The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-01-09
SWEPT BY FIRE.
Partial Destruction Of the Man
ufactures Building.
The Casino and Peristyle at the
World S Fair.
BURNS FOR SIX HOURS.
The Loss May Reach Millions
of Dollars.

CHICAGO. Jan. e.-The worlds fair
Pomoeii came last night a rushing
volcano Of fame huge gothic archi-
lecture tutnbling into chaos, bewil-
dered m0bs OF PEG ple-all were there
under b grea1 starry sky Of Italian
clearness with Lake Michigans broad
e1panse al second Mediterranean
Probably no more magnificent, yet
terrify wing. spectacle has ever been VIII
messed TINS side 81 the Atlantic
lit was longafter dark when oeiated
people returning from work to their
homes I'D the southern suburbs along
the elevated road familiar to hum
dreds of thousands Of worlds fair
visitors noticed a constantly enlarg-
ing column of fire ascending sky ward
III the East.
s.The worlds fair is On fire, was
the crv and few indeed of the fa~cl-
mated watchers from the train VIM
dows aignued until the famous ter
rninaI at the exDositiOn grounds was
reached Tue asst half mile Of the
journey is directly east to the fair, 50
all vie M Of the blazing pleasure houses
of the fair was shut off for time
comp etely-
couapzs of she Periztyls.
The fire had been burning less than
an hour when thunderOus crash OF
falling tinbe and a tire nendous sho Mt
went up from the crowd announcing
the collapse uf the BeristyIe. mo
ment later another terrific yell from
the crowd told that the Liberal Arts
building mad taught fire. and tina the
who e expo sitiOn was threatened 4
aua1ic incident marked the destruc-
tion of tia Peristyle. One Of the adj
de bearing mp GROUP Of hrernen
fe. th lhe columns and one of the
heroic fighters went down TO death,
while umber-of others suffered in-
juries more or less severe The Sky
was lsvid, brilliant at this time with
failing sparks, many Of watch fell
away to- the north, shOvering the
roofs or the Art Palace Women
bu ding and the various state struc-
ure wi1h fire
Ev ry train and street car added
momentarilv thousands 70 the thro Is
Of people. and bus for the Ifsing
spectacle and the danger to life and
PROPERTY. it seemed as if the greatest
gaia night Of all the world fair was
ON in at IT'S glory. Directly past the
scene of the frigh5ful fire Of the cold
forage warehouse. where scores pit
frenen lost their lives. hundreds of
specta hurried from the trains into
the iebrrated Court of Honor There
sudd My the e0nflagratlOn came into
full view.
Whirlvinds of blazing embers were
he ug car ieo from the end ot the
Court of Honor furthest from the Adj
rninistrttion nuilding high over the
mammoth roof of the Liberal Arts
building. the largest structure on
earth. Tine great golden statue of
the republic c0u be seen lifting her
liberty cap dehantlv almost through
the clouds Of smoke and flame.
Started Ia the Casino Building
The fire started III the Casino just
ii t4 q rIi "a
south Of the Peristyie. The Casino
was quickly devoured. and the fla nes
aurged north Ola top OF the PeristvIe,
and dropping made a second line of
Ere along che base Of the columns
The fla mes then sprang through the
Music hall. which corresponds at the
north end of the Peristyle 10 the Cas-
lno st the south
While che fire was burning there
yas one Of Che most singular and fas-
clnae ting sights OF tile night Along
the top of tile Peristvle were scores Of
statues The spe stacle for those peO-
Pile fortunate enough 10 be ON the
sidewalk just east OF the PeristYle was
that of q Isuccessi7n of gigantic hu-
man beings plunging one after an
other headlong into the waters Of 1.-THE
lake below.
The origin Of the Ere is said to be
revenge on che part of a couple
of tramps. The solitary guard
in the Music hall saws that inst
before the flames broke out he kicked
two vagabonds out of Music hall and
told them TO find quarters elsewhere
They left IT, the direction Of the Cast
mo and soon after the fire broke out
and soon every thing on the grounds
was terror and confusion.
"A bout tie Manufactures building
cordons of policemen were stationed,
and groups Of blue coats guarded
every entrance But the eager
crowds which thronged over the
bridges and crushed about the walls
"a the blazing piles could not be
stoppei in 1heir course and thousands
gained admit ince-
Ihe fire boats and engines on the
lakeside had subdued the fla mes in
the ashes be the Peristyle and in the
of the LIBERAL Arts building. and
hopes We're raised that che Gre had
been Su 1d ued- But shortly after Ill
- m. the flames got beyond control
up ia the TOP promenade OF the Arts
bui IdinE and tine main aisle of the
building was mass OF flames. arising
from the burning brands which came
from above
Three DAYS AGO the number OF pack
ages waiting SD pment in each build-
ing was. Aanufaeturers ll,O74; p ID
wav Plaisance. q. 300. Fine Arts. gSO:
Wonanss. $40; Horticulture. 1000.
Trans ortatiou. 600. Mining. 1850:
Electricity, 657s AgrIcul ture. 1900
and j. 636 sea TERED in other buildings.
making a total OF 23.654 packages
Less than $4,000 packages had been
shipped away prior to December a6
last Most Of the goods remaining
were foreign exhibits
Erenoh Exhibit IA Ruins.
About lo.45 a great iron arch gave