New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-03
A STATE CAPITOL BURNED.
LAWMAKERS FORCED
TO FLEE FOR THEIR LIVES

FIRE BROKE OUT AS THE LEGISLATURE WAS
ABOUT TO MEET AID QUICKLY REDUCED
THE BUILDING TO RUISs-MANY vALu-
ABLE RECORDS DESTROYED AND
SOME LIVES POSSIBLY LOST.
Harrisburg, Penn. Feb. "a fire which start
cd in the rooms Of Lieutenant-Governor Lyon
some time this morning swept through the an
Gent Capitol Of Pennsylvania. and within an
hour and a half after the breaking out Of the
flames the structure in ruins. The Senate
and House were about to reconvene for their ar
ternoon session when the fire burst through the
walls. and the lawmakers were driven for their
lives to the open air. So far as known no one
was killed. but a number Of people were in the
building trying to save furniture and other ef-
fccts when the dome fell in and It Is possible
that some may be buried under the ruins. Sew
eral people were cut and bruised or half smoth-
cred by smoke. but no one seriously hurt
The most valuable OF the State and legislative
records which were in the building were saved
but the records and statistics OF the Department
Of Public instruction. which included much val
liable Information bearing upon the public
schools of the State were destroyed. The Legis
lature will find a temporary home tomorrow. the
Senate In the rooms Of the supreme Court. and
the House in the United States District Court. In
the Postoffice Building, and the Legislature Will
at once take steps to have the Capitol rebuilt.
The loss is estimated at nearly 81 100000, on
which there Is an insurance Of but 100000. The
origin Of the fire is unknown.
THE ALARM IL THE SENATE
During the morning session OF the Senate
smoke was smelled. but could not be traced and
little heed was given 10 IT, Shortly before ]
o'clock as the President OF tho Senate was call
ing that body to order puff Of smoke made
its way to the chamber. Some excitement fol-
lowed but as the Capitol has frequently been
visited by Slight fires since its erection, and as
the bindings employees had never had any
trouble in putting them out IT was thought that
the smoke could he traced 70 its source and the
fire extingushed with bucket or two of water
Chief Clerk Smiley improvised a hasty bucket
brigade made up Of Senate attaches and Sena-
tors This amateur fire force traced the fire 10
the magnificent apartments Of Lieutenant-GoV-
ernor Lyon on the floor above the Senate cham
ber An axe speedily shivered the WOODWORK
and a column Of flame shot out. The efforts
Of the bucket brigade were useless. as the dry
and rotten timbers composing the ratters ana
ioists Of the building burned Ike gun cotton
and the fire ate It's way downward ana through
the ceiling into the Senate chamber. Then some
one bethought himself Of calling the city Fire
Department. but In the excitement box was
struck which did not summon the firemen to
the Capitol This further delay gave an OPP
portunity for the fire to srread
Whsn II seemed that the building was in ser1-
Gus danger the Senate attaches turned their
attention 20 saving the Senate and State rec
ords and the handsome furniture. and before
the worl, was completed many Of the men were
laborng at the risk Of their lives in sitting
atmosphere and amid falling brands
AssEMBLYMEN's LIVES IN PERIL"
In tho opposte wing Of the building the House
had been about to reconvene at the same trne
as the Senate. Only an ordinary interest was
AZ first given by the Assemblymen and the peo-
pIe in the gallery to the smell OF smoke and the
excitement and hustle in the rotunda opposite
BY the time the people in the House had realized
the seriousness OF the situation they were IN
peril OF their lives. The flames and smoke made
their way into the chamber and drove the
throng headorg before them
So rand was their advance that some people
had no time To make their escape by the doors
but were compelled to jump from the windows
10 the ground. This was the case with the
legislative reporters of the United Associated
Presses. Not thinking the danger imminent
as II was they remained in the rotunda ming
bulletins az the Western Union Ielegrapn OF
flee While at this work the scafolding Which
had been used by painters who were decorating
the dome fell with crash TO save their HVes
both men jumped from a window and escaped
with slight injury
THE FIREMEN BAFFLED.
Nv the time the City Fire Department had ar
rived on the scene the flames were pouring
through the roof OF the building. a driving
snowstorm and strong northwest wind
doomed the building to destruction. The fre-
fhn
Of the structure crashed downward. The hre-
mon then turned their attention 20 saving al
toining department buildings. and in TINS they
we're successful. Within an hour and mar
after the fire broke out the building was IN
ruins. ,.,
The state Capitol a handsome brlck
structure standing on "A Knoll IN PARK oI Yen
acres 1t was $50 feet long ana NJ feet "iue,
with n circular Ionic pOrticO in front and was
surmounted by a fine dome 1t was begun in
1914 and first occupied on January ~. lS2Z Inc
original cost Of the structure. including grounds
vac Soo1 ISS hut since its erection II had been
Frequently ernbellished at large cost. Wlthln
tho last two wears il had been remodelled at
q cost of SlJOO0D. and the handsome Ircscolne
in the legislative chambers was uncompleted
rrha caritol was occupied by the House and
Senate the Offices OF IN" clerks ana senate IL
hrarian House and Senate Committee rooms.
Tho state Forestry Commission, the Game Com
mission the acknowledgements apartments.
rooms for the President pro TEN. or the SEN
a.o and the Sneaker of the House. offices of the
SUPERINTENDENT Of Public instruction. the resi-
don't and chief clerks apartments and news
paper rooms.
4. CARICATCRE or MOTT ~ SNOW.