St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1883-10-13
A MILLION DOLLAR BLAZE.

Total Destruction by Fire of the Pittsburgh
Exposition Buildings-A Million Dollars
Worth of Property Consumed-NIuch OF
the Loss of Treasured Relies Irrsparable.
PITTSBURGH, PA, Oct. 8.
The magnificent buildings of the Pitts
bargh, Exposition Society ON the north
bank of the Allegheny River have been to-
tally destroyed by fire. The immense
structures, with their almost endless vari-
ETY. of exhibits, illustrative of every branch
OF art, science and mechanical skill, which
were yesterday visited by thousands of
people, and since the opening on Septeui-
Der 6 by hundreds of thousands, is now a
mass of splintered and powdered embers
and curled and tangled iron. The destruc-
tion is complete, and nothing but the site
remains of the home of the specimens of
brain and Drawn in which Pittsburghers
felt so much pride. The fire was first dis
covered at two O'Clock this morning in the
boiler-room attached to the machinery hall
at the south end of the building, and before
the Waterman could give an alarm the
flames had spread to the floral hall, ma
chinery hall and the main building, and in
less than ten minutes the buildings were on
fire from end to end.
When the Fire Department arrived on
the grounds the flames were beyond con-
troll. The firemen turned their attention to
saving the adjacent property, many resi-
dences on South avenue being in flames.
BY hard work, however, they succeeded in
saving all those, with no more damage
done than the burning of fences and
cornices. The alarms soon aroused almost
the entire population of two cities, and it
is estimated that not less than from 10000
to 100000 people witnessed the conf1agra-
ton. The reflection of the flames illuminate
ed the country for miles around, making
possible the reading of the finest news
paper print. In one hour from the discov-
cry of the fire mere attenuated skeleton
of the once magnificent structure was all
that was left. Nothing was saved. Nu-
merous theories as to the origin of the fire
have been advanced, but so far most of
them have fallen to the ground. It is
known to have started in the boiler house,
and may have been caused by spark from
the furnace or the accidental ignition OF
some contiguous substance from gas jet
left burning in the boiler house. The loss
will probably reach 100000. Secretary
Patterson places the value of the building
destroyed at $4,000, the insurance $4,000.
The exhibitors will sustain a loss of about
$Soo, GOO.
An irreparable loss, however, was occa.
stoned by the destruction of the relic depart
ment. The cash value of the articles con-
tanned therein did not exceed $4,000, but
many can not be replaced. In the annex
was Arabian, the first locomotive ever run
in the United States. ltwas also destroyed,
and the Great Western Band case with a
full set of splendid instruments. In the
safe were $4,000 cash receipts from yester-
DAVIS admissions and Levy's gold cornet.
The attendance at the Exposition yesterday
was the largest of any day in it's history.
Admissions day and evening were $1,000,
and the crowd last night was SO great that
the building was packed to its utmost ca
pacity. The buildings which were destroy
ed were erected in 1915. The main building
was 800 feet long and $50 feet wide. Ma
chinery Hall was 400 feet long and $50 feet
wide. The other buildings were small.
The safe has been opened and the contents
including Sc, 900 in cash and Levy's cornet,
found in good condition. The cornet was
somewhat discolored, but it is not thought
the tone has been injured. At a meeting
this evening of the Directors it was decided
not to rebuild. There is a strong feeling
among business men, however, in favor of
rebuilding with iron. Several have already
offered to contribute literally.