The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-03-29
Flames Destroy West Wing and
Fire and Water Do Great Dam
age in Other Parts Of
Structure
LOSS Is NEARLY Ten MILLIONS
Building at Albany Was Erected at
Cost of s27,ooo,ooo, It Requiring
Five Years and a Half to
Complete II.

Albany, N ", March 29.-Fire swept.
smoke strewn and water drenched,
New York states $27,OOO,OOO capitol
stands today a partial wreck by flames
that started i'm the assembly library,
burning away the entire west wing
and doing damage estimated at be-
tween $s0OO,0OO and $1O,000,00O before
the fire was controlled.
The fire was discovered at 2:45 a. M,
and ragged more than four hours. 1t
is believed it was started by a fused
electric push button becoming electri-
fed.
The capitol was commenced in
March, 1884, and it took FIVE and a
half years to complete it.
Four Men Are Missing.
Four men were reported missing:
Samuel Abbott and Fred Weyler.
watchmen; Thomas Bean, capitol at
tache; and an employe of the docu-
ment room, but later they were ac-
counted for.
Before the fremen could reach the
capitol priceless documents, books and
records, stored in the assembly library
were destroyed. and other departments
were being threatened,
The state library containing 600, 900
volumes, among them the most valua-
BILE genealogical works in the United
States. together with relics and price
less documents, was partially de-
stroyed. The assembly and senate IL
braries, where there were thousands of
volumes of law and code books, docu-
ments and manuscripts, which can
never he replaced, also is wreck
on all other floors of the fire section
the damage wrought was great, and
the loss of documents irreparable.
Priceless Articles Lost.
or the books on the state library
shelves, which can be duplicated in the
open market today, such duplication
would cost according To State Com
missioner OF Education Draper ST.
500 600 but he says the value of other
books and manuscripts, because Of
their being rarities, is priceless. Com
missioner Draper estimates that the
loss of documents and equipment of
the state library. which could be re-
placed, was in neighborhood of So
600, 900.
The Grand Western staircase, which
was regarded as one OF the most beau
tifu in the world, occupied ne center
of the western wing. and CT sisted of
an immense double stairway - corse-
hill sandstone elaborately carved. 1t
was surmounted by a glazed dome
which fell. II may have TO be rebuilt.
Assembly Chamber Wrecked.
Half an hour after the fire was con-
sidered under control flames broke out
afresh in the ceiling of the assembly
chamber. The firemen fought the
blaze Gom the garret above, but 1t
proved so stubborn that they had great
difficulty in finally controlling 1t.
Though the fire had been pronounced
under control. the inside of the capitol
ON the upper floors of the west wing
was still soething mass Of flames at
10 o'clock. Flames burst from the VIM
sdows on the north side. opening from
the garret. and the firemen had a hard
battle and an extremely dangerous
one. becaUse of the threatening walls.
II was decided to remove all valuable
records in storage, the hremen beins
unable at this time 10 tell whether or
not they could keep the blaze under
control
The assembly chamber is a wreck,
Streams Of water arc coursing over
the rich Axminster carpets, while
desks and chairs are piled in helpless
confusion, water dripping from the
ceiling on every article in the chamber
Confusion on Every Hand.
In the center of the forum lies the
large brass chandler, hopelessly
smashed. Confusion abounds on every
hand in the north wing The walls
and ceilings are stripped of their or
nament porcelain blocks. the arches
rising gaunt and bare with steel raft
ers stretched across them. The doors
have been smashed In. the brownstone
arches have crumbled and the devas-
tatlon Is enhanced by dripping ceilings
and rivulets coursing over the floor
and down the stairways.
Miitlamen we're pressed into service
10 remove the records, relics and flags
from the adiutant generals office and
In policing the fire lines. In every por-
fto.. tl,. ...oot x,rf,a tho r,nnaQ orQ