The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-04-05
NEW YORK CAPITOL BURNED
The Loss is About $5,OOO,OOO, With
No Insurance-DOcument Relating
to History Of South Carolina I'm
Revolution DestrOyed--Other Pa
pers Burned.

lion dollars probably could repair the
damage done by fire on the State cap
itol today, but money can not restore
the historical records which were the
pride Of Its State library. After ex-
amining the exterior walls with a
transit. Mr.. Ware. State architect, de-
clared tonight that the massive pile
Of granite was as plumb and true as
ever. The flames licked up the State
library, the court of claims, the as
sembly library and document rooms,
most Of the offices Of the excise de-
partment and the quarters of the SEN
ate finance committee. Water and
smoke took up the work that the
flames laid down and the damage
from this cause extends 10 every part
Of the building. The fire was still
burning tonight in the ruins beneath
what was once the beautiful, cloud
painted ceiling of the State library
reading room and the water kept
pouring in from several lines of hose
Although the fire started In the
northwest corner Of the building, 1t
caused the greatest havoc in the
southwest corner. Here the red
tinted cupola collapsed, carrying down
part Of the carved granite work that
supported 1t and O towering stone
chimney. Conservative estimates
placed the damage to the exterior
stone work at $4,000 900.
The interior masonry was damaged
to the extent Of $780, 900 and the
same sum will represent the loss on
the State library.
Discussing the fire loss. the State
architect said tonight:
Based upon the original cost Of
the capitol. the extent Of the damage
would be about $6.000.000, but in
view OF more economical methods OF
construction which can be employed
In the restoration. this amount can be
materially reduced"
The architect will recommend that
when the burned-out portion is re-
stored the interior be remodelsd to
suit the other departments which will
occupy 1t. The State architects off,
cial description of the damage fol-
lows:
1T would appear that the entire
State library located on the third and
fourth floors. including the northwest
and southwest pavilions. is completely
destroyed. This includes also the
court Of claims and some of the COM
mittee rooms of the senate and as
sembly. The ceiling Of the senate ap-
pears to be intact and apparently not
damaged. except slight water dam
age, has occurred at this point.
The western side of the assembly
hall. including the ceiling. has suf-
fered slight fire damage and con-
siderable water damage. Many de-
partments on the , first and second
floors in the western portion Of the
capitol have suffered more from water
damage than from actual fire. On ac-
count Of the dangerous condition Of
some OF the interior walls and dorm
ers throughout the western section
1t would be inadvisable to use the Of
fees Immediately under them.
The State carried no insurance, as
the capitol building had been regard
ed as absolutely freproof. 1t was In
fact not the building that burned, but
its contents.
Most precious from the historians
standpoint Of tho fuel the flames
found In their path were the 23 man.
uscript folio volumes Of the famous
official records Of the governors OF
the city of New Amsterdam covering
period from 1880 to 1874.
These were in course Of translation
by A. j. f. Van Lear and his trans
iations were burned with the origi-
nal Dutch documents. In addition TO
these the State lost the correspond
ence Of Gov. George Clinton, 5000
pieces in all, and the original letters
of Sir William Johnson and Gov.
Daniel Tompkins.
In the office Of the regents exam
liners 10000 examination papers re-
ccived from the schools Of the State
were destroyed. but the priceless colo.
NAL and Washington and Lincoln
relics in the custody Of the educa-
tion department were I'm the big safe
on the ground floor and were unin-
jured. These include the original