The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1930-01-04
SPECTACULAR BLAZE
DOES $1,000 DAMAGE
SOUTHWEST wing
Originates In Room Used BY
Artist Decorating Senate,
House Corridors
PAINTER NEAR SUFFOCATlON
Locked Doors Delay And Compel
Firemen To Batter Way To
Fires Source
PAINTER NEAR SUFF0CATl0N

washington, Jan. 1. - Fp = The
tongues Of red flame that leaped
through the roof Of the southwest
wing of the capitol last night ana
licked at the side Of the huge white
dome had left today only q small
blackened spot On the side OF the
building.
The vividness of the flare; the
shrieking sirens Of fire apparatus;
first thoughts that century old rec
ords, possibly the nearly nation-old
structure itself. might be cndanger.
cd, had faded this morning and fast
we're becoming q part Of the bullying
history of Capitol Hill.
Officials were more concerned over
the cause OF the blaze than the dam.
age wrought. They said the loss
would amount to about $1,000: that
the fire in no way would interfere
with the converting Of congress Mon
day from the holiday recess; and that
such documents and papers as were
charred or water soaked were not a
part of the permanent files.
Starts In Artists Room
The blaze, far more spectacular
than that which destroyed part OF
the executive office of the white
house Christmas eve. originated IN .
room occupied by Carl Moberly, an
artist who has decorated many OF the
long corridors In both the senate ana
house wings.
Moberly was rescued in a partly
suffocated condition. He was ad.
ministered first aid In the office OF
Representative John Garner Of Texas.
the house Democratic leader. q
later taken to q hospital.
Today he practically had recovered
and from him capitol Officials nope 70
obtain some light on the cause OF the
fire. Several capitol employees sug-
cested the possibility that a cigarette
or a cigar started the blaze.
Call Five Departments
The fire was discovered at 7 p. m.
Capitol police turned In the alarm.
They sounded a five call notice that
brought every engine In the business
and near-in residential districts.
Firemen on apparatus which had TO
travel over Pennsylvania avenue were
spurrcd forward by the sight OF the
flames, leaping and glowing bright
above the hundreds Of electric lights
that illuminate the building.
Reaching the capitol q multitude Of
difficulties delayed the firerner. Most
of the doors were locked. Some COM
panies threw ladders against the
structure to fight inward while 9TH
ers smashed the thick plate glass In
the revolving door opening from the
rotunda to the east plaza.
Thousands Gather
As fireman strove to reach the
flames thousands Of Neutrality-suspicious.
swarmed to Capitol Hill.
Police reserves were rushed to tine
hill" as the site of the capitol Il
known in washington, to assist the
hastily modified capitol police force
in holding back the crowd that surged
over the broad east plaza.
OF the thousands obtaining infor'
nation about the fire over the tele.
phone wss President Hoover. Last
night he instructed white house aides
to obtain all information and they
Immediately had . white house phone
connected with the office Of Repre-
sentative Garner.
Endsngers Oil Paintings .
After firemen had smashed the east
rotunda door. they carried hose unes
through the rotunda - the walls Q!
which are decorated with many valu'
able oil paintings Of events Of earl,
American history.
The artists room opened off . doc
umer1t room used to store principal!
bills, resolutions and committee re-
ports. Some damage to these result
ed but practically all were copies
More valuable records nearby wert
not marred.
Firemen had the blaze under con
troll In slightly more than 10 minutes
after they put their first hose In &C
ton. The fire was out within Is min
utes from the first alarm.
The fire last night was the thirt
since August. The other two wer'
blazing trash boxes ignited by care
lessly tossed cigarettes. Bert w
kennedy, the doorkeeper Of the house
said today he had counted 10 fire
CONTINUED on page ten)