The evening world., 1894-01-09
THE BIG WORLDS FAIR BLAZE.
Damage Caused Probably Will
Not Exceed $1,000, 900.
Mournful Scenes To-day Where tho
White City Lately Flourished.

CHICAGO, Jan. 9.-Last nights fire in
the Worlds Fair grounds has produced
greater changes in the appearance of
Chicago's famous pleasure park than it was
expected would be made by a six months
building wreck. To the gloomy sight of
vacant buildings and almost deserted
driveways, since the gates were closed,
Is now added the spectacle of smoking
and blackened heaps of debris.
The Casino, where thousands spent de-
ghtful hours watching gay scenes upon
and about the grand basin. was wholly
destroyed.
Of the peristvle. once illumined with
thousands of incandescent lights and
Greek fire, and FURNISHING endless en-
joyment. nothing remains. Its arches
were burned away. and its stately coll
umns half burned and chGrred lie in con-
fused masses upon the brick promenade
which surrounded 1t. The colossal fig
ures which surmounted it topped TO the
ground when their supports burned away.
and are broken in pieces. Columbus and
his heralds, with their war horses and
, chariot, are unrecognizable among the
mass of ruins.
Music Hall likewise is a melancholy
heap of ashes. Save here and there where
a twisted iron glrder protrudes, not a
portion OF 1t was saved from the flames.
2lIarred brands which the wind blew from
the burning buildings, and little piles of
white ashes WHERE some of the brands
were consumed after falling.
Manufactures Building. both within
ana without, presents ii mournful light.
me lattlce-work between the top roof
ana me curved one, covering the CEN
tral aisle on the east side, was burned
away from a Joint above the southern
end of the United states section, south,
10 one above the Russian section.
Upon the tin and glass arched roof lie
halt,burned boards. which formed a part
by the iire, slid downward.
Inside the building, within the region
burned over and for some distance on
either side. the floor is covered with
water. Standing in the water, which In
innumerab!e, boxes containing precious
wares, baled and bound for re-shipment
as soon as they could be released from
bond. Upon and about them lay the now
destroyed decorations of the pavilions.
The French, Belgian and English sec
tons suffered most.
When the lattice-work in the roof be-
gan to burn and the embrasure was seen
TO fall upon the light decorations be-
meath, lines of hose were conveyed into
the building and an attempt made to
fore any blaze began below. In spite OF
all that could be done, however, the
trlumphal archWay before the French
section caught fire, and in an instant
was ablaZe throughout. streams were
directed upon ii. but il continued
20 blaze until the framework fell
into Columbia avenue.
The damage viii probably not exceed
OO,V but to ascertain even approxi-
mately the loss sustained by exhibitors
many boxes muTt be opened and their
contents repacked.
1t was 80 O'Clock this morning when
the fire, though still u~neXtinguished from
a layman's point OF view, was formally
struck out" according to Fire Depart
ment usage. The alarm from the Manu-
facture's Building vas sent In at 8.25
o'clock the preceding evening. making
the record OF the IRE four minutes moTS
Imam Blk nourhs