The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-02-04
THE STATE CAPITOL OF PENN.
SYLVANIA, COMPLETED IN
1922, is IN RUINS.
THE LEGISLATURE WAS IN SESSION
The Grave Solons Adjourned Without
the Usual Formalities-Los Esti-
mated at $1,5OO,0OO, All Con-
sumed Within an Hour.

l1arrlSDUrS, 1u., TeD. - He eiil-
sylvania state capitol was destroyed by
fire this afternoon, the legislative halls
are in ruins and Il new structure must
rise from the ashes of the building that
has served as a meeting place for the
Pennsylvania legislature since 1922. The
flames, in the short space of an hour, ate
up $1,500,000 worth of property. The
inefficiency of the Harrisburg volunteer
fire department is generally blamed.
The house was in session and the
senate was about to reconvene after a
few minutes recess about o'clock when
the flames were discovered.
Senator John Grady of Philadelphia
quietly warned the senator's and there
was Il general hustle to remove effects.
Fire alarms were sent in and the digni-
fed body became mass of bowling men.
Desks were jerked 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 governors Office,
where the fire originated.
The fire department was slow to ar.
rive and the men about the capitol were
doing their best to check the blaze. II
was useless. The fire licked up the
little streams of water. Rapidly the
flames destroyed the roof and ate theil
way down into the senate chamber. The
| men who were trying to save property
were driven out The flames shot along
the senate roof, wound themselves about
| chamber
Although there was heavy rain and
snow falling, the woodwork burned like
tinder, Soon there was fire in every
portion of the building and there was nc
hope for the historic structure.
During the fire several persons wers
slightly injured by falling timbers.
For time it looked as though the ad
| joining department buildings would bt
| destroyed, but Il shifting of the wind
! saved them.
About . o'clock the flames were under
control, the fire having been confined tt
the capitol building. The records of this
| session were saved. There is talk OF
finishing the session either in Pittsburg
| or Philadelphia, but it is said the state
| library can be secured here.
The total loss is estimated to be about
S1,50O,O00. There is not much ovel
100000 insurance on the building and
| contents, according to the statement OF
the state treasurer.
The burned capitol was built early in
the century and was 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
i'll the center of the city. The main
structure was two and one-half stories
high, surmounted by large DOME from
which fine view of the surrounding
country could be had. The corner stone
was laid on May 81, 1919. The building
was first occupied in 1922. On each
SIDE was wing, that to the north being
occupied by the senate and the southern
wing by the house. AT each end of the
building, separated from it by narrow
stairway, are located two buildings con
tanning the treasury department and the
adjutant generals Office and other state
offices. The adjoining buildings were
saved.