Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-29

OF the senate. ,
The lieutenant governors room, Daoiy
damaged. but not wrecked.
The assembly chambers, both flusned
with water that has ruined their r1ch
furnishings. and the scandal-struck cell
ing of the latter hanging In wasted
struggling shreds of half dissolved paper.
This ceiling with its handsome adOrnment
is said to have cost a great sum, and was
one of the show sights of the capitol
Legal Documents Lost.
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 drafting 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 scientific
and historical interest
On the second floor the damaged rooms
are:
The attorney generals office.
The state excise department, probably
swept by flames.
On the first floor the damaged depart
The offices of the state treasurer and
state commissioner.
The state board of charities and the
state commission of 1unacy.
Executive Chamber Damaged.
The lower office of the state educational
department.
third floor, including the executive cham
her, were damaged by smoke and water.
The departments which escaped the raw
age of fire and the deluge of water in
clude:
The court of appeals.
Secretary of states off1ce.
Department of public works
The state superintendent Of prisons Of
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.
While the fire was at its height four
men were reported missing. one OF them
Samuel Abbott Of Syracuse. night watch
and is believed to have been burned to
death. His body is probably buried be-
meath the mass of debris.
After the fire was under control Fred
man in the state library. was reported to
be missing. Thomas Bean. the capitol at
tache. and a man employed in the docu-
ment room were missing.
State 0dacials Notified.
Gov. Dix was aroused shortly after 4
o'clock and remained In close touch with
the fremen by telephone. Practically all
the state officials and many Of the city
officers were also on the ground.
State Architect Ware said he could give
no idea OF the total until after the flames
were extipguished, nor could he venture
a hazard as to what the total loss may
be.
The firemen had many narrow escapes.
~
flames in the corridors and rooms. but
got safely out.
Chief Bridgeford and a squad came
near being hit when q large section OF
the western cornice crashed down with
a part of the roof and upper wall. Sew
eral firemen were overcome by smoke
and many were made SO ill they had
to seek fresh air.
Joint Session in Parlor.
There was much speculation as to the
effect the fire would have on the sena-
toriai situation. The assembly chamber
was flooded with water, but the assem-
bly, parlor on the northeast corner OF
the building was unscathed, and 1t was
decided TO hold the adjourned democratic
caucus there, as we'll as the joint ballot
At noon.
The caucus last night did not adjourn
until nearly / o'clock, and a few stray
glers remained in the building when the
fire broke out. An attache of the assem-
bly, library returning for some overlooked
papers discovered a tiny blaze near his
desk. There had been a complaint Med
turing the day that an electric switch
was out of order and this is supposed to
nave started the fire. Running out into
the corridor, the clerk summoned a night
Waterman and. with the assistance OF
two newspaper men, efforts were made to
out out the fire, which probably could
taa hod nj
bucket of water been available.
The grand western staircase, which
was regarded as one OF the most beau
tiful in the world. occupied the center
If the western wing and consisted Of
an immense double stairway OF Corse-
hill sandstone deliberately carved. II
was surmounted by glazed dome
which soon fell 1t may have to be
rebuilt.
The structure was commenced In
March. 1884. and took FIVE and a half
years to build.
Valuable Volumes in Library.
State Commissioner of Education An
drew Draper stated today that the
state library contained 600. 900 volumes
100000 pamphlets and 100000 historical
manuscripts. Two years ago Commits
sioner Draper transferred from the
state library proper to the safe in his
OTlRlna
emancipation proclamation. the orig
inal manuscript of Washington's fare
well address, the original manuscript
of the state constitution and fifteen oil
twenty of the other priceless manu-.
scripts. as well as all of the Washing
ton relics.
These have all been removed from the
building to a place of safety since tho
fire started Commissioner Draper sait
hat most OF the manuscripts that have
been lost were original documents anG
cannot be replaced. The early Dutch
records were lost. OF the books on thu
state library shelves which can be dupli
cated in the open market today sucf
duplication would cost. according Il
Commissioner Draper s1.50O.OOO. but h,
says the value OF the other books ant
manuscripts lost. because OF their bein,
-arities, is priceless.
Commissioner Draper estimated tina
The loss OF documents and equipment o.
The state library which could be replaced
was in the peighborhOod of $4,000 200.
- has arranged TO carry on the worl