The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-05-31
PALACE BURNS.
RUSSELL B. HARRISON COVERS
HIMSELF WITH GLORY.

He Was One OF the Thousands in the
Building and Made a Gallant Effort
to Prevent a Panic-He Was So
Late in Leaving as to be Reported
Lost.
FORT WORTH, TEX, May 3O-The Texas
Spring Palace was burned to the ground at
1880 o'clock tonight
One life was lost and five persons were
injured.
The monetary loss Is estimated al
100000. Russell B. Harrison, SOD
of President Harrison, was one
OF the last to leave the burning build
ing. He arrived here this morning In the
private car Of Frank LesIie'S Weekly, which
is making tour Of Texas Tonight, In
company with Mr.. Palmer, manager Of tho
Leslie company's western agency, and other
members Of the party he visited the Spring
Palace. He had been asked TO make an
address, but had declined, and went in
formally, and was not generally recognized
till he had about completed a tour
of the building. As he and John A. Sleicher,
editor of Frank Lesties Weekly, were
about to leave the building about O'clock
President Paddock. Vice President Burbage
and Editor Malone, OF the Fort Worth
Gazette, recognized Mr.. Harrison, who was
taken through the beautiful building and
shown the exhibits till about 10 O'CLOCK,
when Vice President Burbage said that
several Fort Worth ladies desired an intro
duction.
A PROPHETIC SPEECH.
AT this moment it was suggested that the
remainder of the Leslie party be first intro.
duced to the officers of the exhibition. Mr..
Harrison aud his friends moved toward the
landing, and Mr.. Sleicher, pointing out tha
highly infiammable character of the deco
ration made up of cotton, live oak, moss,
grasses, etc., said spark in such a build
ing would lead to frightful less Of
life. Vice President Burbage pointed
out that the structure was lit by electricity,
that no smoking was permitted, and that
guards with fire extiuguishers were sta
toned at frequent intervals. Hardly had
he uttered the words before an agonizing
cry was heard, mingled with the rieks of
hundreds of women on the upper floor Mr..
Sleicher turned to Mr.. Harrison with a
blanched face and said: "Iu's fire; save
yourself"
A RUSH TO SAVE HIS LOVED ONES.
President Burbage sprang upstairs
to save his wife, and a rush was made for
the doors and windows "Stand STILL"
shouted Mr.. Harrison ''stay where you are
and pass out orderly" The stairway upon
which he stood was instantly blocked by a
surging mass of men and fainting women,
through which Mr.. Harrison tried TO make
his way to save a little child which he
and others had noticed lying asleep
behind an exhibit railing in an obscure
corner of the building. It was impossible
to make any headway, and flames were
already seen leaping from pillar to pillar,
covering the ceiling with sheet Of fire,
while shower of sparks fell upon the un-
fortunate creatures struggling to find the
narrow escape down the staircase.
HARRIsoN's BRAVERY.
Mr. Harrison stood his ground, begging
the terrified women not to move, and help
ing extricate them from the crowd
ing mass till the stairway was
closed. He then made final effort to
mount the stairway and save the child, but
it was too late. The flames were burning
the top rails and decorations. Mr.. Harri-
son hurried from the building, first telling
a frantic doorman TO carry out a big record
book in which the names OF the visitors
were recorded. BY the time he reached ths
outside the roof OF the palace was ono great
blazeg
Women were running to and fro shriek-
ing for husbands and children, and from
the opposite window Of the frey furnace the
forms OF men and women clinging to win-
QOWb duu QIOppiuk bH6uby Actb W blc
ground could be seen. Mr.. Sleicher jumped
from window on the first floor, and he
says there was no pressure or crowding.
HARRISON REPORTED LOST.
He immediately began search for
Mr.. Harrison, and 1T was at
first reported that the President's
son was lost, but in few moments every
one of the party was accounted for. a
message 70 the President wa promptly
forwarded with request that IL asleep he
should be awakened. SO that no sensational
stories should reach him first and shock
him.
The fire department was quickly on the
ground, but the flames spread with such
incredible speed that nothing could be
done except to save adjoining property.
The palace tonight was crowded with
several thousand people, as the exhibition
would have been closed Sunday, and the
grand ball was the closing event Of to-
night Ladies and gentlemen were In full
dress, and the best society In the vicinity
was on hand.
One man is known to be fatally burned,
and several were injured by being trampled
on or scorched.
It is impossible to know whether the loss
Of life is large or not. Many think that no
one was lost. Others think that at least
twenty-five perished.