Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-09
LATE NEWS BY WIRE.
The Worlds Fair Fire Put Out
This Morning.
DAMAGE LESS THAN FIRST THOUGHT.
Reasons for Believing in lncen-
diarism.
EXHIBITS NOT INSU LED.

EXHIBITS NOT INSU- LED.
CHICAGO. Jan. cit Is not definitely
known what caused the fire at the worlds
fair grounds last night, but the commonly
accepted theory among the thousands on
the grounds is that 1t had been caused by
tramps sleeping in the casino.
Customs Inspector F. B. Phillips was
early on the ground. II am at a loss" said
he. ito give any opinion as to the value
of the contents of the manufactures build
ing. In all there were $4,000 cases of ex-
hibits stored there as a bonded warehouse
and all are well packed. The Russian and
French exhibits are intact and are right
under the heat Of the fire on the roof. This
is also true Of the British exhibit. These
will surely suffer greatly from water II
they escape the fire. As soon as saw the
danger to the goods I ordered the removal
to the basement Of the big building"
roof of the manufactures building was ex-
tirguished.
Speculation Regarding the Origin.
Col. Rice, commanding the Columbian
guards. said that in his opinion the fire at
the manufactures building last night was
undoubtedly Of incendiary origin.
In support of this he cited the fact that
the flames were first seen issuing from the
second story OF the casino. where visitors
were not supposed to stray. and where 1t
was scarcely possible that workmen could
have carelessly dropped fire. as no work.
men had been seen there. The colonel said
he was in no sense responsible for the safety
or the buildings already turned over to the
park commissioners. However. he said he
had stationed one man IN the vicinity of the
peristyie. although the park police was sup
posed 10 be in authority there. With his
limited force, numbering not over IT'S or 20
men, II was impossible to more than cover
the inside of the large buildings. where val
liable goods were stored. The-park police
men, he said, showed their inefficiency from
the fact that they scarcely had stamina
enough TO keep the crowds back during the
fire.
In his opinion. If some dynamite had been
used before the flames reached the quadriga
the havoc could have been enectuaily
stayed.
The Matter of Insurance.
The only information obtainable as to the
insurance on the contents OF the manufac-
lures building was from the Lancashire In
surance Company. The books at the general
offices show policy of $4.OVO on the Norway
exhibit, which does not expire until Febru-
airy 10 1874 The local agent OF the Lsn-
cashire Company, f. s. James. stated he be-
time ago, but was not certain.
Mr.. James stated that all of the policies on
the buildings expired at the close OF the fair
and that a large majority OF the risks on
exhibits expire at the same time. Very few
of the foreign exhibits, he said were insured
in American companies, the majority OF the
exhibitors insuring their goods before leav-
ing their native countries.
United States Customs Collector Clark
said this morning that the amount OF dam
a 90 tO hA oWh to- ftx>
building was not very great There were
about 1j,UW cases OF goods In the building,
packed and ready for removal. he sait. and
1 do not think any OF them were injured by
the fire itself: all the damage that was done
was caused by water and do not think
that much water reached the contents OF the
cases.
The Government Not Responsible.
Assistant Secretary Hamlin Of the Treas
ury Department, who has charge of the
customs matters. speaking today of the
destruction by fire of the exhibits in the
worlds fair buildings, stated that the
United States government Is not RESPONSE
BILE for loss occurring by reason Of casualty
to goods in bonded warehouses. The pro-
vision which was made for the recognition
of the exposition grounds and buildings
as a constructive bonded warehouse was
and the convenience of exhibitors.
The police arrangements for the security
of exhibits were entirely under the con-
troll of the exposition authorities. United
States government officers being placed on
duty for the single purpose of providing
against the alienation of foreign goods
without payment of duty.
In the opinion of treasury officials, If
criminal carelessness can be shown the
local authorities are responsible. The ac-
ton of the railroads in delaying the remov-
al of the foreign exhibits is characterized
by treasury officials as simply Outrageous"
1t is estimated here that the value of all
foreign exhibits at the worlds fair was
15.OOO0OO. half of which have been remov-
ed. This estimate was based on duties as
sessed. There Is no government estimate
of the value of domestic goods originally
in the exposition or what remained there
at the time of the fire.
Losses of Exhibitors.
The French commissioners and special
agents in charge of exhibits in the French
section stated today that the total loss in
the French section by fire and water would
not exceed $4,000.
Prof. Alex Albino, italian commissioner,
denied that insurance on his goods would
be small.
The Danish exhibit was not injured.
Neither was the Spanish. Austrian or Rus
sian.
Damage to the Canadian and British sec
lions will not exceed $500 in each case.