Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1893-04-27
FIRES FIERCE FURY.
Destruction of the First Regiment
Armory in Chicago.
The Walls LeveIed by Numerous ExplO-
siOns of POwder-Two Attaches of the
Place Perish in the Flames-Two
Others Imperiled.
A TOTAL LOSS

CHICAGO, April 25.-The armory of
the First regiment, Illinois national
guard, Sixteenth street and Michigan
avenue, was destroyed by fire at s
o'clock this morning. Two lives were
lost and two men were badly injured.
The scenery and stage fixtures of the
Trocadero, which was to have opened
April 90, was also destroyed by the fire.
The two lives sacrificed were those
of colored men employed as porters in
the building. They were known only
as George and Walter. Those who
were injured are: f. w. Latham and
Chris Wiegand. Latham was foreman
for the Edison Electric Light company
in the building and Wiegand was his
assistant.
The fire was discovered at 2:35 o'clock.
In less than an hour afterward only the
four walls remained. Everything in
the armory, including the arms and ac-
coutrements of the First regiment, was
destroyed. Not a vestige of anything
was saved 1t was only by circum-
stances almost miraculous that Vie
gand and Latham escaped with their
lives.
THE FLAMES DISCOVERED.
Officer Frank Howard, of the Harri-
son street station, discovered the fire.
He was standing on the east side of
Michigan avenue opposite the main en-
trance of the armory at the time. He
first saw puff of smoke ascend from
the roof in nearly the center of the
building. The smoke disappeared
for an instant and he began to
doubt that he had seen any
smoke. He was soon undeceived.
A few seconds later the smoke
was succeeded by a tongue of fame.
Then, while his eyes were still riveted
upon the startling sight, the entire
roof of the building seemed to be
| lifted away and from the whole interior
of the building poured forth columns
of smoke and then fire that illuminated
Michigan avenue for mile each way.
BEYOND CONTROL.
The alarm was turned in and big
force of 6remen was soon on the
ground. But the armory and its con-
tents were. beyond the control of all
the fire departments in the world
Even when Marshal Townsend arrived
he realized that TO attempt TO put out
the FIRE was hopeless. 1t must be al
lowed TO run its course. All that the
fire department could do was 20 prevent
the fire from spreading to adjacent
buildings
MANY EXPLOSIONS
Families on all sides moved out, how
ever, and the sidewalks were strewn
with furniture and wearing apparel
Many in their haste did not even
take time to properly dress them
selves. Their fears were not without
ground. Sparks from the com bustible
material in the burning building show
cred upon roofs on all sides and the
flames made all as light as day In
the northeast corner was the magazine
of the regiment, and the police drove
everybody away from the building, as
an explosion was momentarily feared.
| The intense heat caused the walls to
crack and fall on all sides, and by day
| light but small portion of the mag
nihcent structure remained Small
quantities of gunpowder were con-
stantly exploding and added to the
danger of the fremen. The discharges
came in many instances from the rifles
stored in the armory.
The armory cost between $3.50, 600 and
! 1900 600