Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-01-09
BIG FIRE AT CHICAGO.

Fire started in the Casino, the great
western building at the water entrance
of the Worlds Fair grounds, in Jack
son Park, Chicago, about $50 o'clock
yesterday evening. The flames spread
rapidly aud soon had completed the
work Of destruction in the Casino
building. 1t was but q short leap for
the flames to the magnificent Peristyle,
as the row of lofty columns and statua-
ry forming the water entrance to the
Worlds Fair grounds was called. Col
umn after column, made of "staff" and
wood, but having the appearance of
marble, fell before the devouring ele-
ment. Each column destroyed brought
the flames nearer Music Hall, which in
Q short time become ignited and was
destroyed. 1t was in this building that
the Maryland and Virginia days cele-
brations were held. Flying brands car
ried the flames to the great Manufac-
lures and Liberal Arts Building, the
largest on the ground, covering over
thirty acres of ground. One-third of
the roof of the Manufacturers Building
fell about IL o'clock, and the firemen
gave up hope of saving the building
from total destruction. Twenty thoG-
sand ea cases Ct exhibits were in the build
ing.
The Peristyle, with the Music Hail
and Casino at either end. was the most
imposing object seen by the Worlds
fair visitor as he approached Jackson
Park from Lake Michigan. In the cen
ire and forming the water gate to the
grand court of honor was the Columbus
portico, surmounted by French and
Potter's magnificent quadriga repre-
senting the Triumph of Columbus"
A heroic figure of Columbus stood in a
chariot drawn by four horses, each two
of which were led by a woman. The
sculpture was called by eminent critics
lone of the most delightful sculptured
conceptions of modern times.n
From each side of the portico 81 CO.
rinthian columns II feet high formed a
colonnade 234 feet long to the Music
Hall on one side and the Casino on the
other. Surmounting this were heroic
figures Is feet high, designed by Theo-
dore Baur. On either side of the arch.
way of the portico were groups repre-
senting the genius of navigation and
discovery, with supporting figures for
each on the projecting PROV OF vessel
The centre Of the peristyle spanned
the opening into the grand basin and
was directly east Of the famous statue of
the Republic, while the Casino stood
just at the shore end Of the long pier
where all visitors at the fair were land
ed from the excursion boats.
G. B. Atwood, the architect of the
Art Palace, was the designer of the
peristyle and the buildings at either
end, which were erected at cost of
100000. The Columbian arch in the
portico was patterned after the Arc de
Triumphe of the Place du Carousal in
Paris. Music Hall was 200 feet long by
l40 feet wide, and contained an audi
forum capable of seating 1000 people
and stage large enough to accommo-
date an orchestra of 300 1t was richly
decorated in white and gold. was three
stories high, and its style of architec-
ture was Roman renaissance.
Shortly after Ii o'clock four firemen
were caught beneath crush Of falling
embers just outside the Manufactures
Building Streams OF water We're ms family
poured upon the mass, and soon the injured
men were removed. All of the men Were un-
conscious when rescued and two of them
were fatally injured.
President Higginbotham at midnight tc!c-
phoned that he had been in the burning
building over two hours; that the roof had
burned and fallen but that, fortunately, few
OF the exhibits were in the range Of the falling
emberS
Il should say the loss by water would be
much greater than by fire. The total loss of
exhibits will not exceed 100000.
"Ot course the loss is serious enough. The
fire is now fairly under control and there is
no more to fear.
"All told, the contents of the liberal arts
building did not exceed million dollars in
value. As to the casino, peristylc, and music
nall, there is no loss. We should not regret
their burning. as it is the cheapest way of re
moving them
The statue OF the Republic was left IN
harmed ssye for little scorching by the heat.
A rough estimate places the loss on the build
ings at about $S00,0OO No estimate of the
loss on the exhibits can be given until the
cases arc examined.