Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-07-13

Chicago, July 10.-The fear that has
| existed for months in the minds of
cltazens OF Chicago found realization
today in frighrful holocaust at the
worlds fair that claimed nearly two
score victims and for time threatened
the destruction of the entire White
city.
Ihe disaster was all the more dread
ful because OF its sudden transformation
from an innocent fame into a DEATH
dealing catastrophe.
The structure that burned was the
cold storage warehouse, one of the
smallest buildings at the fair; but not
belonging TO the exposition. 1t was the
exhibit of the Hercules Iron Works and
Ice and Refrigerating Machine manu-
facturers.
The building contained u skating rink,
three Potion ice machines, some forty
barrels of linseed Oil, which added fuel
to the flames, and in it there was
stored quantity of meat fruit, etc.
That the fire was not communicated
to the other worlds fair buildings was
due TO favorable winds.
A scene of horror was witnessed by
many thousands of people who had
locked to the locality when the alarms
were sounded and strong men Wept
and women tainted as one life after
another was Snuffed out within full
view OF the multitude but beyond the
reach of human aid. The fire was not
generally observed until about 1:75 p.
NJ, and whiting thirty minutes a great
loss of life occurred.
At the first signal the firemen rushed
up the huge shaft surrounding the
smoke stack and when at the summit
began prepare tons to fight the flames
Isl appeared at this point
Before the hose could be coupled a
cry OF horror from the crowd below
caused the tiremen to look down. The
whole shaft below was encircled with
flames. The men stood stOlidly for
moment in full realization of their
danger, then one grasped a rope which
was lowered for the purpose of raising
the hose, and, half slinding and half
falling, reached the roof ninety feet be-
low in bruised and burned condition,
but still alive.
The crowd below became wild with
excitement, and weeping women and
frenzfed men rushed round, Wringing
their haonds and moaning in anguish
over their inability to help.
Suddenly every eye was turned up
ward by the preparations of a fireman
to jump. He gave a quick, spasmOdic
leap and turned over and over half
dozen times before he struck the roof
ninety feet below. When the body
struck the roof there was Il frightful
crash and it bounded up again far into
the air. From ythiS time on bodies
rained from the steeple, as after the
first wild leap one man after another
jumped in quick succession as the
flames closed in below and the heat
became more intense.
The very horror of death turned every
eye to the scene and while men and
women shouted Historically the guards
were almost powerless TO keep the
crowd away from danger.
AS fire trap the cold storage ware
house could not have been more per-
fectly constructed. 1t was situated
south Of the transportation building
annex close to the Stony Island boun-
dairy and not far from the SiNty-fourth
street entrance. 1t covers a ground
space of 13O by 255 feet, and it's ex-
terror was severely plain, having less
Ornamentation than any OF the other
exposition buildings.
The warehouse was fitted out with a
complete apparatus for the manufac-
ture of ice and for cold storage. 1t
contained restaurants and cafes and the
roof was arranged for a promenade,
while the big tower which cost the life
Of the fremen was used for an OBJ
servatory.
The building had been on fire on two
previous occasions and each time the
| flames were discovered in the tower.
Chief Swenie had made thorough eX-
animation Of the structure and had de
cided that it was not properly built. The
chimney did not reach high enough and
he had ordered that changes be made
! in it.
1t is supposed that the frame work
around the mouth of the chimney
caught from a defect in the f1ue. At
first it appeared an insignificant affair,
| but knowing the infammable nature
of the structure Fire Marshal Murphy
called all the companies out. With
about forty of his men Capt Fftzpat-
rick climbed ladders inside the tower
to the balcony and from there ropes
were lowered TO haul up the hose. One
had been gotten up when the wind
caused the flames to break out in an
alarming manner about ten feet from
the top of the cupola. In the meantime
the fire had eaten way down inside the
structure and all the unconscious fire.
men were standing on the shell of a
burning volcano.
The fire had been burning scarcely
twenty minutes when suddenly the
flames burst out around the base OF
the balcony in perfect fury.
So terrible was the spectacle that fol
a moment the crowds stood transiXed
| with horror. All We're alike powerless
to aid the unfortunate men imprisoned
ON the balcony $50 feet from the
ground All the ropes hanging from
the tower were burned away.
One hose withstood the heat, hOweeI
and John Davis caught hold of it and
slid down to the main roof where he
tainted.
His face and hands were terribly
burned by the flames which envelopeG