Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1898-11-09
FIRE IN. THU CAPITOL.
Natural Gas Causes Havoc in the
Building.
SUPREME COURT ROOM DAMAGED.

Chief Loss Is the Marshars Office and
Storage Room, Where Valuable Records
Are Kept-Heavy Foundations of the
Building Do Not Appear To BE Dam
aged-Temporary Quarters for the SUI
preme Court.
Washington, Nov. IAN explosion of
gas in the basement of the Capitol
building completely wrecked the su-
preme court room and the room ad-
Joining, and many valuable books of
The congressional library were de-
Etroyed. This library contained $1,000
volumes and its value was placed at
N.oo0.ooo. Many of the volumes were
destroyed by fire and others by the
hoods Of water poured into the place by
the firemen. The loss cannot be esti-
mated until the remaining books are
examined. 1t is not known whether the
Earest and most valuable books, which
cannot be replaced, are lost.
Supreme Court Room Wrecked.
The historic supreme court room,
which was formerly the senate chamber
OF the original Capitol building, is a
complete wreck. The busts Of Chief JUS
tice Marshall and others who have pre-
sided over the highest court in the land
are ruined, and the court will for a time
4ave to be provided with temporary
hpme. There have been other fires in
the Capitol building in the past, but
pQne so destructive as this,
The big Capitol building was a scene
OF wreck and desolation Monday fol-
lowing the explosion and fire which
wrought such serious havoc The en-
zines and firemen had gone, and in their
place a small army of workmen was
carrying of the debris Of brick and
mortar, charred woodwork, soaked and
half burned official papers and docu-
nnents which had been heaped in con-
fusion in the basement and sub-base-
ment under the quarters occupied by
the United States supreme court. An
examination of the court room showed
that the damage was confined to dis
colored walls and ceilings and soaked
carpets. No substantial damage had
been done. The bench occupied by the
Justices was uninjured, and even the
briefs and papers left by some Of the
justices under paper weights remained
91ndisturbed.
In q Sorry Condition.
But while the fire had made no prog
ress here, smoke and water had left
this chamber. which has long been re-
garded as a model of classic beauty.
in sorry condition. The windows and
sash of the fine, old colonial windows
Banking the bench are in ruins. The
frescoed ceiling, which recently had
been done over, are blurred and spotted,
the carpets and draperies are soaked,
while the whole chamber has the damp,
smoked aspect usually following fire.
The personal effects of the justices,
robes, ETC., were found to be uninjured
The main loss of the court was in the
n1arshals Office, and in the storage
room, where valuable old records are
kept. The extent of this last loss is
not yet exactly deterrSned, but the
court officials expect to%nake a critical
examination during the day. Sergeant
alarms Bright of the senate was busy
making temporary provisions for the
session of the court. Senator McMil-
lan's committee room on the District
OF Columbia was hastily prepared with
q bench and seats for the justices, and
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 long oak table.
Architect Clark of the capital 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.
What Assistant Architect Wood Says.
II have made preliminary exam
nation and / am not yet ready to say
what caused the explosion although
the main attention is being given to the
gas supply. / find that the general
damage sustained by the building is
not as serious as at first supposed The
heavy foundations of the building do
not appear to be disturbed, 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 pillars has given
way so far as 1 can find. will make
a fuller examination, with better light,
later, to make certain on these points.
For the present it does not seem that
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 congress comes.
We have small balance for THIS, but in
any event the work will be DONE"
Been Married Twenty Five Years.
Bloomington, Ills, Nov. 7.-Owen
Scott and wife of this city celebrated
the silver anniversary of their wedding,
and a large number of friends were
present from other cities Mr.. Scott
and Miss Nora Miser were married at
Effingham twenty-five years ago. and
have lived here since 1854 Among
those present at the reception were
General John McNulta and wife. Ed
ward Cook. grand master of Illinois
Masons. and wife, Chicago; Mr.. and
Mrs. E. N. Armstrong. Peoria. and Miss
Lydia Hospes Of St Louis. who was
I..tl at