The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-01-10

CHICAGO. Jan. s.-The worlds fair
Pompeii came tonight. A rushing vol
cano of flames, a huge gothic arehi-
lecture tumbling into chaOs-bewildered
mobs of people-au were there. under a
great starry sky of Italian clearness,
with Lake Michigan's broad expanse a
second Mediterranean.
Probably no more magnificent, yet ter
rifying, spectacle has ever been wit
messed this side of the Atlantic II was
long after dark tonight when belated
people returning from work to their
homes in the southern suburbs along
the elevated road, familiar to hundreds
of thousands Of worlds fair visitors, no
ticed a constantly enlarg1ng column of
fire and smoke ascending skyward in the
east.
THE worlds fair is on fire." was the
CRY and a few indeed of the Fascinated
watchers from the train windows
alighted until the famous terminal at
the exposition grounds was reached.
The last half mile of the journey is
directly east to the fair, so that ali view
of the blazing pleasure-house Of the
world was shut off for time COM
pletely.
Directly past the scene Of the frightful
fire Of the cold storage warehouse,
whert scores of fremen lost their lives
during the fair, hundreds Of spectators
hurried from the trains to the celebrated
court of honor. There. suddenly, the
confiagration came into view
whirlwinds of blazing embers were
being carried from the end of the court
of honor furthest from the administra-
ton building high over the mammoth
roof of the liberal arts building, the
largest structure on earth. The great
golden statue of the republic could be
seen lifting the liberty cap aloft through
the clouds of smoke and flame.
The fire had been burning less than
an hour when thunderous crash of
falling timber and a tremendous shout
from the crowd announced the collapse
of the peristyle A moment later another
terrific yell from the crowd told that
the liberal arts building mad caught fire
and that the whole exposition was
threatened.
One Fireman Killed.
The great fire was not without its
work Of death and injury. For the sec
ond time in the history Of the expOsi-
ton firemen risked life and limb to
save the property of others, and sad
dened homes are the result. The dead:
WILLIAM MACKEY, pipeman, en-
gine company No. 81. fell from ladder
on peristyle. Internally injured and died
at Mercy hospital.
The injured:
Capt Frederick Getz, truck company
16, fell from roof OF manufactures
building; left leg broken, chest badly in
5ured and internally hurt.
Eugene Durand, watchman in the
French section Of the manufactures
building, struck on the head by plank;
badly cut and bruised; removed 70 Emer-
gency hospital
The sky was livid brilliant at this
time with falling sparks. many of which
fell away to the north, shOwering the
roofs OF the frt palace, wOmen's build
ing and the various state structures
with fire. Every train and street car
added momentarily thousands to the
thrOngs Of people and but for the terri
tying spectacle and the danger to life
and property il seemed as IL the great
was on in all Its glory.
The fire started I'm the casino, just
east of the agricultural building and
south OF the peristyle. The casino was
quickly devOured and the flames surged
north on the TOP of the peristyle and
dropping made a second line of fire along
the base Of the columns. The flames
then sprang through the music hall.
which corresponds at the north end Of
the peristyle, TO the casino at the south.
VHrt lie r.a fire kaar afv.ar
one Of the most singular and fascinating
sights OF the night. Along the top of
the peristyle were scores Of statues
enough to be on the moving sidewalk
Just east OF the peristyle was that Of
succession Of gigantic human beings
plunging one after another, headlong
into the waters Of the lake below.
Two TPamps Suspected.
The origin Of the fire is said to be re-
venge on the part Of a couple Of tramps.
The solitary guard in the musical hall
says that just before the flames broke
out he kicked two vagabonds out of the
music hall and told them to find quar-
fers elsewhere. They left in the direction
OF the casino and shortly after the fire
broke out and soon everything on the
grounds was terror and confusion.
Fears OF looting added 10 the horror OF
the scene. At about 10 O'Clock, with a
possible loss Of about one million dol
lars by fire I'm the manufactures build
ing alone, the authorities began to real
lie that q large element In the crowd