The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-04-14
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of Alabama's Capitol. A contemporary account, an account written by an eye witness is contained in these same "reminiscences of William Garrett Mr. Garrett thus describes the destruction of the Capitol by fire:
 "The two Houses had been in ses- sion a month and two days and were industriously engaged in the dispatch of business,l which promised an early termination of the session, when an event occurred which in the disorder and disarrangement produced, and the introduction of new questions. extend cd the session nearly one month long CT. l allude to the burning of the State Capitol on December 14, 1S49.
 About fifteen minutes after one o'clock in the afternoon when both Houses were in session. 1t was dis covered that the Capitol was on fire over the Representative Hall--the vol ume of smoke issuing with rapid in- crease Gen. Frazier of the Senate up- on the first intimation of such a thing hurried to the upper story and into the room leading by trap door. So be made; but was met the door by 2 dense volume of smoke, which-errested
 aThe senate adjourned hastily. but the House broke up it's sittings with out the formality of an adJournment- such was the panic and confusion that suddenly seized upon the mem bers. The fire extended rapidly from the south end of the building against a pretty stifr northern breeze, and m three hours, that superb, elegant struc- ture a monument to the liberality or the citizens of Montgomery, and the pride of the State was in ruins; noth- ing left but portions of biackened walls.
 .aThe combined efforts of the mem- bers and citizens, with the neads oI departments saved the public property on the basement and second Iioor. me State Library on the third Floor could not be entered without danger. After the archives of his office had been saved the writer conducted a humper of gentlemen to that apartment to as- sist in throwing the contents out oi the window (Mr. Garrett, the writer was at that time Secretary or state). The heat was so great and pressing that they could not remain and the large collection of public documents, law books, manuscripts, journals of the General Assembly, historical works maps of the several States ana Valua- ble papers, together with variety of publications presented 10 the State @or an exchange Of similar coufteSies hnu other volumes, constituting fine col lection for public use were all de- stroyed
 "The archives and papers of the Ex- ecutive, of the Secretary of State, the Treasurer and Comptroller of the 6u. preme Court and of the Senate ana House of Representatives, including ali public belongings to the offices in the Capitol that were saved were secured in rooms procured in the city. until the House should determine the loca- tion of the different offices"
 Montgomery Thrown Open.
 The whole of the city of Montgom- cry was thrown open to the use of the Legislature and the State officials, im- mediately following this catastrophe. It was at this juncturS that the Sen ate held its session in saloon and the House met in a ball room. But only for a short while. Better quar- ters were immediately prepared for them and the Legislature went to work to meet the problems created by the destruction of the Capitol.
 The States misfortune all but robbed