The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-02-03
NOT MUCH LOSS
The Total Destruction OF Pennsyl.
yania's Capitol Building,
1T WAS VERY OLD-FASHIONED

i N 4 IN.Ll La MI
~ MAO YENI uLUsTAoEIlUNEU
And the Fire was Visitation that viii ]
NJ. T..,,,,,,... 1,..,,,. p,,., T,,.,,
- vs. ','-''-s 80.
Ought 70 Have Been Lodged Ia Bnlld-
Ing More Bshttlnr the Wealth and Dig
ni'y Oh tl'e s'a'e-1 VI" Ne'ltury DAT
rackG That Should Have Been DemOl.
,...,-, .,,,,.-,.
''"e" '''' :" "
burg Fire Department BlRmed for tho
D,.,.,.. .
HARRISBURG, Pa, Feb. 2.-The
pe,rsviyor,n stot, cnnI,ol wos de-
strOyed Dy ilre this afternoon me ies1s'
lntlve halls are in ruins ana u now
| structure must rise from the ashes TINT
~, .a,,,s,t as r,o,,I,,, ,,ooo or tb,.
nus sei Ntu "s Z" Liss''"b P'hev
PennsylVania Legislature since lSzZ' Ihs
flames within theshurt space OF one hour
~, -, ,,,o ,,,uitor ava 1, bolF 1oIiora'
A'N
worth OF properly me lhe'HeleHeS VI
the Harrisburg volunteer fire depart
ment is generally blamed.
The house was in session and the SEN
ate was about 70 convene after a few
minutes recess about O'Clock when the
flames were discovered. Smoke could
into the capitol grounds from the house
windows. The members were not mind
ful Of II until the great clouds rolled by
the windows. Instantly there wns
motion to adjourn, and all was con-
sternntlon.
In the senate the members were lollIng
about in their seats. The place began
to smell the smoke and son dense clouds
rolled down the rear elevator shaft.
Senator John c. Grady, OF Philadelphia,
quickly warned the senators and there
was n general hustle TO remove effects.
Fire alarms We're sent in, and the dig
nified senate became mass OF bowling
men. Desks We're being 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 lieu
tenant governors chamber, where the
fire originated. Tho fire department
was slow to arrive and the hose men
about the capitol were doing their ut-
most to check the blaze II was useless.
The fire licked up the little streams OF
water. At last the local copanies start
ed streams on the senate wing roof, now
q 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 sem
ate chamber The men who were trying
to recover property were driven out.
The fiames shot along the senate roof.
wound themselves about the dome and
ont othe roof OF the house chamber. AL
snow falling, the wood work burned ike
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 We're
slightly injured by falling timberE For
n time Il looked us though the adJoins
ing department buildings would be de-
stroyed, but q shifting wind saved them.
About 3 O'clock the flames We're under
control, the fire having been confined
TO the capitol building.
The records OF the gesSiOn were snved.
The contractor for the improvements
in progress had an Insurance OF $4,000.
his contract not being ilnished; Ihe De-
the following: Senate and house COM
mIttee rooms. senate Librarians room,
senate chief clerk room, smoking room,
barber sop IN senate lieutenant COVER
nOr's room, room of president pro TEN.
school department, house chief clerks
room, speaker of the house room, resi-
dent clerks room, two telegraph offices,
room OF the Harrisburg legislative cor
respondents association. paster and
folders departments, cloak rooms III
both branches and the engine rooms.
There is talk Of finishing the session
either In Pittsburgh or Philadelphia,
but Senate Librarian Miller says room
can be secured here.
Superintendent of Public Buildings
Delaney, who estimates the total loss
10 be 81 500, 900, said:
~ will fight for the rebuilding on the
colonial Style. We will have u meeting
of the building committee as soon as the
house and senate committees can be
appointed, 1 don't think that II Is pos
sible 10 take the session away from
Harrisburg, which city ls named In the
constitution as the place of meeting"
There Is not much over 100000 insur-
ance on the building and contents, nc-
cording to the statement OF the treasury
officials.
tho century. but was nevertheless re-
p5,rfled az one OF the hnndaomest speCi-
mems OF Ionic architecture in the coun-
irv The building was of red brick,
with white trimmings. 1t was sur
ronndpd nv n park of ten acres and stood
an nm cminencn almost in the centre OF
tho cIty iTho main structure was two
and ore.half stories high, surmounted
bv n large dome. from which fine view
Of the surrounding country could be
-