The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1911-04-01
new YORK CAPITAL
IS DESTROYED
FIRE SWEEPING THROUGH STATE
STRUCTURE AT ALBANY
CAUSES $1o,ooo,ooo LOSS.
NIGHT WATCHMAN LOSES LIFE
Priceless Documents, Hundreds Of
Years Old, Are Destroyed BY
Flames-BuiIding Erected at
Cost of Nearly S27 100000.

Albany, March 30.--Swept by fire,
New York states magnificent $27,O00.-
900 capitol stands partially wrecked
by flames that started in the assembly
library, burned away the entire west
wing and did damage estimated at
$10,O00,00O before the fire was de-
clared under control, after raging more
than four hours.
1t is believed that the fire was
ton. It was discovered by a night
Waterman and the alarm was sounded
at 2:A6 a. m.
But before the firemen reached the
massive structure priceless documents,
books and records stored in the assem-
bly, library had been destroyed and
other departments were being threat
ened The imitation oak ceiling of the
assembly chamber, composed OF papier
nache, was partially destroyed. as was
also the famous $lOCO,O0o staircase in
the west wing. On the third floor,
where the flames gained their start,
the departments wholly or partially de.
etroycd by fire or seriously damaged
by water were:
, Priceless Library Destroyed.
F; The state library, containing 100000
volumes, among them the most vau.
pble genealogical works in the United
States, together with relics, priceless
documents, some of them dating back
10 1776 and irreplnceable.
n 81
stored with thousands of volumes OF
law and code books. also many docu.
ments and manuscripts that can never
be replaced.
The finance committee room. in
which were stored drafts of all the
appropriation and other bills of the
present session.
The chamber Of the president pro
TEN of the senate.
The lieutenantgover room, bad.
| ly damaged but not wrecked.
The senate and assembly chambers
both flushed with water that mas
| ruined their rich furnishing and the
papicr mache ceiling Of Che latter is
hanging in struggling shreds Of half
dissolved paper. This ceiling, with it's
handsome adornment, is said to have
cost a great sum and was one OF the
show sights of the capitol.
On the fourth floor In the west wing
the wrecked Offices are: The court of
claims. in which many important legal
documents were on file: the bill draft,
ing department; the bureau Of weights
and measures; the state regents
rooms; the state prison commission;
the state educational department, con.
tanning many valuable books of scien-
tific and historical interest.
On the second floor the damaged
rooms are: The attorney generals Of
fee; the state excise department. prob
ably swept by flames.
On the first floor the damaged de
partnents include the Offices of the
state treasurer and state tax commits
sioner; the state board Of charities
and the state commission Of lunncy;
the lower Office of the state education.
al department.
Practically all the offices below the
third floor, including the executive
chamber, were damaged by smoke and
water
The departments which escaped the
rnvage Of fire and the delugc of wat er
include the court of appeals; secretary
Of states office; department of public
works; the state superintendent of
prisons office: the state civil service
commission; the forest, fish and game
department.
The restaurant telegraph Offices and
press bureaus along the midway" on
the third floor also escaped damage
Night Waterman Missing.
While the fire was at it's height fou,
men were reported missing. One OF
them. Samuel Abbott, Of Syracuse, is
still missing, and is believed to have
been burned 10 death His body proba
bly, s buried beneath the mass OF
debris.
Governor Dix WAS aroused shortly af
ter a. m. and remained in close touch
with the tiremen by telephone until The
fire was declared to be under control
Practically all the state officials ant
many of the city officers were also OF
: the ground.
Fire Discovered In Library.
. The caucus last night did not adj
journ until nearly ] d. m. and few
stragglers remained in the building
: when the fire broke ont.
An attachc of the assembly library
, returning for some overlooked papers
discovered tiny blaze near his desk
There had been complaint filed dur
ing the day that an electric switcl
was out Of order. and this is supposed
} to have started the fire.
) Running out of the corridor the clerl
summoned night Waterman and, Will
the assistance Of two newspaper men
efforts were made to put out the fire
which probably could have been don
had a. fire extinguisher or bucket O
water been available. Lacking thes
5 the flames spread until the room witt
r its inflammabie furnishings and pape
t was all abIaZe. It was some time be