The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-02-03
Pensylvania's Capitol, a. Mass
of Ruins.
THE LOSS WAS SL6oo,ooo
THE HOUSE AND SENATE WERE
IN SESSION.
THE BUILDING "a YEARS OLD
No One Fatally Hurt--The Records of
the Session Were Saved--Not Over
100000 Insurance on Build
ing and Contents.
ing and Contents.

Harrisburg, Pa, Feb 2.-The State
Capitol was to-day entirely destroyed by
fire, together with valuable papers and
records The loss on the building is
estimated at $1,50O,000 while no money
value can be placed on the records con
sumed by the flames. The fire was dis
covered about one O'Clock, and in an hour
nothing but a mass of ruins remained OF
the historic building, which was erected
in 1922.
The House was in session, and the
Senate was about to convene after q few
minutes recess, when the flames were dis
covered. Smoke could be seen in small
volumes pouring from the House win
dows. The members were not mindful
of it until the great clouds rolled by the
windows. Instantly there was a motion
to adjourn, and all was CONSERVATION.
In the Senate Senator john G.. Grady,
Of Philadelphia, warned the Senators,
and there was general hustle TO remove
effects.
BY this time flames were shooting out
of the roof over the Lieutenant Govern
or's chamber, where the fire originated.
The fire department was slow to arrive,
and the hosemen about the Capitol were
doing their utmost to check the blaze.
At last the local companies started and
streamed on the Senate wing roof, now
sheet of flames. The water had hard
ly force enough TO reach the blaze.
Rapidly the flames destroyed the roof
and ate their way downNinto the Senate
chamber. Soon the met1 who were try
ing to recover property were driven out.
The flames shot along the slate roof,
wound themselves about the dome and on
to the roof of the House chamber. AL
though there was heavy rain and snow
falling, the woodwork burned like tinder.
Soon there was fire in every portion of
the building, and it became evident that
there was no more hope for the historic
structure.
Pretty soon those who fingered on the
border of the Senate chamber saw a
bright fame leap out from
above the Speakers chair, and
then around the chandeliers
appeared tiny tongues Of flames that
licked away the frescoeing on the cell
ing and burned the fastenings of the
chandeliers which came down with a
crash 1t was plain that the old building
was doomed.
Then the fire leaped the rotunda and
was climbing up through the dome and
back into what was known as the old
State Library section of the building, oc-
cupied as committee rooms, and by the
president protem, with a large caucus
room at the end. A shower of sparks
dropped from above into the rotunda
with a loud cracking noise, and then a
burst of fame swept through the doors
and into the House which had adjourned
sometime before. Warning was sounded
that the portion Of the building beneath
the Old Library was on fire. But beyond
the saving of a few chairs and tables,
there was nothing of value gotten out of
the building.
About o'clock the fire was under con-
troll.
During the fire numerous people were
injured by falling timbers and by severad
small explosions. No one was fatally
hurt, however. For a time it looked as
though the adjoining department build
ings would be destroyed, but a shifting
wind saved them. The records of this
session have been saved. Meetings of
House and Senate will be held to-mor-
row to define what will be done.
There is talk Of finishing the session
either in Pittsburg or Philadelphia. Sen
ate librarian Miller says building cam
be secured here
Superintendent of Public Buildings
Delaney places the. loss at $1,5O0,00O.
II will," he said flight for the re
building ON the colonial style We will
have meeting of the building commit
tee as soon as the House and Senate
committees can be appointed. / don't
think that it is possible to take the ses-
sion away from Harrisburg, which city
is manned in the Constitution as THE place
Of meeting"
The contractor for the improvements
in progress had an insurance of $4,000,
his contract not being finished There
is not much over 100000 insurance ON
the building and contents according to |
the statement of the treasury officials. |
There was 100000 ON the capitol build |
ing while the State library was in it. |
After it was removed to another struct- |
ure the insurance on the legislative halls /
was reduced to 100000. In addition to
this there is $123, 900 insurance carried /
ON all the State buildings.
The capitol was built early i'm the cen
tury, but was never regarded as one of
the handsomest specimens of ionic archi-
lecture in the country. The building was
of red brick with white trimmings. 1t
was surrounded by park of ten acres
and stood on an eminence almost In the
centre Of the city. The main structure
was two and one half stories high, sur
by a large dome. The building
was finished in 1921 and was first occu-
pied by the General Assembly ON the
third Of January, 1892.
WILL MEET TO-DAY.
Harrisburg, Pa. Feb. president