The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-06-05
1T WAS A FEARFUL MOMENT
HEROISM OF HAYNES, WHO PERISHED
WHILE SAVING THE LIVES OF
WOMEN AND CHILDREN.
HOW THE FIRE WAS STARTED
A Moment of Awe, When Strong Men
Children Closer Palace to be Rebuilt.

Fort WORTH, Tex, May 3O.-Fort WORTH S
pride and glory-the Spring Palace-is to-
night heap of blackened ruins, it having
been swept out of existence by fire which
broke out on the second floor at 1880
o'clock just as the evening concert was
over and preparations were being made to
begin the annual Spring Palace ball. At
the time che first note of alarm sounded
there were several thousand people in the
building, and in an instant what had been
a scene of peace, pleasure and happiness
was transformed into perfect pandemon-
um. Up stairs and down stairs could be
heard the shrieks of women and children
and the rush of thousands of people to the
many entrances of the building. Itsounded
like the roar of mighty wind. Strong
men grabbed their wives and children.
Young men dressed for the ball, which was
to follow, clasped their sweethearts IN their
arms and joined the mighty rush for safety.
In less than a minute after the first flames
were discovered the entire upper part of
the structure was one sea of roaring fire
4 and it spread with rapidity to the lower
floors. The fire department contingent,
which was stationed in the bnilding, was
powerless to stay for an instant the onward
rush of the flames. But Notwithstanding
this, strange to say not one person was
burned to death. Several were badly
.scorched and one dangerous and several
were badly injured by falling and being
trampled on by the rushing thousands.
AL Haynes of the fire department was so
badly burned that he died an hour later.
Judge L. N. Cooper was badly injured by
being trampled on and 1t is thought he will
die.
The origin of the fire is said to be boy
striking match to light cigarette con-
trary to the rule of the exhibition and from
with the result above.
The escape of the thousands of people,
men, women and children, from horrible
death is almost miracle, and that hun
dreds did not die horrible death is due TO
the admirable arrangement of the building.
This calamity has put Fort Worth in
mourning and it is probably the last of the
Spring Palace of Texas for all time.
LATER-MIDNIGHT.
At midni Al. Ha ynes,
contractor, is the only fatality positively
known to nave resulted from the Spring
Palace fire. The most intense excitement
still prevails. Men are running about the
streets crying like children, hunting their
loved ones. Mothers are bemoaning the
loss of their babes and general pandemo-
nium prevails.
All sorts of stories are abroad. Some
claim as many as 200 people are burned or
trampled to death, and the indications are
that several children have lost their lives
in the lam. So far as known the injured
are:
Judge L. N. Cooper, legs broken; prob
ably fatally injured.
Mrs. Volney Hail. internally injured.
Clip Hollingsworth, badly bruised.
A little girl, name unknown, seriously in
.jured.
George Lattler, cigar man, seriously in
.jured.
James Davis jumped from the upper
story and is badly crippled.
Bssel Wilson, railroad man of st.
Louis, burned about the feet and in ernally
injured.
M. r. Cruce, of New Orleans, seriously
injured.
The Palace building cost $4,000 without
decorations The decorations cost S25, GOO and
the exhibits were valued at $4,000. Many
of the exhibits of historical value are not
included in this estimate. No estimate can
be made of their value.
The Blgin Watch Factory Military band
1ost all their instruments and music valued
ot $4,000. 1t is estimated that there were
.oooo neople on the two floors of the Palace
,Then the fire broke out. Before the alarm
WAS sounded the roof of the building was
falling in. Russell Harrison was on the
1ouor floor of the Palace. He rushed into
+be crowd and called on the people to be
cniet Much credit is due him for his cool
ness.
FoRr WoRrH, Tex, May 3l.-Upon the
not where yesterday proud towers stood ex-
lent with our country's banners, moth
60 remains today but few charred tim
hars and a sad heap of ashes. Yesterday
the home of people were filled with glad
anthems of happiness in honor of the fete'