The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-09-17
IHA 81. JOSEPH RIRE
The Main Exposition HuildinE and Art Hal
Entirely Destroyed, With Their Contents,

The main Exposition Building and Art Hal
EniFsly Destroyed, With Their Contents,
81, JosRPH, Mo-, Sept 1s,-Ths New
Era Exposition was destroyed by FIR,
last night which started Just after thl
close oithe concert by Bach's Orchestra
and the buildings and grounds were still
thropged with visitors, The Art Caller,
had Just been closed when flames were
seen issuing from the roof ofthe passage
that connected with the south end OF the
main hail, The alarm was Immediately
given and the fire company which was
kept on the ground by the management
responded promptly, From the point oi
origin the fire spread along the passage.
In both directions toward the art hall
and the main building and when the
firemen got 10 work they found they had
two fires to fight, Attention was direct
ed 10 the main building In the hope Of
checking the flames there, In the mean
time the flames had made rapid progress
among the inhammable material in the
art hal, and the heat become so intense
that II set fire 70 the outside Of the end
Of the main hall,
The fremen had almost subdued the
flames within, butwhen this new danger
arose they saw that their efforts to save
the building would be In vain, They
kept at work, however, and fought
braYely for an hour, at which time they
were forced 10 retire TO save their lives.
The st, Joseph men volunteered their
assistance, but the distance Of two miles
from the city, where the exposition was
located, rendered 1t impossible for them
To do anything, The nearest hydrant
was fully a mile and a half from the fire,
exGepting the one being used by the exi
position Rrenen, When IL was seen
that the fire could not be stayed in
the main and art halls, attention was
directed TO prevent its spreading. In
this the frelnen were successful and the
twenty-nine smaller buildings surround.
Ing were saved.
During the progress Of the fire, and
while II was yet possible 10 enter the
main building with safety, ,Broncho 10 or.
ganized his baud Of Apache Indians,
which was one Of the Exposition's at.
fractions and leading them into the
blazing hall, directed them TO save what
they could Of the contents. The carriage
used by General Lafayette on his visit TO
America, was on exhibition and the In
dians carried 1t from the hall. They at.
TO make another rally into the
building, but the beat was too intense.
The carriage was the only thing saved.
The loss on the Art hall and It's contents,
Of exhibits OF art by local tai
ent, principally, amounts TO about S50,-
900. The main hall cost $76, 900 In con-
and the contents, consisting OF
exhibits OF all kinds, were valued at q
similsr figure.
The largest individual losses were sui.
lered by the studebakers, whose exhibit
Of carriages was valued ut Sl2, 900, and
the Huyett Piano Company, whose dis.
play OF pianos wasYalued at s., 800. The
cylindrical steel cart, "The City Of 81.
Joseph" manufactured by the Steel Car
Company; Of st. Joseph, at a cost OF
$40, 900, wSs also destroyed. The total
loss is difficultto estimate on account Of
the varied nature oi the exhibits, but the
figure Is placed at $3.50, 900.
Thefre issupposed 10 have originated
from an imperlectly insulated electric
light wire.
The exposition will be continued III
spite oithe disaster, and tho displays Of
many Of the exhibitors will be replaced
in the smaller buildings.
Capt. Foster, ot, this city, who has
charge Of the cereal exhibit and sleep.
ing room In the attic Of the art hall, re-
tired early last night No one thought
to awaken him whep, the fire started and
he was burned TO death. His Charred
remains were found in the ruins this