The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-07-11

UHiCAGo, July lu-Ihe lear tnAJ mas
existed for months in the minds OF
nearly every citizen OF Chicago, a fear
that none dared utter TO his fellows,
but that all felt, found realization to-
day in a frightful holocaust at the
worlds fair that claimed nearly two
score Of victims and for a time threat
ened the destruction Of the entire White
City. To.day's disaster was all the
more dreadful because of Its sudden
transformation from an innocent flame
into death-doaling catastrophe, Like
an animate monster, it enticed its vic.
tins to the topmost stage Of a high
pinnacle and then encircling the whole
shaft in sheet Of flame, held them In a
trap until, one by one, they fell sacri-
fee on the fiery altar that ragged beneath
them, while thirty thousand people
stood helplessly by.
The structure that burned to-day was,
by comparison, one OF the smallest
buildings Of the fair. 1t was the cold
storage warehouse and skating rink and
vas not the property Of the exposition,
Il was a concession and exhibit OF the
Hercules Iron Works and Ice and Refri-
gerating Machine Manufacturers, In
addition to the skating rink, there were
three l20.ton Ice machines and 80 or 40
barrels OF linseed oil. The oil no doubt
greatly hastened the conhagration aud
that the fire was not communicated to
the other Worlds Fair buildings was
due tU the favorable winds.
A SCENE OF HORROR
Tho scene or horror was witnessed by
many thousands Of people, and strong
men wspt and women tainted as onelife
after another was snufied out within
full view OF the multitude. but beyond
the reach Of human aid. The FIRE was
not generally observed until about 1:15
p. m, and within thirty minutes the
great loss Of life occurred. At the first
signal the fremen rushed up the huge
shalt surrounding the smokestack, and
when at the summit began prepara-
tlonS TO fight the flames, which had
tirst appeared at this point, Before the
hose could be coupled a cry Of horror
from the crowd below caused the fire!
men TO look down, and the whole shaft
below was found to be oncircled IN
tilame. Instantly every man realized
his danger, but there were few to tind
an avenue for escape. One man sud.
denly graaped rope OF hose, aud half
sliding, half falling, reached tho roof
ninety feet below in bruised and
burned condition, but still alive.
By this time the crowd below became
Wild with excitement, and weeping
women and irenzied men rushed hither
aud thither, wringing their hands in
anguish over their inability to render
A FEARFUL JBAP.
Suddenly one OF the firemen was seen
preParingto Jump, and every eye was
turned upward, He gave quick, spas
mo'dic lean, and turned over and over
hali a dozen times before no struck the
1901, ninety feet below. Tothe speeta.
lors ho seemed q minute falling this
distance, and whom the body struck the
1901 vi iIh irightirl crash and bounced
ionr feet into tho air groan OF
nI.orror went up from the crowd.
From this timo tho bodies raincd
rom tho sicoplc, but in nearly every
instance, breath aud lie had ilod when
,h9 victim %as picked up on tho roof
ue'ow' After tho first wild leap ono
man alter another Jumped in quick sue.
Ve'slon as the flames closed in below
anu the heat became moro intense. In
nearly every Instance the victim turned
,r Eyer ana over again before he touched
,ho rool, and In nearly OvOry instance
,ne result OF tho desperate leap for life
Na5 lle shne--donih Tho worry horror
VI 9ea1h rivltod Uvery eye to tho scene,
luu while mon and women shouted
nysleflcally aud wept below, tho guards
or, ~c,c almost powerlOsa to help tho crowd
AWAY from danger,
DROPPED INTO A FURNACE,
Tie spectacle OF death became more
'V'''O'e as minutes passed., For the last
man on the cupola was reserved the
most dreadful fate Of all After all his
Dmpanions had lpaptd to apparent
uellh, and as the last man WAS he,i.
i,guns, lhe whole shaft began 10 lrcm.
WY, mo ana vibtnle, The lone Rrsman
in.uuetsIood arigllt the omiuuus warn.
,"E ana gave u quick wild leap lir
Nas Zoo late, Al tho worry instant hv
.sI.g ,s,I"ng' We whole structure gnyo way,
IT, hla ,hla human being, quiyoring with
,o NV una @ Wildly clutohing for support In
''u frenzy oil despair was seen to drop