Jasper County Democrat, Volume 23, Number 81, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 January 1920 — GENERAL AND STATE NEWS [ARTICLE]

GENERAL AND STATE NEWS

WapNc Repurts From Mibj Parts of tha Country. short bitFofthe UNUSUAL Happenings In the Nearby Cities and Towns—Matters of Minor Mention from Many Localities. WEST VIRGINIA CAPITOL BURNS One Man Rifled and Several Firemen Are Injured In Blaze. Charleston, W. Va., Jan. 4. —The capital building of West Virginia was destroyed by fire late yesterday. A laborer was killed and several firemen were Injured, one seriously, when a section of the roof under which they were standing caved tn. The spectacular nature of the fire was enhanced when much ammunition, stored on the third floor of the building,- exploded. The building was of brick construction and by no means fireproof. The fire broke out on tjie Lee street side and within half an hour two floors of that wing were a mass of flames. All the fire companies In the city were called to the capital, which stands tn a park directly across the street from the executive mansion. The fire started on the third floor just above the senate chamber and In a few minutes the chamber was reduced to ruins. It then spread along the corridor to some of the state offiqes, where valuable records have been stored since the organization of the commonwealth. No suggestion as to the cause of the fire had been made by Governor Cornwell or other state officials tonight. An Investigation is tn progress to' determine the origin of the flames.