The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1911-04-01
MASS OF RUIN
New York's Magnificent Tvsn'y-SeVeD
lll]isl Dollars Capitol
WRECKED AND RUINED

Beautiful Structure Goes Up in Fire
and Smoke while Many People
Look Gn--The Famous White
Granite Structure Notable Exam
ple Of Fne Architecture.
Fire swep., smoke-stained and
water drenchad, New York states
magnificent s27,0O0,0oo 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 s10,O00,O00 before the
fire was declared under control az
ter raging more than four hours.
It is believed the fire was started
by a fused electric push button be-
coming electrified. 1t was discovered
by night watchman and the alarm
was sounded at 2:46 O'Clock wed
nesday morning. Before the fremen
reached the massive structure, price
less documents, books and records
stored in the assembly library mad
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 floor, where the flames
gained their start, the departments
wholly or partially destroyed by hre
or seriously damaged by water We're:
The state library, containing four
hundred thousand volumes. among
them the most valuable genealogical
works in the United States, togetner
with relics. priceless documents,
some of them dating back to l710
and irreplaceable.
The assembly and senate libraries,
stored with thousands OF. volumes OF
law and code books, also a number
of documents and manuscripts tnal
can never b. replaced.
The finance committee room III
which were stored drafts OF all the
anpropriaticn 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 cham bers
are soaked with water that mas
ruined thei,. 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 CT claims, in which many
important legal documents were on
flle.
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 and
the state commissioner Of lunacy.
The lower offices OF the state edu-
cational department.
Practically all the offices below the
third flocr, including the executive
chamber, were damaged by smoke
and water.
An attache of the assembly library
returning for some overlooked papers
discovered tiny blaze near his desk.
There had ben a complaint filed dur
ing 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 news
paper men. efforts were made to put
out the fire, which probably could
have been done had fire extinguish-
er or bucket of water been avail
able.
Lacking these, the flames spread
until the room, with it's inflammable
furnishings and papers, was ablaze.
It was sometime before the firemen
arrived and before they could get
streams playing the flames were rae
ing 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 sandstone elaborately carved. 1t
was surmounted by glazed dome
which soon fell.
The capitol, gigantic structure Of
white granite with red capped tow