The Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1893-1901, 1894-01-10

japanese exhibit adjoining clustered a
crowd Of scared and frantic japanese.
These, liked many exhibits, had not been
released from bond. aud the goods could
not be taken from the building. but were
carted to the doors. and there guarded
by natives. All the American exhibits
were long ago removed. but the formal
tiles Of the custom house detained the
goods Of foreigners.
Supt. Graham OF the manufacturers
building said the loss could hardly be
overestimated. IL have feared this ever
since the fair closed" he said, land now
it has come worse than / ever dreamed
exhibitors rushed, seeking safety for
their goods. The fire department fought
with energy and skill. but the conditions
were against them. A fierce wind came
over the lake, flinging the fiery embers
/ everywhere. and fanniug them into life
every moment.
The huge pillows Of flames. which
were manfully combatted by men on the
roof. rolled northward. The firemen were
handicapped by lack Of water. An
heroic effort was made to get streams to
the top Of the giant structure. but the
water supply was fearfully inadequate.
Finding it impossible TO reach the roof
the chief ordered the engines into the
building. With the Changing Of gongs
and the clatter Of hoofs. steamer after
steamer ratified through the smoke down
the fire.l aisles until the end of the
building was reached. There the last
struggle Of the firemen was taken up.
Streams Of water were hurled upward.
but with little effect.
The name of the fireman killed when
the peristyle fell was William Mackay of
Engine Company 81. Capt. Frederick
Geitz Of Truck Company Ii fell from
the from the roof of the manufacturers
building and broke his leg and received
internal injuries. Eugene Durand. a
watchman in the French section. was
hit on the head and injured.
At midnight President Higginbotham
telephoned the general managers OF the
Associated Press. saying he had been in
the burning over two hours. and that the
roof had burned and fallen, but forum
ately few exhibits were in range Of the
falling debris. Il should say, said he'
the loss by water would toe much greater
than by fire. The total loss TO exhibits
will not exceen 81 100000. or course the
4 1 l. 4. tl,..E sest
/ fairly under control and there is no more
to fear All told the contents of the
liberal arts building did not exceed the
: value II sl.OO0.OO0. As to the Casino,
/ Peristyle and music hall. there is no loss
T We should not regret their burning as
e II is the cheapest way 10 remove them
, Three days ago the number Of pack
, ages awaiting shipment was: In the
E manufacturers building 1874; Midway
Plaisance. $50: fine arts, 80: woman's
2 $40: horticulture. l0O0: transportation
{ 600: mining. l.}J0: electricity. 1861
c agriculture. 800: and 1855 scattered
5 in other buildings. a total Of 23.754 pack
I ages Less than l4,Oo0 packages had
: been shipped prior to Dec. 70.
/ The climax Of interest was reached
j. shortly after midnight when a eompan,
o OF 20 men could be seen edging theil
way along the roof Of the manufacturers
e building. A cry of horror went up al
$ huge section Of the root almost unde
J. the feet Of the firemen gave way ans
e fell with crash. The firemen did no
Il waver. and by o'clock it looked a
s. il their heroism would not be in vain
b The fire was still burning, but it wa
e thought to be under control end wa
Is not expected to spread further.
IA