Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1921-01-07
STATE CAPITAL DESTROYED BY FIRE.

SlAIE CAPITAL DESTROYED By FIRE.
Fire Monday afternoon the Sd
totally destroyed West Virginia's
State Capitol in Charleston.
From 3 o'clock in the afternoon
until dark the flames ate their way
from lofts to cellars, from wing to
wing, until, as dusk settled over the
scene, the havoc had been so COM
! plcte that the once beautiful State
House was completely destroyed,
leaving only charred walls and
blackened remnants of the seat Of
State Government.
In few hours the entire build
ing was wiped out, entailing a loss
estimated at one million dollars in
property value, State records and
archives, and sentimental loss that
money can never replace nor time
restore. =
In the destruction Of the building
one man, Charles Walker, volunteer
fireman, lost his life, crushed under
q falling wall. Four others-Oscar
Thaxton, Captain at Fire Station;
Col. Thos. Davis of the Adjutant
Generals office; Will Lacy, of the
Merchant Police Force, and George
Wiseman, volunteer fireman, were
more or less injured by falling walls
! or flying debris.
The most destructive fire in the
history of the State probably, start
ed in the loft of the building from
Il cause unknown. inaccessible to
the 1lremen, it was soon evident
that the building was doomed. The
lire would have defied the best de-
partments and equipments in any
city and from the start the efforts
!! of the city fire fighters TO compete
with the flames were futile.
In their fury the flames engllfed
the building, spreading from one
part of the immense structure to
the other until the officials and en-
plyees were early driven from the
building, leaving behind them in
their flight almost everything, al
though some efforts were made TO
save private. property, which was
done at the risk of the owners.
Governor John J. Cornwell. who
was lp his office when the fire
started, was one of the last of the
officials to leave the building. He
emerged from side door in tbe
executive offices, walked into the
street Just IN front of the capital
annex and then went to the execu-
tive mansion across the street where
he watched the flames as thew de-
Stroyed the building with which he
mad such an intimate association
during such an epochal period in
his own life. ,'.I'T -
Practically nothing of value was
saved. A few files, perhaps, were
carried out and a little personal
property may have been saved. b,1t
al! records and equipment went
with the building. Nothing could
nave been more complete than the
destruction, due in part TO the ra-
pldlty with which the fire spread
and the impotency of dealing with il
On the eve of a meeting of the
rlie as to what effect the fire would
nave on the session. 1t was stated
authoritatively that it would be held
on the scheduled date and that ar
rangclnents would be made at once
10 provide for the House and the
Senate and the various attaches and
their clerks.
The building was covered nv
blanket insurance, of $4,000, ono
which includes all State proDertv'
The adjustment, of course, will he
made on the basis of the actual loss,
winch Will be arrived at by the in
surance adjusters and The board of
public works. The State seems full
ly protected under this policy.
Only one vault is known to he in
TACT ana a stream Of water was con-
staqtly played upon it. 1t is located
In the southeast corner of the Capi-
tol, the entrance being in the office
OF James w. Weir, Secretary TO Gov
crnor Cornwell.
Governor Cornwell personally di.
rected the removal of The files and
correspondence from his Office. |
Workers had but little time before
it was too dangerous to 60 into the !
Office because Of the fall of slate and |
stone from the top Of the building. !
Most of the correspondence, how |
ever. was saved.
The Council of the City of t
Charleston by resolution offered to !
w all III us power 10 assist In the |
prompt rebuilding of suitable
structure befitting the official home
of the Representatives of the State
of West Virginia as its Capitol.
Governor John J. Cornwcll re-
ceived a wire from Wheeling Mon
day night asking that the regular
session of the State Legislature be
held in that city, but on account of
having made practically positive
nrrn - nntnnnic for tho cncsinr, q. l,n