Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-02-04
Members Of Parliament, EN-
pIoyes and Spectators Are
Hemmed in by Blaze Two
Women Perish.
FlREMEN P0WERLESS TO
COPE WITH SITUATION
Invaluable Library Building
Adjoining May Be Saved
Rigid Investigation by Do
minion Authorities.
fsY sossina JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED ~iRsl
Ofinx.a Inb A l-rhn historic Cam


Ottawa, Feb 1.-THE historic Cana
dian parliament building was de-
stroyed last night by fire declared
unofficially to have been caused by
the explosion of Il gas bomb or an in
fcrnal machine Two women guests
of the wife of Speaker Sevigny were
overcome by smoke and perished.
Two dominion policemen and two
commons attendants who were work
ing with other men in the chamber be-
low the speakers quarters when the
roof fell, are declared to have been
killed. The main tower fell at 10
o'clock this morning
The number of persons taken to
hospitals had not been determined
early this morning. Frederick f. Par
dee, chief liberal whip, and William D.
Loggie, member of parliament from
New Brunswick are missing and it is
believed they have lost their lives.
One or Two Explosions.
II has been established that the
burst of flames in the reading room OF
the house of commons was preceded
by at least one explosion and proba-
bly, by two The force of the Concus-
sion was so severe that persons stand
ing some distance away were hurled to
the floor. A rigid investigation to de-
terminc the cause of the fire already
has been undertaken by the dominion.
authorities.
The flames spread with such amaz-
ing ftlpdily that the Ottawa fire bri-
gade was helpless to cope with them.
Aid was sent from Montreal on spe-
clay train but at O'Clock this morn
ing the fire was still raging.
The loss cannot be estimated in
money. The building was valued at
about $5,000000. But the contents
are Of inestlmable value. There was
no insurance.
Library May Be Saved.
At midnight the commons and SEN
ate chambers had been destroyed, and,
as the great clock doomed out the
hour flames were swirling up the
magnificent tower and licking their
way to its top. The parliamentary Ii
brary at the rear probably will be
SAY Gu. sSolultib Mtlt uSSl6 ntd " Neii
ry out it's contents.
Members of the parliament, em-
ployes and others who were in the
building narrowly escaped death orr
injury, Within a few minutes after
the fire began corridors were filled
with smoke and at many points walls
of flame barred progress. There were
to ho 1.itt
since the outbreak of the war, all ex-
ccpt the main portals have been closed
TO safeguard the legislators This pre-
caution made escape more difficult
and probably was responsible for the
deaths Of Nine. Brayt of Montreal.
and Nine. NORM of Beauce, in one of
the rooms of the speakers suite.
Nine. Sevigny saved her two child
dren by dropping them into u fire
mans safety net and then leaped toI
safety herself. Another of her guests,
Nine. Dussalt saved herself in the
same way.
Among those severely burned was
Minister of Agriculture Burrell, who |
fell unconscious after plunging
through a curtain of fire and cropping
his way along a smoke-filled corridor. /
Two Women Die.
Nine. Sevigny's guests were Nine. /
Bray of Montreal, Nine. NORM of
Beauce and Nine. Dussault of Quebec. !
The only one of the three to escape .
was Nine. Dussault, who leaped into |
the firemens net. When firemen
reached the speakers rooms they
found Nine Bray and Nine. MORN
unconscious. They were taken from /
The building and physicians applied
pulmotors in vain. After half hour
the women were pronounced dead.