Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1899-07-28
ROOF BLOWS OFF.
Last Nights Wind Unroofs the New
Addition to the State Capitol
Building.
Reveals a Flimsy Piece of Work in
the Construction CT the Roof of
the Wing.
Large Section of the Roof Carried on
Eighth Of Milc-other Dam
age Done.
ROOF BLOWN OFF THE CAPITOL
WING.
From SATURDAYS Dnilv.1

from Saturdays Daily.l
Ihe roof of the new wing Of the state
capitol went off in the storm last night.
Fart of the roof was carried for a dis
ance of an eighth of a mile, where it
ploWed up the earth when it was de-
posted, and the other half of the roof
was torn up and twisted out of shane.
The wing was unroofed shortly after
the wind began. Farmer Wallace.
who is night Waterman ut the building.
says of the storm and his experiences
during the unroofing and afterwards:
1T was about half past eleven when
l saw the storm coming up. 1 could
see the dust blowing from the river
and see it afterward sweep through
the city. AS from appearances there
was a serious storm in prospect | ran
to the offices about the building clos
ing o and windows and was in
the office of the clerk of the supreme
court closing a window when there
was a ripping sound, n terrific crash,
n the root of the wing was taken off.
IL was a fearful sound, and immedi-
ately thereafter the wind began to
howl through the opening made when
the root was swept away. Doors and
WINDOWS began to bang, curtains to
NY, II the whole interior of the build
ing was filled with dust and n raging
wind. For nearly an hour the wind
howled through the building, making
the doors and windows rattle and blow
ing things about. The air was heavily
charged with electricity and the tele-
phone bells kept up an almost con-
tlnual jingling. Pictures were blown
from the walls of the senate chamber.
ana stained glass windows were bat
lered out. Fortunately there was no
RAIN. 1t was Il wild night on the hill"
Inc force OF the storm was illus
trated in the ruins seen on the roof Of
me wing this morning. although had
We roo been put on properly. no wind
Oh tlle KIND that blew last night would
nave taken it off. From the manner.
or roof architecture that was exposed
by the blowing off Of the roof. it is 4
wonder that it has not collapsed before
inns. The workmanship is Of the
cheapest and tlimsiest kind. The
ROOF at the side rested upon a single
course OF brick, laid on their sides.
Ihere is not an iron brace or heavy
TIMBER to bind the roof to the lower.
structure. From the girlers that sup
port the ceiling of the senate chamber
tlle roof was supported by Il few scat,
terlng tWO-by-fours. placed erectly.
AZ no place is the roof anchored to any
thing in the way Of Il solid timber. it
is a tribute to populistic architecture
II thOroughness that deserves to be
Derpetuated.
I'm main building, erected under
the personal supervision Of ex-Gov.
OrdWay, stands solid as a rock-all
parts OF it-but the wing-built by the
pops-seems to be like other populist
efforts.
Inc west side of the roof. about forty
by forty feet. was stripped off entirely.
ana carried a distance OF $50 measured
rect. where it lies on the side hill east
or the capitol. Timbers, rafters, and
TIN covering were all taken, Another
section OF tin roofing from the east
half OF the roof was carried a little
greater distance and Il little further to
the southwark. Another section of
the rafters and roof timbers was
turned back upon the east half of the
roof. The ceiling of the senate cham
Der is exposed, and there are several
holes in the plastering. where boards
dropped through. The curtains in the
senate chamber are torn into strips.
The chandeliers are twisted and
broken. and IL of the large stained
glass windows on the west side was
blown out and broken into fragments.
Other damage that was done about
the building was in the office of the
superintendent of public instruction.
There several windows were blown in.
desks. papers and office furniture
blown about p~romiscuously and plas-
tering blown off the walls. The in-
terror of the office looks as though a
young cyclone had broken out inside.
a force of workmen is at work today
replacing the roof and repairing the
damage. Unless there should be a
rain. the roof will be replaced without
further damage to he interior of the
building. The interior Of the senate
chamber will also require %rejuvenat-
ing before it will resume it's old ap-
pearance.
The total damage to the capitol will
probably reach a thousand dollars or
more.