Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1894-07-20

Incendiaries Fire the Great Struc-
lures in Three PIaces-Thc Term
inaI Station and the Manufactures,
Electric, Mining, Machinery and
Agricultural Buildings Burned.
All the main buildings Of the Worlds Fair
at Chicago, except the Horticultural Build
ing, the Woman's Building, the Art Palace.
the Machinery Hall and the United States
Gc-@rnment Building, were almost entirely
burned few nights ago. They were the
property ofthe Columbian Exposition Sal
walton Company, and had been purchased
from the Exposition Company for about
800 900.
The fire was discovered by several boys
in the southwestern corner Of the first floor
of the terminal station. When first seen
it was but an incipient bIaza AMI the boys
endeavored to stamp it out for several
minutes. They were unsuccessful, however
as the fierce gale which was then blowing
from the southwest famed the fire, and be-
fore an alarm could be turned IN the fire
had reached the second story OF the building.
Owing to the distance which separated
most of the engine companies from tho
scene of the fire there was considerable de-
lay in getting a stream Of water upon tho
blazing structure. The first alarm was i'm
mCdatelY followed by q thre 2-GleYen call
and this by special call for ton engines.
BY the time the first detachment Of engines
WAS fully at work the terminal station was
Ii mass OF flames and the fire had leap5d
across to the Administration Building.
In twenty minutes the dome of this beau
tiful structure fell with terrible roar and
sparks and blazing brands were carried by
the wind north and northeast Of the Mines,
Electricity AMI Agricultural Buildings. The
Electricity Builiing was the first to take
fire. III a few minutes it was enYelOped in
at q Dl1G
collapsed and the iron frame work of the
structure fell in. At 7.15 O'cOck the east
end OF the Mines and Mining Building fell
in and the flames becal . 50 fierce that the
engine companies stationed between the
Electricity and Mines and Mining Buildings
had to fly for their lives.
Engine Company No 8 were compelled to
abandon their engine and had to cut the
horses from the traces Ono IF the animals
succeeded in getting away but tho other
was suffOcated.
The fire was communicated almost stimuli
taneOusly.to the Tran7p ortatiOn, the MANI
features and the Agricultural Buildings.
BY hard work, however. the ilremen sue
ceeded in saving the greater part of the
Transportation Building, but the other two
buildings were soon envelope in flames,
and by 9.15 O'clock the last OF the frame
work of each had fallen iii.
When the tremea first reached the spot
an engine company was detailed to pre-
chinory Hall, For some time the effort was
successful, but with the four immense
structures-the Terminal Building. the
Electricity AMI the Mines and Mining
Buildings and the Administration Building
on fire at the same time the heat became
SO intense that Machinery Hall was aban-
dOncd also. The direction OF tho wind,
however, being away from the building, en-
abled the 1lremen to save part Of it.
What is left OF the gilded statute of the
Republic, near the eastern end of the Court
of Honor, tho central point Of interest for
thousands OF visitors to the Expo 5itton. now
looks out upon waste of ruins and ashes.
The SIX large structures which formed the
boundaries of the Court of Honor were
burned. The fire was of incendiary origin.
The buildings destroyed were the Termi-
nal Station, Administration, Manufactures.
Electricity, and Mining Buildings, Ma
chinery Hall, and tho Agricultural Build
ing.
The Art Gallery, which has been rechris-
tened the Fold Columbian Museum, and the
Government Building were saved, together
with the minor buildings south of Machinery
Hall and the Agricultural Building.
The fire started almost simultaneously at
three points, 50 selected as to afford tho best
possible opportunity for the spread of the
flames