Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-10-04

PIrrsBrRa, Pa, Oct. 3.-The magnificent
buildings of the Pittsburg Exposition
society," ON the north bank of the Allegheny
river, have been totally destroyed. The
immense structures with their variety of
exhibits, illustrative Of every branch of
art, science, and smechanical skill, which
were yesterday visited by thousands of
people, and since the opening Sept. 6, by
hundreds of thousands, is now mass of
powdered and spl1ntered embers and
clrled and tangled iron. The destruction
is complete, nothing but the site remains
of the home of specimens Of brain and
Drawn in which the Pittsburgers felt SO
much pride. The fire was first discovered
| at O'Clock this morning in the boiler
room attached to Machinery hall at the
| south end of the building, and
before the watchman could give the alarm
the flames had spread to Floral hall, Ma-
ohinery hall ano the main buildings, and
| in less then ten minutes the buildings
| we're on fire from end to end, and when
the fire department arrived on the ground
| the flames were beyond control. Nothing
was saved, and the fremen turned their at
| tention to saving adjacent property, many
residences on South avenue being in
| flames. By hard work they succeeded IN
saving all these with no more damage
| done than burning fences and cornices.
| The repeated alarms soon aroused almost
| the entire population of the two cities,
| and it is estimated that $4,000 to 100000
people witnessed the confagration. The
| reflection of the flames illuminated the
country for miles around, making posi-
| BILE the reading gof newspaper print.
| In one hour from the discovery Of the fire
mere attenuated skeleton OF the once
magnificent structure was all that was left.
| The origin of the fire is still uncertain.
! Numerous theories have been advanced
but SO far most of them have fallen to the
ground, with dull thud, we suppose
ED.) It is known to have started in the
boiler house and may have been caused
from a spark under the boiler or accidental
| ignition of some contiguous subject from
a gas jet left burning in the boiler house.
The estimate of the loss sent this morning
was greatly exaggerated. twill probably
reach $1,000000. Secretary Patter-
son places tho value of The build
ings destroyed at $150,C00, tho iDsur-
ance being $4,000. Exhibitors will
sustain losses of about $S00,000. An ire
| parable loss, however, was occasicned by
the destruction of the relic department..
The cash value of articles contained there
in did not exceed $4,000, but many of
them cannot be replaced. In the annex
| was the ARABIAN" the first locomotive
ever run in the United States. It was also
destroyed. The Great Western band lose
a full SET of splendid instruments. IN the
| safe was $4,000 cash, the receipts from
yesterdays admissions, and Levy's gold
cornet. The safe has bsen taken from
| the ruins, but the contents have not as yet
been examined. The attendance at the
exposition yesterday was the largest
OF any previous day in its history.
The admissions of the day and evening
were 27,00O, and the crowd last
night was so great that the building was
| packed Had the oonfiagration occurred
last night at 8 O'clock, considering the rap
idity 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. Tbs
| buildings destroyed were erected in 1875.
About seventy exhibitors lose goods in the
sum of $4,000 TO $4,000 each. TIE ex-
4
hjbitnrs whose losses are less than $4,000
number several hundred. Among tho ru-
noTs current concerning the origin OF the
fire was one that it was caused by the ex-
| piosion OF benzine in the boiler room.
The story is to the effect
| that Prof. Warner, the balloonist,
and his assistant, Edward Williams, were
| filing balloon in the boiler room when
the explosion occurred, from careless
handling of the benzine, which was used as
dryer. The only evidence in support of
this theory is the fact that druggist
named Neeley sold Warner three gallons of
benzine. If this should prove the true
| theory it would raise an interesting ques-
ton on the subject of insurance. Another
theory is incendiarism. Considerable
feeling has existed against the Exposition
society by parties who lived in boat houses
located near the Exposition building,
which the society have had removed, much
against the will of the occupants.
LAKE WRECK.
| GoDERIoa. Ont, Oct. 3.-The barge Wm.
Treat, from Bay city to Detroit, with lum-
Der, which broke away from the tug Clark
while off Sand beach six days ago, was
| wrecked off Port Albert during the storm
last night. Her crew constructed raft,
| and after fearful experience managed to
| reach shore to-day. The vessel has gone
to pieces.
ALL AROUND THE GLOBE.