Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1883-10-18
A MILLION DOLLAR BLAZE.


Total Destruction by Fire Of the Pittsbnrxls,
Exposition Bui1dings-A Million Dollar,a
Worth of Property Consumed-Afuch OF
the Loss of Treasured Relics Irreparable.
PITTSBURGH, Pa, Oct g.
The magnificent buildings of the Pitts
burgh, Exposition Society on the north
bank of the Allegheny River have been to-
tally destroyed by fire. The immense
ttructurcs, with their almost endless vari-
ETY. of exhibits, illustrative of every branch
of art, science and mechanical sllll which
were yesterday visited by thousands OF
people, and since the opening on. Septem-
Der 6 by hundreds of thousands, is NOW q
mass of splintered and powdered embers
and curled and tangled iren. The dastruc-
ton is complete, and nothing but the site
remains of the home of the specimens Of
brain and Drawn in which, Pittsbarghers
tclt SO much pride The fire was first dis
covered at two O'Clock this morning in the
boiler-room attached to the machinery hall
as 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-
denees 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 $4,000
to 100000 people witnessed the con- agra-
ton. The reflection of the flames illuminate
cd 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 attennated 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 1t 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 a gas jet
left burning in the boiler house, The loss
will probably reach $1,Oo0,Oo0. Secretary
Patterson places the value of the building
destroyed at $150,O0o, the insurance $$4QQ,O 900.
The exhibitors will sustain loss Of about
$500, 900. ~ '''''A'~' 'HnS7.t
An irreparable loss, however, was ,dcca-
stoned by the destruction of the relic depart
ment The cash value Of the articles con-
tanned therein did not exceed SIG, b0o, 'but
many can not be replaced. In the annex
was Arabian, the first locomotive ever run
in the United States. 1t was 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-
days admissions and Levy's gold cornet.
The attendance at the Exposition yesterday
was the largest of any day in its 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 1876. The main building
was 600 feet long and $50 feet wide, Ma
chinery Hall was 400 feet long and $50 feet
wide. The other buildings were sn,alla
The safe has been opened and the. contents
including $4,000 in cash and Levy's eornet,
found in good condition. The cornet was
somewhat discolored, but it is not thought
the tone has been injured. At meeting
this evening of the Directors it was decided
not to rebuild. There is a strong feeling
among business mon, however, in favor OF
rebuilding with iron. Several have already
offered to contribute literally. "'