Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-05-31
TERRIBLE DISASTER IN TEXAS.
The Fort Worth Spring Palace Burned
4 Frightful Scene.

Frightful Scene.
NEW YORK, May 31.-The Times special
from Fort Worth, Texas, says: The grand
spring palace here is a smoldering mass
and many lifeless bodies are in the ruins
4 magnificent ball, the like of which in
brilliancy north Texas had never seen, was
given in the palace last night. There was
a concert lasting until 10 O'Clock, when
the dancing began. Guests were present
from all over the south and many from
other sections, among them Russell b.
Harrison. The fire broke out during the
dancing and terrible panic ensued In
the confusion that now reigns it is impos.
sible to tell how many have persisted, but
it is hoped the number will not exceed six.
4 Portentous Warning.
Mr.. Harrison was about to leave the
building at about 9 o'clock, when Presi-
dent Paddock, Vice President lSurbage
and Editor Malone, of The Fort Worth
Gazette, recognized him and escorted him
through the building until about 10
O'Clock, when Mr. Harrison and his
friends moved towards the landing, and
Mr.. Sleicher, pointing out the highly in
fammable character of the decoration
made up of cotton, live oak moss, grasses,
etc.-said a spark in such a building
would lead to frightful loss of life Vice
President Burbage pointed out that the
structure was lit by electricity; that no
smoking was permitted, and that guards
with fire-extinguishers were stationed at
frequent intervals.
Russell HarrisOn's Cool Bravery.
Hardly had he uttered the words before
a cry was heard, followed by the shrieks
of hundreds of women on the upper floor
Mr. Sleicher turned to Mr.. Harris IN with
blanched face, and said: Its re; save
youself?' "Stand still" shouted II harrison.
stay where you are, and pass ont order
ly" The stairway upon which be stood
was instantly blocked by a surgine mass of
men and fainting women, through which
Harrison tried to make his way t. save a
little child, which he and Others had no
ticed lying asleep behind the exhibit rail-
ing in an obscure corner of the building
Mr.. Harrison stood his ground, begging
the terrified women not to give way, and
helping to eXtricate them from the crowd
ed mass, until finally the stairway was
cleared.
Terrible Scene Ensues.
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. Harrison hur-
ried from the building, first telling a
frantic door-man to carry out the big rec
ord book in which the names of visitors
were recorded. By the time he reached
the outside the roof of the palace was one
great blaze. Women were running to and
fro, shrieking for their husbands and chill
dren, and from the opposite wiz dows of
the fiery furnace the forms of men and
women clinging to windows and Cropping
twenty feet to the ground could be seen
The loss is estimated at 100000.
Some of the Unfortunates
LATER. persons are known to
have been injured so far. OF these A. l..
Haines, chief hydraulic engineer of the
Fort Worth e. Denver railway, was SO
badly burned that he died. Others fatally
hurt are: A 6-year old girl, ard w. X.
Cruce and c. W. Evarts, of New Orleans.
Mrs. A. f. Hecker, of Elgin, H., vas bad
ly hurt, and so was E. III. Fudge of Chi
caOO