The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-01-16

Just before 1890 O'Clock this morning
Harry Bullard. the stenographer in the
secretary OF states Office. who had been
smoking. threw down a match carelessly
and passed into the outer office and into
the corridor. Mr.. Parker, the assistant
secretary OF state. was at his desk in
the outer office.
The inner office used by the stenograph-
er Is large one, lifted with the bright
oak furnishings used throughout the
building, and the windows are covered
with Venetian blinds. The windows are
large ones. and extend from floor TO cell
ing. a distance Of some Is or 20 feet so
that the amount of wood used in the
blind is considerable. Being dry and
soaked in varnish and paint. they are
very inhammable.
roll top desk and beneath the blind. and
when the ignited papers fared UP into
blaze there was ample food for a hot IRE.
Less than Ave minutes after the stem
ographer passed out Ernest SpraSue,
clerk In the secretary OF states office,
came In and at once noticed the smoke
and heard the cracking of flames. Know
ing plumbers were at work about the
building he at once attributed tpe
crackle 20 one OF their little lamps, 1ut
on facing the door leading to the ipner
room he could see reelected In the polish
ed surface considerable blaze, which he
felt certain could not emanate from
plumbers lamp.
Entering the room. he was surprised to
find the heavy wooden blind In flames and
that the fire had also been communicated
TO the desk and the casing OF the big win
dow
Beside the window In a heavy black
case was the original charter granted 10
Roger Williams and the settlers OF Rhode
Island and Providence plantations by
King Charles III Of England in 1863 and
the fire was already licking up the wood
work around It.
Calling 10 Mr.. Parker. the young man
hastened TO remove the cherished docu-
ment from It's dangerous position TO a
place of safety and 10 remove the revo-
lutfonary index from the dangerous To-
cality.
Mr.. Parker at once commenced to pull
down the wooden blind and threw the
blazing stats to the marble balcony out
side, which was covered with snow.
IL was n dangerous task and before Il
was accomplished Mr. Parker received
painful burns. This done. the worst OF
the task was over and II was an easy
matter 10 put out the blazing desk and
the fire which was eating deeply into tho
woodwork around the window.
The janitor and his assistants, at
tracted by the smoke which flied the
corridors, came to the spot shortly. and
easily attended 20 the rest OF the work,
piling snow on the blazing stats and re-
arranging the disordered furniture.
Some idea OF the heat OF the blaze can
be formed when IL is stated that the glass
was melted I'm places and I'm others split
off I'm large flakes. Nearly every one
Of the i6 panes. 24x12. in the lower sash
was smashed by the heat and the wood
work was 50 charred that II will be nee
essary TO have all new stun put In and
a part OF the casing will have TO be re-
nlacpd
The hre proofed walls stood up very
well under the heat. tho paint being
bHstered only In a few places. though
the desk was very badly burned.
Considering that there was no fro fight
ing apparatus or exting1iishers In the
place the secretary OF state feels well
pleased with the case with which the
flames were put out.
The smoke which drifted through the
corridors caused uneasiness I'm several Of
the departments and when the location
OF the fre was known a large number OF
the employees OF the building came up 90
assure themselves that there was no dan
ger.
Prominent members OF the Sons OF the
American Revolution and OF the Rhode
Island Historical society when they
heard OF the danger 20 the charter were
unanimous I'm declaring that the state
should lose no time In putting its valuable
document into a steel case and TO be