New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-08
THE FIRE IN THE CAPT. OIL
LOSS on THE BUILDING NOT LIKELY
TO EXCEED $4,000
no DAMAGE TO THE MAIN wArLs-oRIGlNAi
OPINIONS DEsTRoYgD-SUPREME COURT

OPINIONS NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. COURT
HOLDS SESSION
Washington Nov "A report was current
this morning that the west central wall OF the
Capitol was cracked as a result of the explo-
sion. Mr.. Wood. the assistant architect Of the
Capitol made a careful examination. and located
the crack which had aroused suspicion. II
proved, however. to be In the outer or veneer,
wall. and not In the six-foot foundation wall on
the west side This main wall has stood over
one hundred yeas. and is stl In fairly good
condition. When additions were made. veneer
wall about ten inches thick was added outside.
The explosion last night blew out heavy stone
door frame In the outer wall. and this in turn
loosened several stones Of the veneer wall. Mr.
Wood satisfied himself that the main wall had
not been disturbed. His attention was called 10
a crack in the main wall. but this he recalled as
Il well-known old crack which has existed for
years. Mr. Wood says it is not surprising that
a wall which has stood century should have
some old cracks which do not. however. impair
its general security. He thinks this crack may
have come from the expansion resulting from the
burning Of the Capitol by the British in 1914
The library Of the Supreme Court which, next
to the Congressional Library. is the most valu-
able collection OF books in Washington. escaped
with little damage. although il was In the centre
Of the disturbance. the wrecked elevator smart
and upheaved stone floors being at the library
entrance 1t is estimated tina, the loss in the
library will he covered by S150O The books
escaped intact the loss being confined to singed
woodwork
DAMAGE ABOUT $1,000.
The floor Of the electrical-room. under which
the explosion occurred was as completely demol-
ished, as If ii had been directly over the centre
of an earthquake Fortunately no one was in
the room when the explosion occurred. MT
Woods at the close Of the day, expressed the
opinion that the damage TO the Capltol
could BE- repaired for $4,000. 1T is by no
means 50 serious first thought it was
said Mr. Woods II find that the foundations Oh
the building we're not damaged In the least Out
that the only injury done to the structure pS
the explosion was done to the arched nooiS'
These were struck from bene tth. and arorulhs
the least resistance, gave way 80 readily t'A'
the foundation walls were not injured in any
way"
MIR Woods believes the explosion was caused
by gas. but says he has not yet been aoe 10
make a sufficiently critical examination to place
the exact spot al which the ignition occurteu'
other architects who have inspected the scene
plosion Of gas but. Ike Mr. Woods. decline to
90 into details. in their theories Some express
the opinion that ID broken main ard burning
1e, are responsible for the occurrence.
REMOVING TIL: WRECEAGE.
The work Of removing the rubbish caused ny
the explosion has been proceeding rapidly al
day. seventy-lve or a hundred men Dehs en-
ployed for this purpose. As soon az 'hr 'e'u9
is sufficiently cleared out the WORK OF reFdl' MS
the damage will begin. Mr. Woods thinks that
the Supreme Court room Will be ready ioi oc-
cupancv within two weeks. Here, as elsewhere
tine damage, was less than was thought. ana '"e
oninion is expressed that nothing more than re-
painting the walls putting in new doors NJ"
skvlights and new upholstery will he neces-
sarv TO render the chamber 1T for service. Fire
did little damage to this room. hut the concus-
sion did some and he smoke and water more.
Tho ceiling ~ this part Of the building ana
some Of the partitions are of wood, and there Is
no doubt that serious damage would have re-
suited ii the fire had once got Roadway mere
AS II adjoins the dome, there has been sohe
speculation as to what effect it would nave
had upon that structure
None Of the valuable books in the law library
were injured.
Several Supreme Court justices made Visit
to the scene Of the catastrophe in tn" forenoon
Chief Justice Fuller and Justice Harlan walked
through the various apartments they spent
more. time in the courtroom than eiseNh''e'
There they found the upholstery ana the cOU''
new 81 600 carpet greaty injured, but the '"o
court clocks were ticking away as regularly do
ever The busts Of former chief Justices wh'ch
line the walls Of the old chamber were also I'M
injured and this appeared TO be source oi
rDucb Qualification TO the Chief Justice. Marshal
Ur,ybt,s Office. was completely Quilted. and no
furniture ESCAPED.
VALUABLE MANUSCRIPTS DESTROYED.
The only damage that cannot be made good was
done in the nleroom Of the Supreme Court III
the basement where We're stored all the Official
records and the original copies Of opinions from
the foundation OF the Government All these
opinions have been printed. but the Original
manuscripts were highly valued.
This room was almost over the scene o. '"e
explosion, and It was one or the hrs' com
partments Of The Capitol to be attacked inc
dc,,,oente here we're stored away in an orderly
manner In wooden cases and none o. them had
any other protection except the RECORDS "i
,be court from 1892 to 49, which were incased
in TN hoxes The flames appear to have com
nIetely enveloped this room but they VIZ
only sufficiently intense to cnai DauIy an w
noro,ival, Tow OF the papers were absolutely
destroyed but those which suffered this rate
were among the most valuable in the room.
They included the original opinions OF t,'e S"u,,
T., ,be carly DAYS Of the Republic, and among
them were many manuscripts prepared In the
handwriting Of the tursts Of the days or WASH
ington. jefferson and Adams There were III I, ,,e
iin, ,nanv opinions in manuscript written by Mar
ehall story. Samuel Chase. Bushrod. Washng
,nn and others Of the period between l'9V ana
1S3O and therefore priced as relics OF the carry
days of the court.
VALVE OF THE LOST PAPERS.
They were occasionally referred TO TO se'''e
DISPUTED points concerning words OF Pun0'u"
ton marks These papers were stored unu'' ''''
arch of the room. and seem 10 nave pee" I'm