Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-10-04
THOUSANDS IN ASHES.
Burning of the Exposition Build
invs at Pittsburgh.
ORIGIN OF The FIRE UNKNOWN
Valuable Collections in Every Department
Of Science and Art Swept Away
In an Hour-Those
Who Lose.

boiler room attached to the machinery
hall OF the Pittsburgh EXPEDITION. In
twenty minutes the entire large structure
was in flames, and in less than an hour an
open waste of hot embers marked its site.
The pyrotechnical display made by the
burning edifice called forth thousands OF
people, who lined the rivers bank and ad-
jacent bridge and streets, and viewed the
wrath of the unbridled element in ave.,
The fire department quickly responded to
the alarms sent out, but all efforts OF sub.
jugatios we're futile. The building was OF
pine, m of its contents intiammable
matter, ano with its peculiar construction
OF space and broad galleries, there was
nothing to impede the flames. They sprang
up in the boiler room and shot down the
ais'es of exhibits, from south to north, ran
along the light woodwork of the galleries,
and jumped from beam to beam of the ex.
posed roof
With Incredible Rapidly.
In ten minutes after their outbreak the
building was doomed, and in an hour 1t
was no more.
The greatest day of the exposition season
had been tho proceeding one, when over
% 0CO people visited the exhibits, and in
the evening it was estimated that 5,OOO
persons werc under it's roof at one time.
The losses, botn actual and sentimental,
are very heavy. In actual destruction,
Secretary Patterson estimates that the
building and appurtenanceS represented
an expenditure OF $l25,0OO, upon which
there is only $4,000 insurance; the goods
on exhibition destroyed may safely be
Estimated at 100000.
Maj p'a ace much higher valuation upon
the destruction, but in market values the
sum mentioned is ABOUT correct.
Immense crowds collected around the
smoking debris all the morning. A wire
and large special police force keeps them
back from the ruins which in many places
are mines OF wealth, where exhibits OF aru:
cles made OF precious metals have melted
doWn. 1t will be many days before the
remnants of destroyed property can be re-
covered from the ashes.
The intensity OF the great heat is Shown
by the numerous safes that lie scattered
Over the Burned Territory
badly warped and sprung, and the heavier
iron articles that lie about distorted and
ruined. A chief feature Of the destruction
and one which the entire country will
share in unison with our local sufferers, IS
the loss Of relics and collections. Prom.
inent among the former is the celebrated
old engine Arabian" the first railroad
locomotive ever run in the United States.
It is totally dismantled and though it will
probably be pu: together again and re.
paired, it can never recover the effects OF
its fiery ordeal. Few persons, probably,
fully appreciate the losses Of sentimental
nature involved.
Mr.. T. Walker, of Allegheny, lost val.
liable collection OF 600 coins. When the
reporter met him he had dug, a couple OF
dozen of them oat OF the ashes, and, in
connection with some Revolutionary
finds had them deposited in nail keg.
Mr.. Palmer, OF Sharpsyille, lost very
complete collection OF
United States Coins,
valued at $1,000 and Mr.. Leaman's we'll
known gathering OF some !, 100 of old, and
rare modern coinage, lie in ashes. The
relic safe has not yet been opened. It lies
on its face among the ashes, apd in its in
side drawer are papers and biAeDpt much
value, which it is hoped are saved. The
loss 10 art involved in the pictures and
bric.a.brac is very severe, and, as stated,
while the loss Of merchan disc may easily
be recovered in this wealthy community,
the irreparable loss Of articles OF sentiment
will be the longest and most severely felt.
During the entire morning the fire depart
ment has kept streams OF water upon the
emblems, and as we write the lambent
fires are entirely subdued. The only
building left On the entire Exposition
grounds is the restaurant. All the rest is
gone. Volumes could not say more. 1t
vas an honor 10 our city, help and profit
to our citizens,
source of Interest
and entertainment to all the surrounding
country, and its loss will be felt from the
Ohio TO the Lakes. The Exposition Com.
psny's safe was taken to Holmes banking
house on Market street, and opened at 10
A. VI. It's contents were safe. In it was
found s. 700 in money and about 81 200
worth of railroad tickets.
The origin of the fire is involved in mys-
terry, but there are facts tending to show
that singular careleSsness is to blame.
P-Of. Warner, the balloonist, had yesterday
covered his balloon with oil and ochre, and
il not drying as speedily as possible, when
the damp evening came on he took it in
doors, and ultimately brought it into the
boiler room and placed it on top Of the
boilers tor in their near vicinity to dry.
During the day
Professor warner Had Purchased
on three different occasions a gallon OF
De0Ztne lGOm Neely ulug stOre, IN tne
neighboIhood of the Exposition building.
! Eeely's clerk sold the Professors messen-
ger the benzine and understood from him
that II ue- to be used to expedite the dry
ing of the balloon. pr"iaSSor Warner says
that there was no such intlammsble sub
stance carried into the boiler room.
Whether it was applied to the balloon, and
then betUIe thoroughly evaporated, the
balloon was carried into the engine room,
and gas generated that only needed the
slightest ignition to produce a conflagra-
tinn will probably be developed shortly.
There have been several incendiaIy theories
advanced, but they lack the consonance of
| argumentstive force. Some say that the
preceding burning Of the stables and loss
of valuable horses and also the loss OF a
human lifel
Generated an Ill Will
I that thus found its eX Xpression, while others
advance the idea that the removal OF the
dwelling barges from the river front in the
vicinity OF the Exposition buildings, at the
instigstion of the officers OF the latter, en-
hsf rrniuNaI tho 6rn