South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-02-04
Valuable Books and DOCu-
mentS Are Carried From
Library by Members of
the 18th Regiment.
SPREAD OF FLAMES is
SURPRISE TO OFFICIALS
Books, Papers, Desks and
Chairs in Reading Rooms
Are FueI-City Light
ed For Many Miles.
international News Service

International News Service.
OTTAWA, Ont. Feb 4.-Fire, be-
lieved by the Canadian authorities to
have been set by a German agent,
destroyed the historic Canadian par
lament building early today, causing
the loss of five lives and entailing a
monetary loss estimated at $1,000
600.
Detectives are securing this city
and Montreal for a suspect who is
believed to have planted an incen-
near commons chamber where the
blaze originated. shortly before
o'clock last night.
After commons chamber and the
senate had been burned, firemen
concentrated their efforts on saving
the library, but at 4 O'Clock that
section of the building was doomed.
Books Are Saved.
Most Of the valuable books and
ried from ire library by members Of
the 18th regiment before the fire
reached them.
Help was called from Montreal
but the combined efforts of the OF
tawa and Montreal fremen could not
stay the Roadway of the flames.
Two of the missing are Nine.
NORM of Beauce. and Nine. Bray Of
Montreal. who were guests Of the
wife OF Speaker Zvigny.
Several men were reported to have
been killed when one of the stone
walls of the building collapsed.
William 5. Loggie, member Of
parliament from New Brunswick,
was said to be missing.
Many persons were injured and
were rushed TO various hospitals.
Many Narrow Escapes.
There were many narrow escapes
as the fire spread 50 rapidly that
some of the persons in the building
were trapped and had to fight their
way through binding smoke.
Minister Of Agriculture Burrill
was overcome as he was making his
way through the thickest of the
smoke and fell unconscious, but was
dragged TO safety.
The Duke of Connaught. COVER
nor-general of Canada, rushed to
the scene in an automobile and in
sisted on helping the firemen.
Premier Borden announced that
parliament would continue in ses-
sion despite the loss Of the building.
The mem bers were notified 70 be
ready to assemble at 3 o'clock this
afternoon either in Russell theater
or the government offices Of the
board Of railway commissioners.
Among the works of value de-
stroyed were paintings presented TO
parliament by Queen Victoria and
King Edward.
Gen. Sir Sam Hughes. minister Of
militia for Canada. assisted i'm the
direction Of the fire lighting forces.
He called out the nth regiment,
which is in training here. and the
men were set at work rescuing trap
ped persons in the building, carrying
out books and documents and as
sisting the firemen in other ways
JIiIItia -SOHned.
IN the meantime the minister OF
militia notified the militia authori-
ties all along the border to watch
for persons trying 10 leave the coun-
try surreptitiously.
A number Of newspaper CORE
spondents were caught in the press
gallery by the onrush OF flames and
saved themselves by climbing down
extension ladders which the firemen
raised 10 the windows
Conflicting reports were circulated
as 10 the fare Of Chief Liberal Whip
Pardee. who was in his seat in COM
mons when an excited messenger
dashed into the chamber shouting.
Fire, Fire, Run for your lives"
Mr.. Pardee like many others in
the chamber. did not recognize the
full extent Of the danger and was
slow in attempting 10 make his es-
cape
Many Of the legislators after max
ing their way from the building.
gave such aid as they could 10 the
fremen. Some OF these paid for
their devotion with serious injuries
One Man Burned.
Or. Michael Clark. a member OF
parliament from Red Deer. was
among the volunteers who was in