Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1911-03-31
new YORK CAPITAL
IS DESTROYED
FIRE SWEEPING THROUGH STATE
STRUCTURE AT ALBANY
CAUSES 100000 LOSS.
NIGHT WATCHMAN LOSES LIFE
Priceless Documents, Hundreds of
Years Old, Are Destroyed BY
Flamss-Building Erected at
Cost of Nearly $27, 100000.

| Albany. March 30.-Swept by fire,
New York states magnificent $27,0 00,,
| coo capitol stands partially wrecked
by flames that started in the assembly
t library, burned away the entire west
wing and did damage estimated at
| $10,000,000 before the fire was de-
clared under control, after raging more
than four hours.
1t is believed that the fire was
started by fused electric push but
ton. 1t was discovered by a night
Waterman and the alarm was sounded
at 2:46 a. m.
But before the fremen 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
mache, was partially destroyed, as was
also the famous $1.0G0,000 staircase in
the west wing On the third floor,
where the flames gained their start,
the departments wholly or partially de-
stroyed by fire or seriously damaged
by water were:
Priceless Library Destroyed.
The state library, containing 100000
volumes, among them the most valu-
able genealogical works in the United
States, together with relics, priceless
| documents, some of them dating back
to 1776 and irreplaceable.
The assembly and senate libraries,
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
present session.
The chamber of the president pro
tenn of the senate.
The eutenant-governOr's room, bad
| ly damaged but not wrecked.
The senate and assembly chambers.
| both flushed with water that mas
ruined their rich furnishing and the
papiar mache ceiling of the latter is
hanging in struggling shreds of half
dissolved paper. This ceiling, with its
handsome adOrnment, is said to have
cost 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-
partments include the Offices of the
state treasurer and state tax commits
sioner; the state board of charities
and the state commission of lunacy:
the lower Office of the state education
al department.
Practically all the Offices below the
third floor, including the executive
chamber, We're damaged by smoke and
water.
The departments which escaped the
ravage of fire and the deluge of water
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 four
men were reported missing. One of
them, Samuel Abbott, of Syracuse, is
still missing, and is believed to have
been burned to death. His body proba-
bly, is buried beneath the mass of
debris
Governor Dix was aroused shortly af-
ter a. m and remained in close touch
with the firemen by telephone until the
fire was declared to be under control
Practically all the state officials and
many of the city officers were also on
the ground.
Fire Discovered In Library.
The caucus last night did not ad-
journ until nearly / a. m. and a few
stragglers remained in the building
when the fire broke out
An attache of the assembly library,
returning for some overlooked papers,
discovered tiny blaze near his desk
There had been 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 of the corridor the clerk
summoned night Waterman and with
the assistance of two newspaper men,
efforts were made to put out the fire,
which probably could have been done
had fire extinguisher or bucket of
water been available. Lacking these