The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-02-04
CANADA CAPITOL BURNS

CONTINUED from Page One.)
and Col. George Bradbury, a member
of the house from Manitoba; Mayor
Medric Martin, of Montreal. and Con-
stable Helmer, who were standing at
the entrance of the library, agree that
it was preceded by an explosion which
blew open the doors of the library
and knocked down persons standing
near.
Police Were on Guard.
They say they believe the explosion
was caused by bomb or internal ma
chine. Policemen were on guard at
both doors of the library and other
persons were in the room itself so
that it would have been difficult for
anyone deliberately to set fire without
detection. Suggestions were made that
the blaze started from a smouldering
cigar butt but smoking was prohibited
in the library.
In this room were thousands of
loose papers among which the flames
leaped with almost amazing rapidity.
Smoke rolled in dense volumes out
through the doors and into the cham
Der of the house of common where
that body was sitting. With the
spreading of the alarm members of
the house of commons, spectators in
the gallery and attendants fled in
panic for windows, doors or fire es-
capes. So swift was the rush of the
flames that many narrowly escaped.
Members Fight Flames.
Col. John Currie, who commanded
a regiment of Canadians in the battle
of St. Julien in Flanders, hastily or
ganized a fire brigade of members of
the house and attendants and fought
the fire with lines or hose in the Cor
ridors but could make no Roadway.
Tho blaze spread so fast that when
/ the Ottawa fire department arrived
/ ha hllil
summoned from Montreal but as a
special train laden with fire apparatus
and company of firemen was leav-
| ing that city about midnight, the call
was countermanded- The tall central
tower of the parliament building fell
at 1880 a M, and at the same time
three of the firemen were crushed
J beneath the falling roof of one of the
wings. By o'clock the flames were
rolling through the senate building
but the firemen believed the library
would be saved.
Building 40 Feet Long.
| The parliament building included
! central building with two wings in all
47O feet in length with a tower 220
feet high and library building IN the
rear. Many valuable sculptures,
paintings and decorations adorned its
rooms and corrid ors. 1t was erected
in 1865 of cream colored sandstone
on a bluff rising $50 feet above the
/ ottawa river
Among those reported missing are
William S. Loggie, member parlia ment
for Northumberland; B. B. Law, mem
Der of parliament, who is understood
| to have been at the house at the time
the fire broke out, and j. c. LaPlant,
assistant clerk of the commons.
Denies Bomb Rumor.
The fire started in the reading room
| of the house of commons. Colonel
| Sherwood says there is no ground for
rumors that the fire was of incendiary
| origin. The report of a warning hav-
ing having been received from Provi-
dence two weeks ago is officially de-
MED. The central part of the main
i building including the chambers of
both the commons and the senate was
destroyed but the front ard end walls
are apparently in good shape. Both
the east and west ends of the building
are but little damaged with the col
lapse of the roof and top floors. The
| towers were ruined
Thomas Spouts Early.
Washington, Feb. T. Senator
Thomas, Democrat, introduced a reso-
luton denouncing the fire in the house
| of parliament at Ottawa as an act of
| deliberately planned incendiarism -
and an objectionable crime against
civilization" Senator Gallinger, Re-
publican, objected to its considera-
ton, saying he knew of no evidence
| of incendiarism.
/ Saw Fire Start.
| Ottawa, Feb. Am explanation of
how the fire started which has been
! accepted by Col Sherwood was sup
piled today by the policemen who was
on duty at the senate entrance The
| policeman said that he saw a blaze in