The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-11-10

another man. At last, however, the fire wa:
gotten under control, and then lively appre
tensions arose as to the extent of the loss by
fire and water. The injury to the Supreme
Court Chamber and the rooms contiguou
could be repaired, but it was feared tha
many priceless documents, dating back to th'
foundation of the Republic, the famou.
library purchased from Thomas Jefferson. tn,
celebrated Toner Library, and the great Law
Library of the Supreme Court has been de
stroyed
The daylight Of Monday morning allowed
full examination to be made, and many o.
these fears were allayed
The bench occupied by the Justices wa
uniDiured, and even the briefs and paper;
left by some of the Justices under paper
weights remained undisturbed. But while
the fire had made little progress here, smoke
and water had left this chamber, which ha:
long been regarded as a model of classic
| beauty, in n sorry condition. The window:
and sash of the fine old colonial windows
fanking the bench are in ruins. The fres
coed ceilings, which recently had been done
over, are blurred and spotted, the carpet:
and draperies are soaked, while the whole
chamber has the damp, smoked aspect usual
ly following fire.
The personal effects of the Justices, robes
etc. were found to be uninjured.
The splendid carpet, which cost $4,000, is
ruined, bTt the rich furniture is practically
unhurt. So are the busts of the formel
Chief Justices. The main loss of the Court
was in the Marshal's Office and in the storage
room where valuable old records are kept
The extent of this last loss is not yet exactly
determined.
These old papers were stored under the
arch OF the room, and seem to have been com
pletely consumed. On the other hand, the
official records of the Courts proceedings
covering the same period, appear to have
been preserved, and are probably in COED
condition. These were inclosed in tin boxes
and these in turn placed within wooden
cases. The debris is in such disorder as tC
| have rendered it impossible TO open thu
wooden doors, but these doors were not pene
trated at any place; hence the belief that
| the records themselves are intact
| Many of the more modern documents, in.
Guiding letters and opinions of recent date
were also so badly burned that it will be i'm
possible TO restore them. but none Of these
appear to have suffered such complete
demolition as befell the early opinions. Nc
GocuLucHtS dHcc4iHB tiie present. uOChet VI tht
Court were injured.
| There were in the list many opinions ir
manuscript. written by Marshall Story
Samuel Chase. Bushrod Washington, and
others of the Justices of the period between
1890 and 1880, and therefore priced as relic:
of the early days of the Court They were
also occasionally referred to to settle disputed
points concerning words or punctuations.
The Library Of the Supreme Court, which
next to the Congressional Library, is TIN
most valuable collection of books in Wash
ington, escaped with little damage, although
it was in the very center of disturbance, th'
wrecked elevator shaft and upheayed ston
floors being at the Library entrance. 1t
estimated that the loss in the Library vii
be covered by $500. The books escapes
intact, the loss being confined to singe'
woodwork.
| The more valuable part Of the Jefferson
Library had been removed, it was found, +
the Congressional Library.
The walls Of the Capitol were found t
have escaped without serious injury, and tn
damage to the building itself can he rt
paired, it is now estimated, for $40, 600
was at first thought it would cost S75, 00t