The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1883-10-11
The Pittsburgh Blaze |!
The Exposition Building in Ru-
ins--VaIuable Relics Destroyed.

PITTSBURGH, October 3.-The mag
nificent buildings of the Pittsburgh
Exposition Society, on the north bank
of the Allegheny river. have been to-
I tally destroyed. The immense struc-
lures, with their almost endless varie-
ties 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 September 9Th by hum
dreds of thousands, are now minia-
ture mass of splintered aud powdered
embers and curled and tangled iron.
The destruction is complete, and moth
ing but the site remains of the home
of specimens of brain and Drawn in
which Pittsburghers felt SO much
pride.
The fire was first discovered at two
O'clock this morning in the boiler
rosm attached to machinery hall in the
south end of the building, and before
the Watcfman could give an alarm the
flames had spread to floral hall, ma
chinery hall and the main buildings,
and in less than ten minutes the
buildings were OH fire from end to end
and when the fire department arrived
on the grounds the flames were beyond
control. Nothing was saved, and the
flremen turned their attention to saw
ing adjacent property, many residen-
cenees OH South Avenue being in
flames. BY hard work, however, they
succeeded in saving all these, with no
more damage done than the burning
/ of fences and cornices.
The repeated alarms soon aroused
almost the entire population of the two
! cities, and it is estimated that not less
| than from seventy-f five to one hundred
thousand people witnessed the confia-
grafton. The reflection of the flames
illuminated the country for miles
around, making possible the reading
| of the finest newspaper print. In one
hour from the discovery of the fire a
! mere atteuuated skeleton of the once
| magnificent structure was all that was
| left.
The origin of the fire is still uncer-
tain. Numerous theories have been
advanced, but so far most of them have
fallen to the ground. 1t is known to
| have started in the boiler house, and
may have been caused from spark
| under the boiler or the accidental ig-
milton Of some contiguous substan ce
from the gas jet left burning in the
| boiler room.
morning was greatly exaggerated. 1t
will probably reach 81 ,OO0, 900. Secre-
tary Patterson places the value of the
buildings destroyed at Sl50,O0O, the
insurance being $40, 900.
The exhibitors will sustain loss of
about $800,000; an irreparable loss,
! however, was OccasiOned by the de.
| struction Of the Relic Department
| The cash value OF the articles contain
| ed therein did not exceed $40, 900, but
many of them cannot be replaced In
| the arsneX was the Arabian" the first
| locomotive ever run in the United
| States, which has also been destroyed.
| The Great Western Band had full set
of instruments destroyed. In the safe
! were Sc, 900, the cash receipts from yes
| terday's admissions, and Levy's gold
cornet, which has been taken from the
ruins, but the contents have not yet
been examined.
The attendance at the Exposition
yesterday was the largest of any day
in its history. The admissions during
the day and evening were $1,000, and
the crowd last night was so great that
the building was packed to its utmost
capacity. Had the confiagration oc-
CURED last night at nine o'clock, con.
sidering the rapidity with which the
flames spread. the loss of life would
have been appalling, as it would have
been almost impossible for even part
| of the crowd to escape.
i The buildings which were destroyed
were erected in 1875. The msin build
ing was six hundred feet long and ont
hundred and fifty wide. Machinery
hall WAS four hnndred feet long anC
one hundred and fifty feet wide. Th,
other buildings were small.