Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1893-07-15

Chicago, July 10.-The fear that has
existed for months in the minds of
citizens of Chicago found realization
today in a frighuul holocaust at the
worlds fair that claimed nearly two
score victims and for time threatened
the destruction of the entire White
city.
The disaster was all the more dread
full because of its sudden transformation
from an innocent flame 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 Il skating rink,
three 120-ton 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
docked to the locality when the alarms
We're 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.
m, 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 preparations to fight the flames
N.",n first appeared at this point,
Before the hose could be coupled Il
cry of horror from the crowd below
caused the firemen to look down. The
whole shaft below was enGrcled with
flames. The men stood stolidly for a
moment in full realization of their
danger, then one graspe'l a rope which
was lowered for the purpose of raising
the hose, and, half slinding and half
falling, reached the roof ninety feet be-
lDW III Il piul anu BuIuGNl NOLtAllOl
but still alive.
The crowd below became wild with
excitement, and weeping women and
frenzied men rushed round, w1inging
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 quick, spasmodic
leap and turned over and over half a
dozen times before he struck the roof
ninety feet below When the body
struck the roof there was n frightful
crash and it bounded up again far into
the air From this 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 poWeriess to keep the
crowd away from danger.
AS a 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-
Diary and not far from the SiXty-fourth
street entrance 1t covers a ground
space of 100 by 255 feet, and its ex-
terror was severely plain, having less
enumeration than any Of the other
exposition buildings.
1t is supposed that the frame work
around the mouth Of the chimney
caught from a defect in the fiue At
first it appeared an insignificant affair."
but knowing the inhammable nature
of the structure Fire Marshal Murphy
called all the companies out. With
about forty of his men Capt titzpat-
rick climbed ladders inside the tower
to the balcony and from there ropes
were lowered to haul mp 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 for
q moment the crowds stood transfxed
with horror All were alike powerless
tn aid the unfortunate men imprisoned
Il
ground All the ropes hanging from
Tho tower were burned away.
One hose withstoOd the heat, h0weeI
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 enveloped
him rs he came down He was taker
to hospital and physicians say he
will raaav-n,s