The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-01-10
IN RUINS.
The Symmetry of the M~aryelously
Beautiful Court of Honor
Gone Forever.
The Peristyle No More and Music
Hall and the Casino But
Heaps of Ashes.
What the Fire Fiend Accomplished
.. at the Worlds Fair Grounds
i'm q Few Hours.

UNIVERSAL Ieellng IegaIuHS th6 WoTius
fair fire is one of keen regret that the
symmetry of the marvellously beautiful
court of honor should be marred by the
~red-tongued fiend, whose malice has
heretofore brought sorrow and suffering
TO Chicago. Others took a more philo-
sophical view of the situation, saying the
fire but anticipated the work which
time would have assuredly done. Still
others expressed the wish, barring the
fact that the exhibits had not all been
removed, that the flames had been given
their will without let OF hindrence, and
that they
Might Have swept tho Grounds
from end to end, including the Midway,
leaving nothing behind them except
ashes and the indestructible portions of
the great exposition. So should it have
had a fitting finale. Unexampled in the
magic of its rearing and unmatched in
its almost supernatural beauty its end
would have been actually unparalleled,
and its grandeur would have been
treasured in memory, unblemished by
the gnawing tooth of time, instead OF
falling apart piece by piece and
Becoming Melancholy Reminders
of vanished loneliness. The scene at the
eastern end of the court of honor was
one Of utter desolation and destruction.
where at sunset cleaned the white coll
umns of the peristyle. fanked by the
Music hall and Casino, and capped and
ornamented by the imposing quadrigga
over the central arch and figures along
the cornice. The peristyle is no more,
and the Music hall and Casino are heaps
of ashes. Save for the great golden
statue of the Republic, standing in silent
majesty at the eastern end of the basin,
the view from the grand plaza in front
Of the administration building, between
the Agricultural building on the ON the
one side and the great Manufactures
hall on the other, the view out oven the
blue waters of Lake Michigan is unob-
structed, and what was q few hours
since a perfect architectural whole, is
now an
UnsightIy and sorrowful Aggregation
of unbalanced architecture. Thus does
one little change mar the symmetry of
an artistic whole; thus is shown with
what almost inspired knowledge of
artistic unity the builders of the worlds
fair worked. The beauty Of the grand
court is completely taken away as an
artistic whole and the plans for its
preservation have been put completely
to rout unless it shall be determined to
rebuild the destroyed PORTIONS thing
not at all likely.
The flames produced greater changes
In the appearance of Chicago's
famous pleasure park than it was ex-
pected would be made by six months Of
building-wrecking. To the gloomy
sight of vacant buildings and almost de-
serted driveways, since the gates were
closed, is now added the spectacle of
smoking and biackened heaps OF debris.
The Casino, where thousands spent de-
lightful hours watching gay scenes upon
and about the grand basin, was wholly
destroyed. OF the peristyle, once illum-
mated with thousands Of incandeseent
lights and Greek fire, and furnishing
endless enjoyment, nothing remains.
It's arches were burned away, and its
stately columns, half burned and
charred, lie in confused masses upon
the brick promenade which surrounds it.
The colossal figures which surmountedit
toppled to the ground when their sap
port burned away, and are broken in
pieces. ColuRbus and his heralds, with
their war horses and chariots, are un-
recognizable among the mass of ruins.
Music hall likewise is q
MeIancholy Heap of Ashes.
Save here and there where a twisted
iron girder protrudes, not q portion or ii
was saved from the flames. All about
the walks are strewn with debris,
charred brands which the wind blew
from the burning buildings, and little
piles Of white ashes where some Of thu
brands were consumed after falling. A,
various MIGRANTS, fire engines vet re.
main to throw heavy streams upon tho
smoking ruins to prevent any possible
new outbreak Of flames. Manufacturer
building, both within and without, pre-
sents a sight not desired either by arts,
or exhibitor. The lattice work between
the top roof and the curved one cover
ing the central aisle on the east side
WAS burned away from a point abov,
the southern end of the United State,
section, south to one above the Russian
section. On the west side the burnet
portion OF similar lattice work extend
over the British section to q little beyons
the south extremity Of the Ger
man pavilion. Upon the tin land glas
arched roof lie half burned boards
which formed q part of the lattice, an,
which when loosened by the FIRE, sill,
downward.
Inside tlae Building
appearances are worse than upon tn
root. In the region burned over and 70
some distance on either side the floor i
{ yered with water. Standing in th
water, which in many places il tw
inches in depth, are innumerable boxe
containing precious wares, all baled an
bound for reshipment as soon az the
could be released from hond TIM