Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-02-04
GREAT GOTHIC PILE
|. AT OTTAWA IS PREY
OF |NCEND|ARY FIRE
Flames Spread So Rapidly
That Escape Almost
Is Cut Off.
TWO GUESTS OF WIFE
OF SPEAKER LOSE LIVES
Several Policemen and Firemen
Buried by Collapse of One
End of Structure.
TWO HOUSE MEMBERS MISSING
Many Of Them Sitting With Smoke,
Forced to Leap From Windows
Into Life Nets.

historic Canadian Parliament Eiiidiug
was destroyed last night by fire. de-
clarcd unoicially TO have been caused
by the explosion OF a gas bomb or an
Internal machine. Two women. guests
OF the Wife Of Speaker Sevigney. were
overcome by smoke and pcrished. Sew
cral policemen and tircmcn were buried
under debris when one end OF the build
, ing collapsed. The number Of persons
taken to hospitals had not been deter
mined early this morning. Frederick
T.. Pardcc, chief Liberal whip. and
William s. LoGGie. II member OF Parlia-
, mcnt from New Brunswick are miss
ing. and it is feared they have lost
their lives.
Two dominion policemen and two
House of Commons attendants are de-
clarcd to have been killed when the
roof fell.
The main tower fell at il:30 o'clock.
1t was believed at that time there was
still hope Of saving the library.
According TO reports. the first burst
OF flames. In the reading room. was fol-
lowed by at least one explosion, and
probably two. The flames spread so
rapidly that the ottawa fire brigade
was utterly helpless. Aid was sent
from Montreal on II special train.
CONTENTS OF BUILDING
OF INESTIMABLE VALUE
The loss cannot be estimated in
money. The building was valued at
about s5.0Oo.oOo. but the contents are
of mcstnable value. There was no in
surance.
AT midnight the Commons and Sen
ate chamber had been destroyed, and
as the great clock doomed out the
hour. flames were sweeping up the
magnificent tower and licking their
way towards the clock.
The fire in the great S5.oco.00o struc-
ture. the finest Gothic pile in North
America. was discovered ut $40 o'clock.
II broke forth in innumerablc places.
Half An hour later a tremendous cXplo-
sion shattered the right wing of the
buildings.
The fla mes hurst forth with the sud-
denness OF n lightning stroke. StranE-
ling brown smoke accompanied them.
The Ottawa fire department and the
special fire squad assigned TO Parlia-
ment worked like madmcn, but the
water seemed TO feed the names
The fire started on the north side OF
the Commons. Frank Glass, member OF
MiddleseX, discovered the hames. He
gave Immediate alarm, but even he
nearest the door. had difficulty in
escaping.
Tho two women who perished were
Madame Bray and Madame Dussault.
The loss so far is estimated at
Sl0.000.000
WOMEN RECOME LOST
IN SMOi<E-FtLtED CORRIDORS
Madame Bray and Madame Dussault
became lost in the smokc-iilled corri-
doris. Firemcn found them on mar
row stairway. clasped in each others
arms. The exact number OF persons
missing is unknown.
No sooner had the alarm sounded
than General sam Hughes took charge
OF the situation. The Seveuty-scvcnth
Regiment, engineers. and other detach-
ments We're called out. He himself
and his STAFF rushed to the scene. and
Gordon OF troops WAS stretched
around the building.
The house was in session when the
fire started at $40 o'clock in the beau
tiful library building at the north side
OF the Commons building. II spread
with enormous rapidity Secretary Of
Agriculture Hon. Martin Burrell who
was at work in his office. had a narrow
escape. and was badly burned about
the face and hands.
The progress of the fire was terrify-
ing. and il burst upon the great halls
like Il dcluSc.
NJ, Sevieny was in the Speakers
chair.
w :. l.egglc, OF New Brunswick
was discussing the Improvement Of tho
Dominion fish trade The house WIS
silent. save for his voice.
GLASS. ON DEAD RUN,
GIVES WARNING or FIRE
Frank Glass member for MiddIesex.
came into the chamber on a dead run.
lie staggered against the ratings In
the rear.
The buildings are on hre!" he >Sasped,
Then he staggered out.
Almost Immediately wall OF smoke
heavy. black and choking--roilcd into
the big hall. ltrswept forward slowly.
like the hllowing OF the ocean on a
calm day. But the mcmbcrs who
sought TO pierce it we're staggered
some ran to the lockers for their coats;
others fled coatless and hatlcss. For
the moment there was. a terrible panic.