The Penn's Grove record., 1897-02-05

Flames Broke Out as the Legislative was
About to Meet and oalckly Reduced
h Building 10 Asb4s---Many Valuable
Records D~estroyed--Loss + iiinat.d ut
81, 000,0cO---origino OF the Fire Unknown
HARRISBURG, Penn. (Specia'e-h hre
which started in the rooms OF Lieule5ant-
Governor Lyon shortly after noon Tdes lay
swept through the dneient Cap'tol o.
Pennsylvania, and, within an hour aud a
half after the breaking out Of tho flames. the
structure was in ruiia. The S'nqte AMI
House were about TO rs,onvena for their
afternoon session when The Gre burst through
the walls, and the lawmakers we're driven
for their lives to the opea air. Quite mum
Der Of people were cut an bruisei, or haf
smoihered by smoke. The most valuable Of
the State and legislaiiya recoris whch
were in the building we're saved, Out me
records and statistics oithe Department OF
Public instruction, WHICH included muci
valuable information bearing upon the pub
lie schools oftho State, we're destroyed. The
Legislature viii find a temporary Rome, the
Senate in the rooms OF tpe Supreme Court,
and the House in tho Uiited States DISTRICT
Court, in tho Postoflce' Building. ana tho
Legislature will at once take steps TO nave
the Capitol rebuilt.
The Senate was well iilei when news OF
the impending disaster vas rnceived, and II
spread rapidly Pmong Il . S senators and spec
tators that the fire was 81 q most serious IA
ture. Then there was atacrambling for over
coats and hats, AMI up6er the CHER clerks
direction the Senate records were carried to
places of safety,
In the House the first intimation OF the
fire was the discovery, OF smoke in the
upper corridors. Theiword was quickly
passed around and much excitement pre-
vailed. Rapidly the members left their
sents and there were ltut few representa-
lives in the hall when Two or three shomt-
ed out motions TO edjorrn. representative
Voorhees,, OF Philadelphia, not reaiiztng the
seriousness Of tho situation. moved that Inc
calendar Of second reading bills be proceeded
with, but after the motion to adjourn
been made there was n rlish for the doors.
With the arrival Of lie fire department
came thousands of spect tors, and tho Cap
itol Park in the yiciut AZ OF thS burning
building was soon n mas OF struggling hn-
mainly. Before the ilrepen could direct N
stream on the burnint building it was
found that the flames were beyond control
There they fought tie flames through
holes until they were compelled TO retreat.
Hardly had they retired when the entire
Senate chamber roof fell In. When the fre
was finally gotten under eontrol. the Senate
and House chambers ma the headquarters
of several executive departments were In
ruins.
The total loss will probably reach $1,000
900. OF this sum about $500, 900 is covered
by insurance, The Senate and House will
probably meet in two OF 1.-THE large halls In
this city. Tit origin OF he fire is unknown.
The Capitol was regarded as one Of the
hardsomest specimens OF Ionic architecture
In the country. The bliiding was OF red
brick with white trimmings. 1T was sur
rounded by a park OF ten acres, and stood on
an eminence almost in the centre of the city.
The main structure MS two and a half
stories high, ~surmountedby a large dome.