Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-09-19
THREE BAD FIRES.
Burning of the New Era EXPOSE
ton at St Joseph.
Almost Nothing Saved-Destructive and
Fatal Fire at LOuIsville-Loss,
$1,000, OOO-Medina, y. ",
Burned.

ST. JOSEPH, No, Sept is. Joseph
New Era Exposition was destroyed by fir
last night, and over one quarter of a mil
lion dollars is now represented by a mass
of smouldering ruins and heap of ashe
while Captain Foster, connected witt
the cereal department, is thought to hav,
lost his life.
At 1880 last night, just as the evening"
entertainment in the amphitheater haC
closed. and while yet s, 900 people were il
the buildings and scattered Throughout
the grounds, smoke was discovered ISSUING
from the art hall, and before it could b
realized the entire collection of buildings
Immediately adjacent 70 the main hal
was in flames
From the time the first spark was seen
until the fire had worked its will, the
local fire department. and that of the city
were powerless to retard its progress.
Constructed of the most inhammable
material and filed with exhibits equally
susceptible to fire, art hall and main hall
burned like finder. The origin of the
flames is supposed to have been defective
electric wire connecting the art hall with
the main building. For over an hour the
flames were fought but efforts proving
I futile to save the two principal buildings,
work was directed to prevent them from
! spreading.
! Art hall was the first to burn aud the
excitement was heightened by the rumor
that Captain Foster. connected with the
cereal exhibit had persisted in the flames
He was seen in the building few minutes
before it fell and has not been s cen since
The New Era Exposition Company had
provided what they thou ght to be ample
facilities for fighting fire. A fire engine
was kept on the grounds and the water
mains extended within the grounds. A
company of firemen were engaged and
the Exposition was thought to be secure
from possible loss by fire.
The dista prevented the city fire de-
partment from rendering effective aid,
and though they responded promptly to the
call, the Exposition was doomed long be-
fore their arrival. Beginning in art hall
the flames soon reached and enveloped
the main hall, 1000 feet long. Here were
stored all the textile fabrics and costly
exhibits of machinery, and as the flames
shot skyward each spark represented
dollar. Owners of exhibits whose value
reached into the thousands stood helpless
ly by and watched them Durn.
Within thirty minutes after the first
alarm, the destruction was completed,
and, where at eight o'clock stood an expo
sition never before equaled in the West
nothing but a smoldering ruin remains.
The principal losses We're: Main hall
building, totally destroyed $3.50, 900; cylin-
drical steel car, "City of st. Joseph"
$40 01O; Studebaker carriage display, $12,-
600; Huyett's piano display, $500.
Hardman's printing presses, 5000, and
numerous smaller losses ranging from
$50 to 81 900. In addition to the pecuniary
losses many heirlooms and curiosities
were destroyed whose owners would not
have parted with them for any sum of
money. Some insurance was placed on a
portion of the stock. but the amount is not
known. The carriage which was built to
convey General Lafay cite during his visit
to this country was saved through the
heroic exertions Of the Indians under the
leadership of Broncho john.
DESTRUCTIVE AND FATAL
LOUISVILLE KY, Sept. 16-The store Of
Bamberger, Bloom & Co. one of the larg-
est wholesale dry goods and notion houses
in Louisville, was completely destroyed by
fire last night and four firemen were cer-
tainly caught by falling walls and killed,
while two more are reported under the
debris. The poor fellows were working
close up in the rear when the walls
fell and were crushed beneath the huge
mass. Four have been taken out dread
fully mangled.
The alarm struck at eleven minutes of
ten o'clock, and in ten minutes flames
were bur sting from the third story win
dows. Five minutes later part of the roof
went in.
The guests of the Louisville as we'll as
of Seelbach's Hotel at the corner of the |
block poured out. A number, mostly |
servants, were taken from the |
second and third stories in the rear by |
means of ladders. They joined at once |
the crowd of sightseers which gathered in |
half an hour to the number of 10000
The fire originated in Bamberger. Bloom
& Co.'S cellar, and Waterman McGrsth,
who turned in the alarm, says the whole
cellar was aglow when he discovered it.
An explosion occurred soon after, and
fireman just after they arrived was
knocked over by it, but not hurt.
A conservative estimate on the loss on
stock is $3.50 CO., The insurance is heavy
and will about cover the loss The build
ng was a double six story, own by the
firm and valued at SIS 600. The fire at
nidn light was slowly eating both ways
Main and Seventh streets, de-
,froying the following smaller places:
Louis Grain, boots and shoes; l. Brtez-
elder & Co, wholesale hats, and Baer's
saloon.
The fremen whose bodies have been re-
covered are Captain Ed Early, Ed
" heller, Pat Foley, Sam Stacklighter
md John Menohan.
The fire is completely under coatrol and
here will be no further loss.
NEW YORK TOWN BURNED.
MEDINA. N V. Sept. 16.-Fire started
n the oven of the pail manufacturing es-
sblishment of A. NJ. Ives & Sons on Main
treet at abou, 5:3) yesterday morning
md was not subdued until property val
led at nearly $500, 900 had been destroyed.
\ new building recently erected by S. c.
Bowen and used by him as an evaporation
aught fire from the flames and was
,urned to the ground. Ives & Sons loss
will be $50, COO The building used as a
,ail factory was owned BY Erastus Fuller
nd was valued at s.. 900; insured for So .
co. Bowen's loss is SIC, 900, partially in
ured