The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-01-09

pletely. Directly past the scene of the
frightful fire of the cold storage warehouse
hundreds of spectators hurried from the
train into the celebrated court of honor.
There suddenly the con dagration came
into full view, whirLwinds and blazing en-
bers being carried from the end OF the
court of honor farthest from the Admins
tration building. High over the roof of
the Liberal Arts building, the largest
structure on earth, the great golden statue
of the Republic could be seen lifting her
Liberty cap detiantly aloft through the
clouds Of smoke and flames. The fire had
been burning less than an hour when
thunderous crash of falling timbers and q
tremendous shout from the crowd an
nounced the collapse OF the peristyle.
A moment later a terrific yell from the
crowd told that the Liberal Arts building
was on ire and the whole exposition was
threatened. A dramatic incident marked
the destruction of the peristyie. One of
tbe ladders bearing mp group OF firemen
fell with the columns. and one heroic fire.
man went down to death, while number
of others suffered injuries more or less
severe. The sky was iivid at this time
with falling sparks, which fell upon the
roofs OF the Art palace, Woman's building
and various state structures. Every train
and street car added momentariiy thou
sands TO the tnrongs. and but for the terri
flying spectacle il seemed like the greatest
gala night of the fair in all its glory.
The fire started in the casino, Just east of
the agricultural building and south of the
peristyle. The casino was quickly de-
voured. and the flames surged north on
the top of the peristyle and, dropping,
made a second line OF fire along the base
of the columns. The flames then sprang
through Music hall. which corresponds at
the north end of the peristyle to the casino
at the south.
While the fire was burning there one Of
the most singular and fascinating sights
of the night was witnessed. Alonk the
top Of the perisryle were scores of heroic
statutes. The spectacle for those people
on the moving sidewalk east of the peris-
tyie was that OF succession of gigantic
human beings plunging one after another
headlong into the waters of the lake
below.
The origin of tha fire is said TO have
been in revenge on the part of couple of
trsmps. The solitary guard in Music Hall
said that just before the flames broke out
he kicked two vagabonds out of the build
ing. They left in the direction OF the Ca
sino, and soon after that the fire broke out
and terror and confusion ensued. Fears of
looting added to the horror of the scene
At ~ O'Clock. with q possible loss Of
about $40. .000. 0oo by fire in the Manufac-
lures building alone, the authorities began
TO realize that a large element in the crowd
vas composed of !diers. who, once started
in lawlessness, would be difficult to control.
Such preparations as could be were hur-
riedly made to remove goods and guard
other buildings but ali such efforts we're
the merest ehild's play. The utter hope
iessness of such attempts on such short
notice was made apparent at once. The
fes officers on guard could do no more
than hope that the flames would he
speedily stayed Tns spectators at this
time. partly for safety and TO prevent
wholesale robbery of exhibits, were driven
back By the police and lined UP against
the Electricity building. Here they could
see grea; blazing fragments dropping
upon the exhibits below. crushing and
burning the exquisite French section and
threatening 20 destroy the Russian and
AhfAtAsa Ee&AAGIs NAi*e Aatsse ile ItcuD4t.
and engines had succeeded in snbduing
the flames in the ashes of the reristyie
and on the lower southeast side OF the Lib
eral Arts building and hopes were enter
tanned that the IRE would be suhdued. bat
shortly after Ill the fismes got beyond con-
troll upon the top OF the promenade of the
Liberal Arts building and the main aisle
IF the building became q mass OF dames
Remorse essly the IRE hurled itself through
the insersiIces OF the big iron arches
of the dixxy heights above. The aAmes
wound ike boa constructors In and
around the mammoth electric wires, and
force. with heavily loaded trucks were
pluuging through the aisies not incam-
bered With wreekass or drenehed with
10 ling catAracis of water. most OF which
te.I far Short Of the flames The eloads of
smoke and vapor that every moment OF So
shut out the vtsw Of the IRE we're colorei
IN the most fantastic fashion The opinion
seemed general that the loss By water vas
even greater than ~ ire,
Federal officers pus the loss. II the fre
does not spread beyond the Liberal Arts
building 81 s. GO go Ga the other hand.
estimates hy people connected Siih the
local directory made tae highes: figures
sissaG Gssa
About l0;a5 great mon arch gave xay
klzscar ah0ra tha French nacsinn and