Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1911-04-06
MASS OF RUIN
New Ysrk's Magnificent Twsuly-SeveD
Million Dollars Capitol
WRECKED and RUINED

Look On-The Famous White
Granite Structure Notable Exam
pie of Fne Architecture.
Fire swept, smoke-stained and
water drenched. New York states
magnificent s27,O00.0OO capitol
stands at Albany, n. Y, is a par
tial wreck Of flames that started In
the assembly library, burned away
the entire west wing and did damage
estimated at 100000 before the
fire was declared under control af-
ter raging more than four hours.
It Is believed the fire was started
nv a fused electric push button be-
coming electrified. 1t was discovered
by a night watchman and the alarm
was sounded at 2:46 O'Clock We'd
nesday morning. Before the fremen
reached the massive structure, price
less documents, books and records
stored In the assembly library had
been destroyed, other departments
were threatened. The imitation oak
ceiling OF the assembly chamber
composed of papier mache, was par
TALLY destroyed as was also the IA
nous million dollar staircase in the
west wing.
On the third foor, where the flames
gained their start. the departments
wholly or partially destroyed by fire
or seriously damaged by water were:
The state library, containing four
hundred thousand volumes. among
them the most valuable genealogical
works In the United States, together
with relics, priceless documents,
some of them dating back to 1716
and irreplaceable.
The assembly and senate libraries,
stored with thousands OF volumes OF
law and code books, also a number
of documents and manuscripts that
can never be replaced
D
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 lieutenant governors room,
badly damaged but not wrecked.
The senate and assembly chambers
are soaked with water that has
ruined their rich furnishings and the
papier mache ceiling Of the latter Is
hanging in struggling shreds of hall
dissolved paper.
This ceiling with its handsome
adornment Is said to have cost a
great sum and was one Of the sho"
sights Of the capitol.
On the fourth floor in the west
wing the wrecked offices are.
Court OF claims, In which many
i'm portant legal documents were on
file.
The bill drafting department.
The bureau of weights and meas
ures.
The state regents rooms.
The state prison commission.
The state educational department,
containing many valuable books OF
scientific and historical interest.
On the second floor the damaged
rooms are:
The attorney generals office.
The state excise department
On the first floor the damaged de-
partments include:
The Offices Of the state treasurer
and state tax commissioner.
The state board OF charities ant
the state commissioner Of lunacy.
The lower offices OF the state edu
cational department.
Practically all the Offices below th'
third floor. including the executive
chamber, were damaged by smok'
and water.
An attache of the assembly librar.
returning for some overlooked paper
discovered tiny blaze near his desk
There had ben a 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 into the corridor tn
clerk summoned night watchmal
and with the assistance of two news
paper men, efforts were made TO pu
out the fire. which probably coul'
have been done had fire eXtinguish
er or a bucket OF water been avail
able.
Lacking these, the flames sprea'
until the room. with its infiammabl
furnishings and papers, was abiaze
1t was sometime before the fremel
arrived and before they could ge
streams playing the flames were rae
ing toward the state library.
The grand western staircase. whicl
was regarded as one OF the mos
beautiful in the world. occupied tn
center of the western wing and con
sisted of an immense double stairwa
of sandstone elaborately carved. !
was surmounted by a glazed dom
which soon fell.
The capitol gigantic structure o
white granite with red capped tow
: ers, stands perched upon the highes
of the several hills upon which tn
city of Albany Is built.
J 1t is 800 feet north and south b
four hundred feet east and west, an
covers three acres.
: The first stone in the foundation
/ was laid July I. 1869. 1t was frs
, occupied by the legislature on Janu
ary 7, 1879. Writers upon architel
, ture say that the white building wit
It's towers reminds them of the Ia
: nous Tai Mahal. in India. Other
} call it a superb reflection of Frenc
S architecture.
Broken by Death.
at .gfockton, Mass, an engage
-ocS~k 20 yao-e hafwean Miss EN-,