The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-11-07

thought. be dificult to replace. Librar-
ian Clarke. after a cursory examina-
tion. made by the light of lanterns. ex-
pressed the opinion that many OF the
books could be saved. although they had
been drenched by water from the
streams poured into the library for two
hours or more after the explosion oc-
CURED.
The most serious damage, in the opin-
ion Of the justices Of the supreme court.
is to the records stored in the sub base
ment- These included all OF the records
Of cases and opinions rendered by the
fathers OF judiciary of the government.
Apparently, the documents in this room
are either totally destroyed or so badly
damaged by fire and water as to be
useless. Justice Harlan said that
while the loss of the records was ire
parable. IL was fortunate that the later
records Of the court. which are kept
in the office Of the clerk on the main
floor. were not injured. As documents
for reference at this time and later.
Justice Harlan thought these were of
far greater value than the records de-
stroyed. Fortunately the clerks office
was not in the least damaged by fire
and the explosion did no damage i'm IL
except blow one window out.
James McKenney. clerk OF the
supreme court. expressed the hope. af-
ter making an examination OF the old
room. that some at least OF the docu-
ments, priceless from the viewpoint
OF the historian. could be saved. To-
night. however. owing to the inadequate
lighting facilities In that portion OF the
building where the explosion and fire
occurred. IL was impossible for him to
make an intelligent or thorough inves-
tigation of the damage. The supreme
court was damaged principally by wat
er and smoke. the fire not reaching that
point. Adjoining the court room. how
ever. both the marshars ONCE and the
senate barber shop furnished food for
the flames.
While many theories are offered as to
the cause of the explosion. 4, seems be-
yond doubt to have been due to escap-
ing gas. At seven minutes after 3
o'clock. Lieutenant Nelson of the capt.
tol police detected an odor of gas from
the corridor, adjoining the supreme
court room. Not being able to locate II.
he proceeded to statuary hall-the old
hall Of the house of representatives
thinking the gas might he escaping
from a burner In that vicinity. While
he was endeavoring to locate the escape
OF the gas the explosion occurred. Only
a few persons. principally officers OF the
capitol police. were In the building at
the time. but several OF them had mar
row escapes. Before the fire department,
which responded to an alarm sent In
by a policeman. three squares from the
capitol had arrived. G. p. GLEN. chief
electrician OF the capitol, and w. II.
Taylor chief engineer of the house side.
had a stream playing into the supreme
court record room. which by that time
was a roaring furnace.
Within a few minutes after the arri-
val OF the fire department. the flames
cautionary measure streams were pour
and the subterranean basement for two
hours.
The firemen were unable. however
the flame OF gas. which shot out OF
the four-inch main In the meter room.
From this main the fire swept through
an orifice In the basement hoor. caused
by the explosion, and attacked the con-
sultation room of the supreme court
justices on the main floor. Some dam
age was done to the furniture and fit
tings OF this room, but IL was incon-
siderable as compared with that done
elsewhere. The robing room OF the jus
tices practically was undamaged.
IL was evident that the fire could not
be extinguished until the gas from the
main was cut off. That this might be
accomplished. the firemen turned two
streams upon the main. choking the
flow of gas and at the same time cool
ing the pipe. Electrician Gliem. brav-
ing the intense heat. entered the meter