The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1916-02-04
Six Known to Have Died When His
torical Building at Ottawa
is Destroyed.
LOSS INESTIMABLE:
BUILDING COST S., 600, 900
Militia Guards Ruins; Library Par
TALLY Saved; Police and Firemen -
Buried in Ruins.
TWO PARLIAMENT MEMBERS
DEAD; MANY ARE MISSING

Ottawa, Feb. 4.-Six people are
known to be dead as a result of a
fire which destroyed the historical
$5,000,000 Canadian parliament
building last night. The fire, it was
declared unofficially, was caused by
the explosion of a gas bomb or an
Internal machine.
Frederick E. Pardee, chief Liberal
whip, and VIM. S. Loggie, a member
OF parliament from New Brunswick,
are missing and it is expected lost
their lives.
Heard Explosion.
1t has been established that the
first burst of flames in the readins
room Of the house of commons was
preceded by at least one explosion,
and probably by two. The force of
the conclusion was so severe that
persons standing some distance away
were hurled to the floor. A rigid
| investigation already has been under
taken by the dominion authorities.
The flames spread with such
amazing rapidity that the Ottawa
| fire department was utterly helpless
to cope with them. Aid was sent
from Montreal on a special train, but
at 1 o'clock this morning the fire
the fire is still raging.
The loss cannot be estimated in
money. The budding was valued at
about $5,000,O0O, but the contents
are of inestimable value. There was
no insurance.
The parliamentary library to the
rear was partially saved. Soldiers
were assigned to carry out it's con-
tents.
Escapes Were Narrow.
Members of parliament, spectators
in the gallery of the lower house,
government employees and others who
were in the building, narrowly es-
capped death or injury. Within few
minutes after the fire began corridors
were filled with smoke and at many
points walls Of flame barred progress.
! Colonel Geo. Bradbury, a member
Of Manitoba; Medric Martin, mayor
| nf hor hot
city, and Constable Helmer, guard,
were at the entrance to the reading
room when the fire started. All three
asserted that it began with an explo-
sion which filled the reading room
with flames and burst open the swing
ing DOORS The force of the explo-
sion was so great that all three men
were thrown fiat on the floor. In
their opinion an explosive bomb or
an Internal machine was responsible
for the fire.
Many Doors Closed.
There were many doors to the great
building, but since the outbreak of
the war, all except the same portals
have been closed to safeguard the
legislation. The precaution made
escape more difficult and probably
was responsible for the deaths of
Nine. Bray of Montreal, and Nine.
Morrin of Bruce, in the rooms of the
speakers suite. Nine. Svigny saved
her children by throwing them in
a. fireman's net and leaping to safety.
Another guest saved herself in the
same way.
Among those severly burned was
Minister of Agriculture Burrell, who
fell unconscious after plunging
through a curtain of flame and CROP
ing his way along smoke-f1lled cor
ridor.
One of the first men to make his
way out of the chamber was Colonel
John Currine, who commanded the
Fourth regiment of the Canadian
first division through the battle of
St. Julien, where he was overcome
with asphyxiating gas.
Colonel Currine at once organized
into fire brigade members of the
house, telegraph operators and police
attendants, who manned several lines
of emergency hose. They played
streams on the flames, but without
apparent effect, and soon were driven
back by the terrific heat.
Sir Robert Borden, the Canadian
premier, who was in. the building, es-
capped safely but Martin Burre1l, min
lister Of agriculture, was burned Sc
Iverely about the head, and DR.. Mich
ael Clark, member for Red Deer, was
burned about the hands.
Vienna, Feb. 4.-(Oficial) Aus
trian aeroplanes have made several
air raids on the Albanian ports of