The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-11-07
NOT so BAD.
Damage to the Capitol is Less Than
at First Supposed.

at First Supposed
Washington, Nov. THE big capitol
building was the scene of wreck and
desolation today following the explosion
and fire which wrought such serious
havoc last night. The engines and fire
men had gone and in their place a small
army of workmen was carrying off the
debris of brick and mortar, charred
woodwork, soaked and half burned Off
cial papers and documents which had
been heaped in confusion in the base
ment and sub basement under the quar-
ters occupied by the United States su-
preme court. An examination of the
court room showed that the damage
was confined to discOlOred walls and
ceilings and soaked carpets. No sub
stantial damage had been done. The
bench occupied by the justices was un-
injured and even the briefs and papers
left by some of the justices under paper
weights remained undisturbed.
But while the fire had made no pro-
gress here smoke and water had left
this chamber, which has long been re-
garded as model of classic beauty, in
sorry condition. The glass and sash of
the old colonial windows f1anking the
bench are in ruins. The frescOed ceiling
which recently had been done over is
blurred and spotted, the carpets and
draperies are soaked, while the whole
chamber has the damp, smoked aspect
usually following a fire. The personal
effects of the justices, robes, etc, were
found to be uninjured. The main loss
of the court was in the marShaPS office
and in the storage room, where valuable
old records are kept. The extent of this
last loss is not yet exactly determined,
but the court officials expect to hake a
critical examination during the day
Sergeant-at-arms Bright of the SEN
ate. was busy this morning making
temporary provision for the sessions of
the court. Senator McMillan's commit
tee room was hastily prepared with a
bench and seats for the justices and a
| dozen rows of seats for attorneys and
spectators. The quarters are rather
cramped however, and the chief JUS
tice and five justices will have to sit on
one side of a long oak table.
Architect Clark of the capitol is ad-
vanced in age and very feeble so that
the active work of investigating the
cause of the explosion and of clearing
away the wreckage, is in the hands of
the assistant architect of the capitol,
| Mr.. Wood.
81 have made a preliminary examina-
| tion,' Mr.. Wood said today, land [ am
| not yet ready to say what caused the
| explosion, although the main attention
| is being given to the gas supply. hnd
| that the general damage sustained by
| the building is not as serious as first
supposed The heavy foundations to
! the building do not appear to be dis
| turbed and the walls blown down are
confined to the thin encircling walls
| built to cover steam pipes, etc. None
| of the heavy sustaining arches, or pill
| lars have given way so far as 1 can
| find I will make a fuller examination
| with better light later to make certain
| on these points. For the present, it does
! not seem that a rebuilding of any part
/ of the capitol will be necessary. The
work will be that of repairing and
| hope we can finish this by the time con-
| gress convenes. We have small bal
| ance for this. but in any event the work
| will be done"
! An examination of the meter room,
! where the gas supplied to the capitol
| is measured, showed that the big meter
| had been blown to pieces. This salts
| fled most of the capitol officers that
| a gas explosion was responsible for the
| damage, but they would not express
/ this view openly until an official inquiry
| had been made.
! Several supreme court justices made
a visit to the scene of the catastrophe
| during the forenoon. Chief Justice
| Fuller and Justice Harlan walked
through the various apartments gU%1ed
| by man with q lantern. While they
! looked at the scenes of destruction with
| manifest interest they made noremarks
| They spent somewhat more time in the
| court room than elsewhere. They found
! the upholstery and the courts new $4.-
| 600 carpet greatly injured, but the two
| court clocks were ticking away as reg
| ularly and as dignifiedly as ever The
| busts of former chief justices which line
| the walls of the old chamber, were also
uninjured and this appeared to be Z