The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-03-30

were destroyed, but the priceless CO.
lonial and Washington and Lincoln
relics In the custody OF the education
department were in the big safe on
the ground floor and were uninjured
These include the original manu-
script OF Washingtons fareweli adj
dress. the original Of Lincoln's eman-
cipation proclamation. all the original
copies Of the state Constitution and
the Major Andre papers.
Among tho documents lost were rec
ords dealing with the histories OF
So1th Carolina during the Revolutions
at the request Of that State bill was
permit the department to turn them
over TO their original possessor.
Defective Wiring Blamed.
It is believed that the fire was
started by fused electric push button
becoming electrified.
The fire was discovered by an at
tache Of the library, and the alarm was
sounded at 2:i6 o'clock. Before the fire.
men reached the passive structure
at top Capitol Hill priceless documents
and records stored In the Assembly
library had been destroyed and other
departments were being threatened
angle. the FIRE got away from the fire.
men shortly before 10 o'clock. After
several firemen had been knocked un-
conscious By falling debris they were
cautious about penetrating beneath the
shattered arches in the west wing a
huge chimney that was considered un-
safe also kept them at bay, and this
permitted the flames to gain renewed
Roadway
Great pillars Of dense smoke curled
from the peaks Of both the northwest
and southwest angles and splits Of
blush haze spouted from the windows
on the north side, opening from the
garrett
Fireman Bennett was overcome In
q In
an ambulance.
Dix Directs Salvage Efforts.
Governor Dix was on hand before 10
o'clock and took personal direction Of
the salvage efforts In the Offices still
untouched 1t was decided to remove
all the precious books and records in
tell whether or not they could keep
the blaze under control.
At the Homeopathic Hospital, three
hremen are under medical attention, of
whom one. William Rogers, Is reported
to be in bad condition from gas n
halation. Other f!remen were injured
by falling debris. but returned to work
after having their wounds attended to-
Milit!amen were pressed into service
to remove the records. relics and flags
from the A7iutant Generals ONCE and
In policing ing the Are lines ines ,,nasr
tial law end the notes Of bugles re-
sounded through the corridors 80 late
" blocked by smoke and swept by
flame.
Electricians about the CAPITOL scout
cd the idea that defective wiring had
started the blaze. and blamed 1t on a
carelessly thrlwn cigarette
There nave been several incipient
hlazes In the Capitol during the last
few years, the most serious ono. four
years ago In the basement OF the
scores Of Legislators visited the
bers and committee rooms end
fnd - hn los ISL Ia ,rtJl tnlF RI
up a rigid probing OF the report that
an electric push button was reported
out Of commission by a watchn,,an yes
ter!ay and not repaired during the
day. This hutton is held responsible
for the conflagration.
J.. NJ Howe. one OF the Legislative
correspondents, who was in the Carl
tol when the hro started gave this
description OF It:
~ about e:l5 o'clock this. morning
man oor apd
tol when the clerk Of the Assembly
Judiciary Committee. accompanied BY
one on o. the night watr.hmen; ran
IS n fire in the Assembly library.
No Water nj Hand.
flushing oyer to the room. which is
IN the rear OF the Assembly, We looked
In the room and saw the desk In the
FIRE at this time could have been easily
put out with pail or two OF water
We searched in vain for anything to
serve the purpose and finally decided to
close the door and keen out the draft
The night watchman ran down stairs
to sound the alarm. there being no
alarms In the building
while we waited for the depa rtment.
We could see the flames through the
glass transom rapidly nlling the en-.
tire apartment. but we were helpless
to do anything. BY the time the de-
partmcnt reached the building tho
room where the desk was located was
a roaring furnace, but at that time r.
had not spread into the hall or ad :
joining room.
Before hose could be brought into
use the fire. with loud eSrlOsion.
burst simultaneously through the tran
som into the hall leading to tho main
entrance to tho state library. tho tran.
som OF tho door leading to the room
immediately east OF where the hra
started and through the large plate
glass window into the street
Tho tongue OF flame which swent out
over the transom opening into the hall
appoarcd to instantly set fire 10 the i'm
der side Of the wooden floor forming
The mezza,ninc floor that occupies the
northern half Of the library corridor
So fast did the fire snrcad over this
iloor that we were obliged to run 10
the Senate entrance to escape BENZ
caught by the tlaInns In less Than
twenty minute9 tho Stata Ithraru baa