Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-03-29
Loss of $5,000,00O and
Priceless Records
Inflicted.
GREAT LIBRARY GONE
Legislative Chamber and One
of Finest StairWays in the
World Wrecked. -

Albany, y. Y, March 29.-Fire-
swept, smoke-strewn, and water
drenched. New York states magnih-
cent s27 200 900 capitol stands this
morning a partial wreck by flames
that started in the assembly library.
burned away the entire west wing and
did damage estimated at between
eight and ten million dollars before
the flames were controlled.
RACED FOUR HOURS.
Fire was discovered at 2:45 a. m.
and ragged more than four hours. II
is believed the fire started by fused
electric push button becoming electri-
fled. Before the firemen could reach
tho capitol priceless documents, books
and records stored in the assembly IL
brary were destroyed and other de-
partments were being threatened.
PRICELESS WORKS LOSS.
The state library, containing 600. 900
volumes, among them the most valua-
BILE genealogical works in the United
States together with relics, as price
less documents, was partially destroy
ed.
The assembly and senate Libraries.
with their thousands of volumes of
law and code books. documents and
manuscripts that can never be re
placed, are also in the wreck.
On all the other floors Of the fire
section the damage wrought was
great and the loss of documents ir-
reparable
FOUR MEN MISSING.
Four men are reported missing
Samuel Abbott and Fred Weyler.
'Watchmen: Thomas Bean, capitol at
tache and an employe of the docu-
ment room
SI,5OO,OOO TO DUPLICATE.
OF the books on state library
shelves which can be duplicated I'm
the open market today. such duplica
ton would cost, according to State
Commissioner Of Education Draper
Sl,50O,00O But he says the value Of
other books and manuscripts, because
of their being rarities, in priceless.
Commissioner Draper estimated
that the loss of documents and equip
ment OF the state library which could
be replaced was in the neighborhood
of two million dollars.
GREAT STAIRCASE RUINED.
The grand western staircase.
which was regarded as one Of the
most beautiful in the world, occupied
the center Of the western wing and
consisted Of an immense double stair
way Of corsehiIl sandstone elaborate
1y carved. II was surmountcd by q
glazed dome, which soon fell. II may
nave to be rebuilt. The structure
vas commenced in March 1884 and
took five and onehalf years 10 build.
BREAK our AFREsH
Half an hour after the fire was con
sidered under control. flames broke
out afrcsh in the ceiling OF the as
sembly chamber Firemen fought the
blaze from the gaTrct above, but It
proved so stubborn that they had
great difficulty in finally conUoline
il. Though the fire had been pro
nounced under control inside or the
capitol, on the upper floors Of the west
wing, was stil a secthing mass OF
flames Al 10 O'Clock flames burst
from Windows on the north side open
ing from the garrett and the fremen
had q hard battle ana an extremely
dangerous one because OF threatening
walls.
REMOVE OTHER RECORDS.
II was decided - remove all yalu.
able records in storage, Gremen being
unable ~ this time 20 tell whether or
not they could keep the blaze under
control
The assembly chamber is n wreck
Streams Of water are COursiug over
the rich axminster carpets, while
desks and chairs are piled in helpless
confusion. water dripping from the
ceiling on every article in the cham
Der. ~ the center forum lies large
brass chandelier. hopeIessly smashed.
COVFUsTON ~ NORTH WING.
Confusion abOGnds on every hand
N the north wing The walls and
ceilings are stripped Of their ornate
porcelain blocks, the arches rising
quaint and bare with steel ra9ters
stretched across them. The doors
have been sma he'd In. brown stone
arches have cTumbled and devazta-
ion = enhanced By dripping ceilings
Ind riyulets coursing over the hoor
and down stairWays
CALL OUT MILITIA
Militiamen were pressed into ser
vice 70 remove the records, relies