meeting place of the state
legislature since 1S22. The flames within
the short space of an hour ate up 81 aU0-
G00 worth of property. The ineftcency
OF the Harrisburg volunteer fire depart
ment is generally blamed.
The house was in session and was about
to convene after a few minutes recess
1t was about i o'clock when the flames
were discovered. Smoke could be seen III
small volumes pouring out into the cap
ltol grounds by the house windows The
members We're not mindful of it until tie
great clouds rolled by the windows IN
stantly there was Il 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 clouds cf smoke came down
the rear elevator shaft. Senator Grady of
Philadelphia quickly warned the sena-
tors and there Was Il hustle to remove
effects. Fire alarms were sent in and
the senate became a mass of howling
men Desks were being jerked loose and
carried out. Out in the grounds great
crowds quickly gathered. The flames
were then shooting out of the roof over
the lieutenant governors chambers |
where the fire originated. The fire de-
paftment was slow to arrive and those |
about the capitol was doing their utmost |
to check the blaze. AT last the local COM |
panies started streams on the senate |
wing. 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 chamber
The men who We're trying to save prop |
erty were driven out. The flames shot
along the senate roof wound themselves
about the dome and ON to the roof of
the house chamber. Although there was
a heavy rain and snow fan the wood
burned like tinder Soon there was a
fire in every portion of the building and
there was no hope for the historic struc-
ture.
During the fire several persons were
slightly injured by falling timbers. For
d time it looked as though the adjoining
but a shifting wind saved them.
About O'Clock the flames were under
the fire having been confined to
the capitol luilding.
The records of this session were saved
The contractor for the improvements in
progress held an Insurance of $4,000. his
contract not being finished.
The Dei,mrt7siastS isurnetg
ri in bs |
were the following: Senate and house
room, senate librarians room,
senate clerks room, smoking room. bar
GER shop in the senate. lieutenant govern
or's room, room of the president pro TEN.
school department, house chief clerk $
room. speaker of the house room. resi-
lent clerks room two telegraph Offices,
soon of the Harrisburg legislative cor
respondent association, pastors and fold
srs departments cloak rooms in both
branches and the engine rooms
There is talk of finishing the session
ther in Pittsburg or Philadelphia, but
he senate Librarian, Mr.. Miller says a
building can be secured here.
Superintendent of Public Buildings De-
aney, who estimates the loss to be 81, ,500-
90, said: Il will fight for rebuilding on
he colonial style. We will have meet
ng of the building committee as soon as
he house ana senate committees can be
ppointed. do not think it is possible to |
AXE the session away from Harrisburg,
yhich city is named in the constitution as
he place of meeting.
There is not much over $100 900 insurance |
n the building and contents, according to
he statement Of the treasury officials.
Description of the Etuiilin2.
The burned capitol WAS built early IN |
he century, but was, nevertheless, re- |
arded as one of the handsomest speci- |
lens of Ionic architecture in the country |
he building was of red brick with white |
1t was surrounded by a park |
+ 10 acres and stood on an eminence al |
lost in the center of the city. The main |
tt ucture was two and half stories high. |
by low dome from which q !
ne view of the surrounding country
ould be had. The capitol's dimensions |
ere: Length, 1SG feet; width, so feet. The |
was laid on May 81. 1919, by |
Governor Findlay. The building was fin
she'd in 1921 and was first occupied by the |
eneral assembly on the So OF January, |
20. On each side was a wing-that on | l
he north being occupied by the senate, {
nd the southern wing by the house. At ! I
ach end of the building, separated from | 8
by narrow space, are located two
uidings containing the treasury depart i
1ent and adjutant generals office and '
ther state offices. About 100 feet south is t
ne modern granite building known as the !
xecutive building. recently erected at a {
ost of nearly 100000, for the accommo- | '
alton of the governor, attorney general a
nd secretary of state. This building also a
aelters the state library and portion of it | L
used as a state museum. The library is | d
ne OF the finest in the world, and until
NO years ago was CHARTERED in the struc- [
ire destroyed today. 1t was the danger |
'om fire that constantly menaced the Ii
rary in the old building that induced the
uthorites to erect the fre-proof struc-
lre in which it is now located. H.
Fire Stiii Burning. g
There are three fire companies on the c
round tonight, and the fire still burns in |
le cellar and part of the house. In
President Pro Tenn. McCarroll of the tt
enate and the members of the board of | II
ublic property met this evening to ar n
:nge for places OF meeting for both /
ranches of the legislature tomorrow. it I
as decided that the senate should meet |
the supreme court room. and arrange | fl
tents We're made for the meeting of the |
ouse in a room in the postoffice building. y
is VISITING IN PARIS. t'
u nterxis.<yinnc High, Officials on the / \