The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-01-10
WONDERFUL NO MORE
Sad to Witness the Ravages of
Flame in the White City.
Something of the Damage to the Great
Structures and Costly Exhibits That
Suffered Monday Night.
Special TO the Indianapolis Journal.

Special TO the Indianapolis Journal.
CHICAGO, Jan. 9.-Famed court of honor
is no more a thing of wonder The beauti-
full and statue-crowned peristyle is a heap
of blackened debris The costly architec-
ture that was to have remained indefinite
ly to beautify Jackson Park and be the
last relic Of the glorious White City to
come down has been the first to fall. and
that ineloriously, too, by the ravages of
last nights fire. The gilded statue of lib
erty in the grand basin alone remains, as
if in mockery of her fallen symmetrical
surroundings. All the great plans for use
of wonderful Liberal Arts Building are
come to naught. The fire has ruined the
south end of that immense structure
None of the buildings that was destroyed
was insured. With the transfer of the
property to the South Park commissioners,
the policies were allowed to expire 1t was
not deemed necessary TO carry them any
longer, and hence last nights loss. so far
as the buildings concerned is total,
and falls directly upon the representatives
of the city Of Chicago. the South Park
commissioners. The Manufactures Build
ing cost originally $l,7OO.O00; the Music Hall,
100000; the Casino, $200,OO0, and the peris-
tyle (approximate). 100000. Only a fraction
of this could have been realized by a sale
of the structures. the expense of removal
to purchasers, If purchasers could be found.
being great to involve an almost
total shrinkage Of value. The French eX-
hibit in the Liberal Arts Building which
was the first to succumb to the flames
and where the destruction was the worst,
was originally valued at s1,5OO.OOO Among
the more notable French losses enumerated
are the bronze statue of war, the imitation
1eWelfV d1SDldE, the Serves CllnQWlTP dis
play, GoeblnS tapestries, BemdelaiS ex-
hibit of mosaic and inlaid furniture. the
hibt, the library of French books
The marvellous science of the engineers
Manufactures Building were eXemplified
by the fire. Expansion and contraction was
one of the factors considered by CHIEF Fin
gineer Shankland in making the detailed
calculations for the great building. though
il was not supposed that tire huge masses
OF IRON and steel would ever be subjected
to the tremendous strain put upon them
last night. They stood the test well. how
ever. Hinged at the top and bottom they
had sufficient play when the metal expand
ed under the great heat TO seek the differ
ent positions forced upon them without ex-
ertng bursting strain on the material
they were designed 10 support. Construct
ed mainly however with view to climatic
changes, they stood a test many times in
excess of what it was supposed they would
be ever called upon TO maintain. and in do
ing so gave a demonstration which. from
an architectural standpoint. was by all odds
the greatest feature Ol lile w Oilu tOlQnl-
bian Exposition.
Fred s. James. who was chairman of the
insurance committee of the worlds fair,
stated definitely to-day that all of the pol
icies of the buildings expired at the close
of the fair and that a large majority of
the risks exhibits expired at the same
time. Mr.. James said that there We're very
few of the foreign exhibits insured in
American companies the majority of the
exhibitors insuring their goods before leav-
ing their native countries. What respon-
sbility if any. the United States govern
ment had in the losses is an interesting
question.
dispatch from Washington says: FIX
hibitors whose goods were destroyed by
fire i'm the worlds fair buildings at Chica-
go will have TO stand whatever loss has oc-
Cured 70 them by such destruction unless
they bring an action in the courts to show
that there was criminal negligence or COM
plicity on the part Of the exposition Off
Gals The government is not responsible
for the safety of goods in bonded ware
houses which are established for the con-
venience of importers. but when merchan-
disc stored there Is destroyed il generously
RENTS the duties which otherwise would
have To be paid on such goods