The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1894-01-16
WORK OF THE E1Rr,1EN.

WYNN vi I'LL H Il
The fire department fought with
energy and skill, but the conditions
were all against success. A fierce
wind came owe the lake, ainging fiery
embers everywhere and tanning the
flames into fierce life with every mo-
mont. Huge pillows of flame rolled
northward over the great glass roof, |
being manfully combated by the men
upon the roof, who were handicapped, |
however. by the lack of water. A
heroic effort vas made to get streams
to the top of the giant structure, for
the only apparent salvation of the
structure lay in getting men upon the
encircling promenade and pouring
the streams into the %furnanee below.
But the water supply was fearfupy in
adequate.
Time and again the streams we're
cut off almost entirely. Scattered
through the fair grounds are MIGRANTS
from which the supply was to be
drawn, but they we're insufficient in
the hour Of dire need. Finding it
impossible to reach the roof, the chief
ordered his engines in the building.
Three days ago the number of pack
ages awaiting shipment in each build
ing was: Manufactures 1914, Midway
plaisance 300, fine arts 780, woman's
8l9, horticultural, 1000, ~transporta-
tion 600. mining 1850, electricity 167,
agricultural 1900 and Is. 900 scattered
in other buildings, making a total of
about $4,000 packages. Less than
$4,000 packages had been shipped
away prior to December Goth last.
Most of the goods remaining were
foreign exhibits.
At midnight the fire was under con-
troll.
The origin of the fire is said to be
revenge on the part of u couple of
tramps. The solitary guard in the
music hall says that just before the
flames broke out he kicked two vaga-
bonds out Of the Music Hal and told
them to find quarters elsewhere. They
left in the direction of the Casino and
soon after fire broke out everything
on the grounds was terror and con-
fusion.
CHICAGO, ILL. January 9.-Last
nights fire in the Worlds Fair grounds
produced greater changes in the APP
pearance of Chicago's famous pleasure
park than it was expected would be
made by six months removal of the
buildings. The Casino, where thou
sands spent delightful hours watching
gay scenes upon and about the grand
basin, was wholly destroyed. OF the
peristyle. once illuminated with thous-
ands of incandescent lights and Greek
fire and furnishing endless enjoyment,
burned away, and it's stately columns,
half burned and charred, lie confused
mas ,es upon the brick promenade
which surrounds it. The colossal
figures which surmOunted it toppled to
the ground when their supports burned
away and are broken in pieces.
Columbus and his heralds with their
ware horses n chariOts are unre
cognizable among the mass of ruins.
Music hall likewise is u melancholy
heap of ashes. Save here and there q
was saved from the flames. All about
the walks + strewn with debris,
charred brands which the wind bic W
from the burning buildings and little
piles of white ashes where some Of
brands were consumed after falling.
The manufactures building both
within and without presents o sight
not desired by artist or exhibitors.
The lattice work between the top ROOT
and the curved one, covering the
centre aisles on the cas- side, is burned
away from a point above the southern
end OF the United States section south
to the one above the Russian section.
Upon the tin and glass arched roof lie
half burned boards which formed part
Of the lattice and which when loosened
blythe tire slid downward.
Inside the building appearances are
worse thar upon the roof. Within the
region burned and for some distance
on either side the floor is covered
with water. Standing in water, which
at some places is two inches in depth,
are innumerable boxes. containing
precious wares, baled and bound for
reshipment as Vol as they could he
released from bond. Upon and about
them lay the new destroyed decorations
OF pavilions.
The French, Belgium and English
sections suffered most, and in the
spaces occupied by them are to be seen
the most disastrous results. The scene
inside the great manufacturers build
ing was of absorbing interest. Here
and there were seen boxes with their
contents safe, except for the water
that leaked into them. A few timbers
in the roof were still burning and smok-
ing.