Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-11-07

the flames were under control, although as
a. precautionary measure streams were
poured into the marshalls Office, the libra
~ and the subterranean basement for two
hours.
The firemen were unable, however FOR
a considerable time to eXtinguish the fame
of gas which shot out of the four-inch
main in the meter room. From this main
the hre swept through an eTifice In she
basement floor caused by the explosion,
and attacked the consultation room of the
supreme court justices on the main floor.
and fittings of this ROOM but it was incon-
siderable as compared with that done else
where The robing room of the justices
pracucally was undamaged.
1t was evident that the fire could not
be extinguished until the gas from the main
was cut off. That this might be accomp-
lished the firemen turned two streams upon
the main, choking the flow of gas and at
the same time cooling the pipe. Electrician
Gnem. Drawing the intense heat, entered
the meter room and cut off the gas at the
moor valve of the main.
Old Capitol Building Damaged.
Throughout the lower central portion of
the old capitol building, doors, windows and
fittings in committee rooms and other
apartments are badly damaged. Just north
of the crypt an archway almost over the
meter room was completely blown out, and
great masses of masonry torn from the
floor were hurled to the ceiling with such
force as to burst the stone and plaster Of
the walls above Ponderous hagstones were
wrenched from their resting places and
throughout the corridors the frescoing
the ceilings and walls was utterly ruined.
No damage was done to the main founda-
ttons OF the building, as these are of solid
masonry deeply imbedded and twenty-five
feet four inches thick.
The electric lighting apparatus, inclUd-
ing dynamos, boilers and wiring, was rot
damaged. In order to enable the Iiremen
10 work without peril from live wires.
Electrician GLEN cut off the current from
all wires except one circuit. which lighted
the lower western part of the building.
Within thirty feet of the scene of the az
plosion. solitary incandescent lamp, mark
Ing the exact center of the capitol structure
and hanging directly over the bier in which
II was proposed to lay the remains of
George Washington, burned brilliantly.
Valuable Works of Art Destroyed.
Among the losses which will be most sin
cerely regretted are those of busts of Chief
Justice Marshall and other distinguished
members of the supreme court which were
arranged on small pedestals about the
preme court chamber. In the smoke and
ruin which followed the explosion these
valuable works of art were either badly
damaged or wholly destroyed and with
their destruction the country has suffered
an irreparable loss. Many of them have
been treasured exhibits in the supreme
court chamber for half a century.
The capitol building has been damaged
number of times before by fire, but il is
believed that to-nights fire will prove 10 be
the most disastrous in the history of the
building. On two occasions prior to this
llreS nave been started by explosions OF
gas. Seventeen years ago large amount
of damage was done to the same part of
the building by an explosion of this kind.
and in 1876 there was an explosion of gas
that killed one man and came near killing
another.
No intelligent estimate OF the money loss
by the explosion and fire can be made. In
the opinion of capitol officials and mechan-
les who examined the structure tonight
the loss will reach probably S200,000 to the
building. The loss on the library and rec
stated ahnUa ha pG-
timated in dollars and cents. A million
dollars could not replace them because of
many of them no duplicates are in eN-
istence
Arrangements were completed tonight
by Librarian Clarke. of the supreme court,
and Colonel Richard Bright sergeant-at-
arms of the senate, by which the sittings
of the supreme court will not be interrupt
ed. The court will convene tomorrow in
the room of the senate committee on the
District of Columbia. one of the most
spacious rooms in the capitol. How long
the sessions of the court will be held there
will be determined by the justices them
selves.