Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-02-04
sweeping Investigation Into
Origin of Blaze to Be
Instituted.
BOMB PLOT SCENTED?
Explosion Heard by Srviv
ors-One of Official
Body Missing.


Thomas, democrat, introduced a reso-
lution today denouncing the fire in the
house of parliament at Ottawa as an
act Of deliberately planned incendiar-
ISM" and an objectionable crime
against civilization" Senator CALM
ger, republican, objected to it's con-
sideration, saying he knew of no evil
dence Of inCendiarism.
Ottawa, Feb. 1.-Two women and
three men are known to have persisted
in the fire which swept the central por
ton Of Canada's magnificent parlia-
ment building last night, destroying
the chambers OF commons and senate.
Several others are reported missing
and it is feared today they are buried
in the ruins.
All night long firemer, police and
soldiers fought to save the S6,0OO,0OO
structure, which is considered one of
the finest examples of Gothic architec-
ture on this continent. They were sue
cessful in saving the library building
and the east and west wings of the
main edifice.
Immediately after the fire started a
report was spread that it was caused
by the explosion OF an incendiary
bomb. The fire started in the reading
loom of the house of commons, and
several persons who were present at
the time, including Mayor Martin Of
Montreal, asserted that it was pre-
ceded by an explosion which knocked
down several persons. The bomb the
ory was however, rejected today by
Colonel Sherwood, commander of do
minion police, who insisted the con-
fagration was accidental.
The two women who lost their lives
we're Madame Bray. wife OF H. F. Bray
Of Quebec, and Madame NORM, wife of
Louis NORM of ST. Joseph de Bauc,
Quebec. The men, whose bodies are
buried in the debris, are policeman,
an employe in the building and a
waiter.
Two Reported Missing.
Among those reported missing is B.
B Law, a member Of parliament for
Yarmouth, \. S. Mr.. Law is under
stood to have been at the house at the
tine the fire broke out and has not
been seen since. ]. B. La Plant, as
sistant clerk of the commons, is also
among those reported missing.
Ottawa, Feb. 4.-Canada's magnifi-
cent parliament building, which
cost more than $6,000,O0O, lay
in ruins today, swept by a fire attrib-
gted by some TO q bomb or Internal
Machine At least six lives were lost
and many persons injured. The fire
vas under control at 3 a. N. today af-
ter raging furiously for six hours. The
Known dead are:
MADAME BRAY, wife of H. A. Bray
Of Quebec and daughter of the late
George Tanguay OF the legislative
council
MADAME NORM, wife of Louis
Norm, of ST. Joseph De Bauc, Quebec
ROBERT TANNING, a waiter EN-
pioyed in the building.
a. DES JARDINES, a dominion po-
lcenan.
Al DES JARDINES, a plumber.
Another dominion policeman is be-
AeTed TO have been killed with the
yes Jardines when the roof fell on
mem while they were working with
"aers in the chamber below the
SPEAKERS quarters.
Parliament Member Missing.
:, William S. Logic, member of par
lament for Northumberland, N. B.. is
.sported missing. 1t was stated last
E,eat that Frederick F. Pardee, the
e1e' liberal whip in the house OF
Unons, also was missing but
vas subsequently learned that he
'eh to Sarnia, Ontario yesterday
sContinued on Page Nine).