Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-04-27
FLED FROM FLAMES.
Chicago's Athenaum Totally
Destroyed by Fire.
WILD PANIC AMONG THE PUPILS.

Also in the Neighboring HoteIs-The
Street Full of Terror-Strieken People
in Wrecked Costumes-Half a Hundred
Valuable Paintings Lost and the Ca
reer of "A Notable Educational Institu-
tion Cheeked-Cause of the Disaster an
Explosion of Gas.
CHICAGO, April 27.-The Chicago Ath-
enaum building, seven story structure
adjoining the Art institute on Van
Buren, street, was destroyed by fire last
evening. The loss cannot be definitely
stated, but is estimated at $4,000 There
were 400 persons in the building attending
the law school and other classes when a
terrific explosion. followed by the sound of
crashing glass and timbers, was heard on
the seventh floor.
An Adjoining Hotel in Danger.
The building was shaken to its founda-
tons, and fire at once broke out. \ terri
Die panic ensued but it Is believed that
all the occupants made their escape. The
flames spread rapidly and soon were blsz
ing tiercely in every story. Woods hotel
which adjoined the AthenRum on the
west caught fire at one time, but the blaze
was eXJinguished with slight loss, though
the guests were badly frightened. and
rushed pell-mell into the street.
The Art Institute in Danger.
Fifty-scvea valuable painting belonging
to the Chicago Society of Artists were de-
stroyed In the AthenRnum building. At
one time the fire communicated to the
Art institute but was quickly eXtiuguish-
ed The cause of the explosion l. mys-
terry, but it i believed to have been due 10
escaping gas
The Rush for the Street.
Scarcely a minute had passed after the
explosion when half-dozen blanched
faces appeared behind the glass street
doors of the building. Fortunately both
doors swung open and out poured the hat
less, shouting crowd. A few women
were borne along half fainting, while
others were screaming. Hoarse shouts
and curses came from the frightened men
When the street was reechei a mad rush
was made and many were the heavy falls
on the stone pavement. 1t was at once
ludricuous and frightful Men with torn
coats and women wearing dresses rent TO
shreds stampeded madIy through the
streets. To stop the panic stricken people
two big policemen jumped into the middle
OF the street, but they We're tumbled into
the gutter and the crowd swept on.
The Building Full of People.
The building was filed with people In
the law school on the fifth floor l75 stud /
ents were listening to a lecture ty
J1Gce Bailey. On the fourth floor
JU- g Moran was conducting a pot
graduate class of forty law students
In the various studios and offices many
were at work. In The rooms Of the Chi
cago Society Of Artists on the seventh
floor Professor Soper was making an ad- |
q -pS To TT
named persons were first to discover the
fire and were all on their way out when
the explosion came
History of the Institution.
The Athen8um building in its renod. |
ele'l form had been in use but little more
than year. II was first occupied by the J
Atheu8um in March, 1891 The Chi !
Chicago AthenRum was organized in $50 !
and has long been honoreG with the title /
of the Peoples college At the opening /
OF the twentieth yearth board OF directors, /
with Ferd ". Peck a. president. secured /
the property, which was 81 by 95 feet, at IS /
and q Van Buren, street. and fitted up a !
seven-story building with all modern CON /
veniences. Two hundred thousand dollars !
was the price paid for the property, added /
to which over $50, 900 had been spent in in i
provements.
Features of the Structure.
There was an open reading-room cor |
tanning all the standard periodicals, a (
library of current literature and many /
books of reference in art and science An !
assembly hall with ample accommodations /
was another feature, and other rooms had |
been fitted up for the illustration of lee |
lures on chemistry and kindred subjects. 1
In mentioning the good work of the guild |
II might be added that its doors have al !
ways been open to rich and poor alike. |
The upper story was devoted to art, and |
it was here that the Chicago Society |
of Artists had its home, together with /
many private studios of local artists. The |
fifth and sixth floors were used as class |
rooms, an assembly hall, reading-room |
and library. On the second floor was
Athenaum hall, with a seating capacity |
OF 400 and the other rooms in the building |
were occupied by literary and other educa- |
tional associations. The entire first story |
and basement was devoted to one of the |