The morning call., 1894-01-09

cataracts of water. most of which fell far
short OF the flames. The clouds of smoke
and vapOr, that every moment or so shut
out the view of the fire, were colored in
most fantastic fashion.
The opinions seemed general that the
loss by water was even greater than bv
fire. The Federal officers put the loss, if
the fire did not spread beyond the Liberal
Arts buildings, at $1,000. 900. On the
other hand, estimates by people connected
with the local directory made the highest
figures $4,000.
At 10:45 a great iron arch gave way
directly above the French section and fell
heavily upon the French wares be-
meath the burning pile. Around the jap
anese exhibit adjoining clustered crowd
of scared and frantic JaDs. This, like
many other exhibits. had not been released
from bond and the goods could not be
taken from the building, but were carted
10 the doors and there guarded by natives.
All the American exhibits were long ago
removed, but the formalities of the Custom
house detained the goods of the foreigners.
Superintendent Grahams of the Manu-
facturers' building said the loss could
hardly be overestimated 81 have feared
land now it has come worse than l ever
dreamed"
All through the great structure frantic
exhibitors rushed seeking safety for
their goods. The Fire Department fought
with energy and skill, but the conditions
were against them. a fierce wind came
over the lake, finging fiery EN- bers every
where and tanning them into Ii fe at every
moment.
Huge pillows of flames. which were man.
fully combated by the men on the roof.
rolled northward and the fremen were
further handicapped by lack of water. An
heroic effort was made to get streams to
the top of the giant structures, but the
water supply was fearfully inadequate.
Finding it impossible to reach the roof
the Chief ordered the engines into the
building. With changing gongs and a
clatter of hoofs steamer after steamer
ratified through the smoke down the firelit
aisles until the center of the building was
reached. There the last struggle of the
firemen was taken up. Streams of water
were hurled upward. but with little effect
and from above fiery hail of embeTs
poured down upon the hremen, and the
heaps of blazing merchandise grew more
numero US, while foot by foot the engines
were forced back to either end of the
building.
The name of the fireman who was killed
when the peristyle collapsed was William
Mackey of Engine Company 81.
Captain Frederick Getz of Truck Com
pany 16 fell from the roof of the Manu-
facturers' building and broke his leg and
received internal injuries.
Eugene Durang. a watchman in the
French section, was hit on the head by
falling debris and badly Injured.
At midnight President Higinbotham
telephOned the general manager of the
Associated Press saying that he had been
in the burning building over two hours.
and that the roof had burned and fallen,
/ but fortunately few exhibits were in range
| OF the falling en- ha8sy-tpEi-es7 --s@+--7-
81 should estmate, said he, that the
! loss by water would be much greater than
| by fire. The total loss TO exhibits will not
exceed 100000 OF course the loss Is
serious enough. but 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 in value 81 ,0OO, ,OOO
As to the Casino, Peristyle and Music Hall,
there is no loss. We should not regret
their burning, as it is the cheapest way to
remove them"
| Three days ago the number of packages
awaiting shipment was: Manufactures
building, 1874; Midway Plaisance. 1900 a;
Fine Arts, 7SO; Woman's. 819; Horticult-
ure. 1000; Transportation, 600; Mining,
1856; Electricity, 1867; Agriculture, 1900 ;
and 1856 scattered in other buildings &;
| total, 23.654 packages Less than 14000
packages had been shipped away prior TO
| December %.
! a climax in the interest was reach ed
! shortly after midnight, when a company
OF fifty men could be seen edging It's way
along the roof of the Manufacturers
building. A cry of horror went up as q
| huge section of the roof almost under the
feet of the firemen gave way and fell with
a crash. The fremen did notwaver and
| by o'clock it looked as if their herois m
would not be in vain. The fire was still
burning, but was thought to be under con-
troll and not exp ected to spread further.