The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1897-02-05
HOMELESS SOLONS
Pennsylvania Legislators Seek
Temporary Quarters.
YESTERDAYS FIRE LOSS St,OOO,OOt
The Handsome and Ancient Capitol q
Mass of Rhinestone Valuable REQ.
Ords Lost---Narrow Escapes
of Assemblymen.

Harrisburg, Feb. 3.-The state legis.
lature, which was rendered homeless
yesteday by the complete destruction
by fire of the ancient capitol of Penn
sylvania, will find temporary quarters
to-da3, the senate in the rooms of the
supreme court, and the house in the
United States district court in the post
Office building. Quarters will also be
secured for the different state officers
Steps will be taken at once for the re
building of the capitol, and it is the
intention to endeavor to have one OF
the finest buildings in the country
erected. The loss by the fire is placed
at nearly S1,OoO,OOO, with insurance
of but $200,OO0. The origin of the
fire is not known. 1t started
In the rooms of Lieut. Gov. Lyons, swept
through the capitol, and, within an
hour and half after the breaking out
of the flames the structure was in
ruins. The senate and house were
about to reconvene for their afternoon
session when the fire burst through the
walls and the lawmakers were driver;
for their lives to the open air. AS fal
as known no one was killed, but
nu nber of people were in the building
trying to save furniture and other
effects when the dome fell in, and it is
possible that some one may be buried
under the ruins. Quite anumber of peo
pie were cut and bruised or hall
smothered by smoke, but no one wa
seriously hurt. The most valuable OIL
the state and legislative records which
were in the building were saved, but
the records and statistics of the depart
ment of public instruction, which in
cluded much valuable information
bearing upon the public schools of the
state, were destroyed.
Senators Form Bucket Brigade.
During the morning session smoke
was smelt, but could not be traced,
and but little heed was given to it.
Shortly before o'clock, as the presi-
dent of the senate was rapping that
body to order, puff of smoke made
its way into the chamber. Some little
excitement followed, but as the capitol
has frequently been visited by slight
fires since it's erection, and as the build
ing's employees have never had any
trouble in putting them out, it was
thought that the smoke could be traced
toits source and the fire extinguished
with bucket or two of water. Chief
Clerk Smiley improvised bucket bri-
gade, made up of senate attaches and
senators. The amateur fire force traced
the fire to the magnificent apartments
of Lieut.-Gov. Lyon on the floor above
the senate chamber. An axe speedily
shivered the woodwork and q column
of flame shot out. The efforts of the
bucket brigade were useless, as the
dry and rotten timbers composing the
rafters and joists of the building
burned like guncotton and the fire ate
its way downward and through the
ceiling into the senate chamber. Then
some one bethought him of calling the
fire department, but in the excitement
a box was struck which did not sum-
mon the fremen to the capitol. The
further delay gave the fire opportunity
to spread.
Narrow Escapes from the House Chamber.
When it seemed that the building
was in serious danger the senate at
taches turned their attention to saving
the senate and stare records and the
handsome furniture, and before this
work was completed many of the men
were laboring at the risk of their lives
in a sitting atmosphere and amidst
falling brands. In the opposite side of
the building the house had been about
to convene at the same time as the
senate. Only an ordinary interest was
at first given by the assemblymen and
the people 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
headlong before them. So rapid was
their advance that some people had no
time to even make their escape by the
doors, but were compelled to jump
from the windows to the ground.
A Handsome and Costly Structure.
The state capitol was a handsome
brick structure situated on knoll
in a park of ten acres. 1t was
$50 feet long, so feet wide, with cir
cular ionic portico in front and was
surmounted by fine dome. Itwas be-
gun in 1910 and first occupied on Janu-
ary 2s, 1922. The original cost of the
structure including grounds was $991,-
6S8, but since its erection it was been
frequently embellished at large cost.
Within the last two years it has been
remodelled at cost of $150,000, and
the handsome frescoing in the legisla-
tive chambers was even yet uncom-
pleted. The capitol was occupied by
the house and senate, the offices of the
clerks and senate librarian, house and
senate committee rooms, the state
forestry commission, the game commits
sion, the ieutenant-governor's apart
ments, rooms for the president pro
tenn. OF the senate and the speaker of
the house, offices of the superintendent
OF public instruction, the resident and
chief clerks apartments and newspa-
per rooms.
nome university students Riot.
Rome, Feb. 3.-The university here
was closed last evening owing to the
riotous conduct of the students. Several
OF the ring leaders were arrested.
Senator Harris Gradually Improving.