The Van Buren press., 1894-01-13
TERRIBLE CONFEDERATION AT THE
WORLDS FAIR GROUNDS.
1t Ia Estimated the Loss Win Reach Ten
Million Dollars,

peristyle, through music hall, and
then to the great manufactures
bnilding, which was soon q mass oil
flames. The buildings north of II
were threatened. At 10 O'Clock il
was estimated that the loss was
$40, 100000. The damage to ex.
hiblts alone in manufactures build.
ing was $500, 900.
The origin of the fire is sid to
be revenge on the part of a couple
of tramps. The solitary guard in
the music hall says that just be-
fore the flames broke out he kick.
ed two vagabonds out of the music
hall and told them to find quar-
tiers elsewhere. They left in the
direction of the Casino and soon
after the fire broke out and soon
everything on the grounds was
terror and confusion.
THE WRECK As SEEN TO-DAY.
CHICAGO, Jan. 9.-Last nights
fire in the Worlds Fair grounds
produced greater changes in the
appearance of Chicago's famous
pleasure park than it was expected
would be made by six months
building wrecking. To the gloomy
sight of vacant buildings and al.
most deserted driveways since the
gates were closed, is now added
the spectacle ofsmOking and black.
ened heaps of debris. The Casino,
where thousands spent delightful
hours watching the gay scenes
upon and about the grand basin,
was wholly destroyed. OF the
peristyle, once illuminated with
thousands of incandescent lights
and Greek fire and furnishing OF
endless enjoyment, nothing re.
mains Its arches were burned
away, and the stately columns halt
burned and charred, lie in con.
fused masses upon the brick pro.
menade which surrounded it. The
colossal figures which surmounte ed
1t, toppled to the ground, where
their supports burned away and
were broken in pieces. Columbus
and his heralds, with war horses
and chariot, are unrecognizable
among a mass of ruins.
Music hall, likewise, is a melan.
choly heap of ashes, save here
and there a twisted iron girder
protrudes out. Not a portion was
saved from the flames. All about
the walks is strewn the debris of
charred brands which the wind
blew from the roofs of buildings,
and little piles of white ashes
where some brands were consum-
ed after falling. At various H.;
drants the fire engines rs; ramo;n
~ .nio" rasy streams upon the
'aor ..ng ruins to prevent any
possibility of q new breakout of
the flames.
Manufactures building both with
in and without presents a sight
not described either by artist or
exhibitor. The lattice work be.
tween the top roof and the curved
one covering the central aisle on
the east side was burned away
from a point above the Southern,
and the United States section to
one above the Russian section, on
the west side, was burned. A por.
tion of similar lattice work extends
over the British section to a little
beyond the south extremity Of the
German pavilion. The tin and glass
arched roof lie half burned. That
part which formed part of the
lattice, and which swas loosened
by the fire, slid downward.
Inside the building the appear
ances were worse than upon the
roof. Within the region burned
over, and for some distance on
either side, the floor was covered
with water. Standing in water,
in some places two inches deep,
were innumerable boxes contain.
ing precious wares, all baled and
bound for re-shipment as soon as
they could be released from bond.
Upon and about them lay, now de-
stroyed, the decorations of the
pavilions. The French, Belgian
and English sections suffered most
aud IN the spaces occupied by them
are to be seen the most disastrous
results. When the lattice work
in the roof began to burn and the
was seen to fall upon
the light decorations beneath,
lines Of hose were conveyed into
the building and an attempt was
made to extinguish each before
any fire began. In spite of all that
could be done the triumphal arch
way before the French section
caught fire and in an instant was
ablaze until the frame work fell
into Columbia avenue, where it
could be more easily reached and
The fire caught in
other places and burned
small holes in the floor and decor.
atoms. The scene inside the great
manufactures building to-day is of
absorbing interest. Here and there
we're seen boxes, the tops half
burned through but the contents