The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-11-08
THE EXPLOSION.
IL Originated in Room Under inc
Hall of the Library.

A Washington dispatch TO yesterday
New York sun says
An explosion OF gas in the unlteo
States capitol this afternoon al 0'l-
o'clock badly damaged that porlloh VI
the building occupied by the supreme
Court In addition 10 the great daHldso
done by the flames, smoke and water 10
the furniture. books and documents. there
must be added tho damage done oy the
weakening OF the walls. Owing 10 tho
cutting off OF the electric lights, II was
impossible 10 investigate the runs iaf
enough to ascertain the extent or the
damage 10 the books and documents.
but as the Law Library and the supreme
Courtroom were thoroughly soaked ana
the documents buried under tons OF ruD-
bish. there Is no doubt that great dam-
a.e was done. No one was injured eN-
eaot one fireman. who got piece OF
glass I'm his eye. The business OF the
Supreme Court will not be seriously IN
terrupted, as arrangements nave peeh
made for II 10 sit tomorrow lin the room
OF tho Senate Committee. OF the District
of Columbia. Arrangements Will after
ward be made for a meeting place while
repairs are being made.
FIRST sINCE 1Sl2
This is the first serious fire which has
occurred IN the Capitol since 1t was
burned by the British in lsl2. Lieutenant
Nelson. in charge Of the Capitol police
at the time the explosion occurred, was
passing through the basement along the
corridor directly west OF the Law Ii
brary. underneath the Supreme Court
room. which occupies tho nor heast corner
Of the old building. lie had gone from
tie basement of the Senate southwark,
passing the Law Library and a small
crypt which adioins that under the great
dome, and had noticed a strong smell OF
gas Two Capitol guides were going
north through the rOtunda, and when
Lieutenant Nelson passed them he spoke
OF smelling escaping gas. A moment
later there was terrific explosion. From
where the parties stood. in the crypt un-
der the rotunda, they could see that the
tagging in the smaller crypt had been
blown up, and that flame and smoke
were coming from the hole. The party
dashed through the little crypt to
fre-alarm box station near. turned in
the alarm AMI summoned the executive
staff OF the Supreme Court and the Sem
ate. =. Ii was some time before the fire
engines arrived. and when they got to
work flames were pouring out OF the
basement to the east and west OF the
rccm occupied by the Law Library.
THE FLOORING FELL.
The hremen, in the desire TO save the
Law Library, burst open the doors lead
ing from the Capitol plaza into the little
hail Of entrance 10 the Law Library. As
they did so the flames shot out. and with
a terrible crash the flooring went down,
carrying with IL the steps and elevator.
Communication was thus cut off with the
library. but long ladders were run up the
side of the building, and through the
windows Of the library OF the Supreme
Court room a number OF streams were
turned on to the blaze. which was now
making considerable headway.
In the meantime fire had made its ap-
pearance on the west front OF the wing
I'm the electricians room and In several
little store-rOoms. II was only after two
hours and a half OF hard work that the
hremen succeeded in putting out the last
OF the fire and even then volumes or
sitting smoke came up from the base
ment. arising from the smouldering docu-
ments and coal. The electric lights were
cut off Immediately after the explosion
10 avoid danger from their currents ana
the only means OF illumination were IAN
terms and matches carried by those anN-
lous 10 see how much damage had been
done. InOurhlAlH OA RN'EAf hr-f''N'~N. -
the CAPITOL plaza, as the news OF the fire
had spread throughout the city, but only
those connected with the Capitol we're ad-
mitted.
WHERE IT STARTED.
An examination showed that the explo-
sion originated in a small room under the
hall on which the law library opens En-
trance IS effected 20 this hall by means
OF door opening on the Capitol plaza
and from the main floor or the Captol II
IS entered by means OF a staircase. There
is a small elevator used by the Justices
% the Supreme Court 10 take them from
this hall 20 the robing room on the floor
above. Underneath the hall was hy-
draullc force pump, deriving its power
from the boilers under the Senate wing.
and used TO operate the elevator. There
was also a large gas meter which had
been there for years.