New Britain herald., 1916-02-04

Tn U. s. Senate Denouncing Fire As An Act of Deliberately Planned able Crime Against Civilization'- GaIlinger Objects to Consideration. Ottawa, Ont, Feb. 1.-Two women and three men are known to have perished in the fire which swept through the central portion of Can- ada's magnificent Parliament last night, destroying the chambers of tho commons and senate. Several other persons are reported missing, and it is feared are buried in the ruins.
 The two women who .. lost their Ewes are Madam Bray, wife of H. A. Bray Of Quebec, and Madam Morin, wife of Louis Morin of Beauce, Que.
 Burned in Debris.
 The men, whose bodies are still buried in the debris, are Alphonse Des Jardins, a Dominion policeman; Alphonse Des Jardins, his uncle an employe in the building, and Robert Tanning, 8 waiter.
 All night long firemen, police and soldiers fought to save the $6,0O0,O0O structure, which was considered one of the finest examples of Gothic archi- lecture on this continent. They were successful in saving the beautiful li- brary building and the east and west wings of the main edifce. -
 Bomb Theory Rejected
 Immediately after the fire started a report spread that it was caused by the explosion of an incendiary bomb, in the reading room of the house of commons. The bomb theory was, however; rejected today by Col. Sher- wood, commissioner of Dominion po- lice, who insisted that the conf1a gra- ton was accidental. It was announced by the premier today that until other arrangeme are made parliament would sit in the Victoria Memorial Museum, which has a spacious ground floor. The first sit ting of the commons was called for o'clock this afternoon. The senate will reassemble at the museum on Tuesday next.
 15,O0O Volumes Destroyed
 While conditions have permitted only hurried survey of the damage to books in the Parliamentary library the indications are that 1000 vol umes, including an immense and in valuable collection of ecclesiastical literature, have been destroyed A large collection of beautiful polyglot Bibles some of them printed in the seventeenth century, and said to form one of the most valuable collections of the kind in the world, has also been, lost.
 M. P. is Missing.
 William s. Loggie, member Of Parliament for North Umberland. N. B., is reported missing. It was stated last night that Frederick F. Pardee. the chief liberal whip in the house ef commons, also was missing but it was subsequently, learned that he went to Sarania, Ont. yesterday morning and that he could not have returned before the fire.
 Ministers Are Injured.
 Several persons who were burned or otherwise hurt in fleeing through the corridors before the swift rush of the flames or in escaping from the windows are in hospitals today. Sne of those most severely injured Is Martin Burrell, minister of agri-
 
 head. Dr. Michael Clark. member for Red Deer. suffered burns about the hands. Sir Robert Borden, the Can Rdian premier, escaped without in- jury.
 Mrne Bray and Mime Morin were guests of Mime Sevigny, wife of the speaker and were trapped in the speaker's rooms. Mme Sevigny dropped her two children into d fremens safety net and then leaped into it herself, as did one of her guests, Mme. Dussault, of Quebec They escaped unhurt. When the fire men reached the speakers chamber they foundi Mme Bray and Mime Morin unconscious. Vain attempts were 0ade to revive them with pulmotors.
 Tower Falls.
 The tall central tower of the Par Iiament building fell at 1:30 a. m. to- day and about the same time three or four men were crushed beneath the falling roof of one of the wings. By o'clock the flames were rolling through the senate building, but the ftremen believed the library would b8 saved.
 The parliament building included Fl central building with two wings, ir pn 470 feet in length with tower of 228 feet high and library building ir the rear. Many valuable sculptures paintings and decorations adorned its rooms and corridors. It was erected in 1S65 of cream colored sandstone lConunued sn Fifteenth page.)