Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-03-30
Blaze Broke Out at Early
Hour and Wrecked AL
most Entire Building; En-
tire Library Ruined.
PRICELESS RELICS
A RE DESTROYED
Documents and Manuscripts
That Can Never be Re-
placed Are Consumed;
Sessions Held in City Hall.

| @hApAhy, A>s SAOA I'll AZ
swept, smoke strewn, and water
drenched, New York states magniti-
cent $27,000.000 capital stands this
morning partial wreck by flames
that started in the assembly library,
burned away the entire west wing and
did damage estimated at between
five and seven million dollars before
the flames were declared under con-
troll by first assistant Fire Chief Shut
tuck at O'Clock after raging more
than four hours. 1t Is believed that
the fire was started by q fused elec-
trio push button becoming electrified.
| State Architect Ware placed the loss
f, by rough estimate at about $4,000
900 exclusive OF the valuable records
in the state library which can never
be replaced.
Electricians about the capitol scout
ed the idea that defective wiring had
started the blazes and blamed 1t on
carelessly thrown cigarette.
| So far as can be ascertained there
is no insurance on the capitol or its
contents.
The fire was discovered by . night
watchman and the alarm was sounded
reached the massive structure on Cap
| itol nlll, priceless documents, books
and records stored in the assembly
library had been destroyed and other
departments were being threatened.
The imitation oak ceiling Of the as
sembly chamber, composed Of papier
mache was partially destroyed as was
also the famous million dollar stair
! case in the west wing.
! Priceless Documents Destroyed.
On the third floor where the flames
| gained their start. the departments
wholly or partially destroyed by fire
or seriously damaged by water were:
The state library, containing 4O0,-
| 600 volumes, among them most valu-
able genealogical works in the United
States together with many priceless
documents, some of them dating
back to 1776 and irreplaceable.
;. The assembly and senate libraries
stored with thousands OF volumes OF
law and code books, also number OF
documents and manuscripts that can
never be repIaced The finance com
mittee room in which were stored
drafts Of all the appropriation and
other bills Of the present session.
The chamber of the president pro
tenn of the senate, the Neutenant-gov-
ernor's room, were badly damaged by
| fire. The senate and assembly cham
ber both flushed with water that has
ruined their rich furnishings and the
magnificent ceiling Of the latter
hanging in waste, in struggling shreds
OF half dissolved paper. This ceiling,
| with it's handsome adornment, is said
to have cost great sum and was one
of the show sights of the capital.
There was much speculation as to
the effect the fire would have on the
senatorial situation. The assembly
chamber was flooded with water but
the assembly parlor in the northeast
corner Of the building was unscathed
and it was decided to hold the ad-
journed caucus there as well as the
joint call at noon.
Started With Small Blaze.
The caucus last night did not
adjourn until nearly one o'clock, and
| a few stragglers remained in the
building when the fire broke out.
An attache of the assembly library,
returning for some overlooked papers
discovered q tiny blaze near his desk
There had been a complaint during
the day that an electric switch was
out of order and this is supposed to
have started the fire.
Running out into the corridor the
clerk summoned night watchman
and with the assistance of two others
efforts were made to put the fire out
which probably could have been done
by fire extinguisher or bucket Of
water being available. Lacking these
the flames spread until the room with
| it's infamable furnishings and papers
was all ablaze.
1t was some time before the fire.
men arrived and before they could
get streams playing the flames were
racing toward the state library.
! The grand western staircase, which
was regarded as one of the most
beautiful in the world, occupied the
center of the western wing and con-
sisted of an immense double stairway
of Corse Hill sand stone elaborately
carved. 1t was surmounted by a