The Waco evening news. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 1891-1894, 1894-01-09
ANOTHER BIG BLAZE.
Fair Buildings De-
stroycd by Fire.
n WAS THE WORK OF TWO TRAMPs.

h.. Casino, Peristyle, Music Hall and
Liberal Arts Building Entirely Com
sumed-The Loss viii teach UP In
,h. Millions Many Foreign Exhibits
Are Total Loss.
CHICAGO. Jan. 9.--The Worlds fair
Ponpeii came last night. A rushing
Solcano of flames, a huge gothic archi-
ecture tumbling into chaos, bewildered
hobs of people all were there under
Rreat starry sky of Italian clearness
kith Lake Michigan's broad expanse, a
hcoud Mediterranean.
vi Probably no more magnificent yet
Rrrifying spectacle has ever been wit
{essed this side of the Atlantic.
/ Directly past the scene of the fright
hi fire of the cold storage warehouse,
khere scores OF fireanen lost their lives
hiring the fair, hundreds of spectators
hurried from the trains into the cele-
rated court of honor" There sud
Ieuly the contiagration came into view.
he great golden statue of the republic
build be seen lifting her liberty cap de-
antlv aloft through the clouds of
moke and flame The fire had been
nrning less than an hour when a thun-
erous crash of falling timber and a
Tremendous shout from the crowd am
ounced the collapse of the peristyle.
moment later another terrific yell
rom the crowd told that the' liberal
rts building had caught fire and that
l..
A dramatic incident marked the de
kruction of the peristyle. One of the
bidders bearing group of tiremen fen
nth the columns and one of the heroic
refighters went down to death, while
number Of the others suffered INCUR
es more or le7s severe.
The fire started in the casino just
asst of the Agricultural building and
outh of the leristylc, The casino was
uickly devoured and the flames surged
[orth on the top of the peristyle and
ropping made q second line of fire
lanes then sprang through the music
all, which corresponds at the north
nd of the peristyle, to the casino Al
outh. The fire was most singular
Ind fascinating sight. Along the toy
i the peristyle We're scores of statues.
The spectacle Cor those people fortunate
|nough to be on the moving sidewalk
ust east of the peristyle was that of d
uccesslon of gigantic human beings
)lunging. one All Ter another, headlone
nto the waters of the lake below.
The origin of the fire is said to be re
enge on the part of a couple of tramps
he solitary guard in the music hal
avs that Just before the flames brok,
MT he kicked two vagabonds out of tn,
nusic hall and told them to find quar-
ers elsewhere. They left in the drec
Ion of the Casino and soon after thu
+ be grounds was terror and confusion
y ears of footing added to the horror o
: be- scene
At about 10 O'Clock with a possible
I bss of about $40, 100000 by fire i'll tn
manufacturers building alone the an
horities began to realize that larg
ement in the crowd was composed o
lers who once started in lawlessnes
tould be hard TO control Such prepa
j. btons as could hurriedly be made wer
b In motion to remove goods an
4 hard other buildings, but all such ei
4 brts We're child's play. The utter hope
! lssness of such attempts Oh such shor
III ptice We're made apparent at once
E he few officers on guard could hardl
b more than shut their eyes and g-l
heir teeth, hoping against hope tina
be flames would speedily be stayed.