The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-01-09

decorations beneath, lines Of hose were
conveyed into the building and al at
tempt made to extnguish each before
any FIRE began.
Ia spite Of all that could be done the
trIumphal archway before the French
section caught fire and in an instant was
ca upon Il. but ~ continued to blaze I'M
til the framework fell into Columbian
avenue where it could be more easily
reached and extinguished. The fire
caught in numberless other places and
burned small holes in the floor and DE-
cOrations.
The scene inside the great Ianufac-
lures building today was 81 absorbing in
terest. Here and there were seen booths
with their tops half burned through, but
their contents safe. except for water that
leaked into them. A few timber5 in the
roof were still burning and smoking.
lead of hose from the Fire
Queen stretched from her mo0ring
place at the west side Of the
building into the west door and up the
clock tower, then higher to one Of the
i've cOrOnas. which is 40 feet from the
floor, had served for lighting the build
ing
Upon this corona today were a number
Of hremen, who from their peTiiOus
perch directed a stream above or below,
upon any incipient blaze that might
anywhere break ont. Policemen guard
ed the doors, and would allow ingress
to none, except exhibitors. or those who
had work to do in the building. But
although the curious crowd was barred
out the main floor almost swarmed with
people.
The exhibitors, anxious to ind out
their losses and to move their cases out
Of the water and debris, had engaged
additional help. LabOrers we're busy
with s1 rec ping away ashes and wheeling
huge boxes into other positions. or load
elT1
Allison was on the ground to ascertain
the extent of damage done in his depart
ment. Customs official were busy look
ing after the interests Of the department
and eNertlng themselves SO satisfy the
desires of exhibitors. SO far as possible.
Busiest of all was Director of Works
Graham. who was particularly DESTROYS
0t doing everything and pleasing every
one He worked hard giving directions
and answering questions and seemed 10
De IT'D all parts of the building at once.
Col Rice Of the Coium bian guard con-
troIled mis- forces and personally directed
the movements for the preservation Of eX-
hibits
Outside upon the grounds had assem-
bled the largest crowd since the gates
closed November d. People climbed t0
roofs and windows wherever practicable
to view the work of destruction. Ih0us-
auds swarmed about the grand basin and
in groups discussed the event which
broke and destroyed the harmony of the
artists conception. From the admins
tration building they hal, save for the
unsightly heaps Of ashes, a view across
the frozen grand basin, far out into lake
Michigan. The eiIded Statue Of the
Republic alone remained to remind sight
seers Of the gorgeous scenes presented
during the summer
The work of ascertaining as far as pos
sible the extent Of damage done to ex-
hibits began at once. Many DO zes viii
have % be opened and their contents re-
packed
Through the icy aisles Of the big build
ing, hremen and employees We're ming
ling in apparent confusion. but all work
ing toward the restoration Of order.
Hours necessarily passed, however, be-
fore majority Of the lines of hose were
c0iled up and removed and the workmen
were given d fairly mpeded chance to
overhaul the packing cases.
1t was 2.29 o'clock when the fire,
though still uneXtingu from lay
mans point of view, was formally struck
out, according to fire department usage.
The alarm from the Manufacturers
building was sent in At $50 O'Clock the
preceding evening, making the record of
the fire four minutes more than SIX hours
after the final signal was sent out; one
company still held in duty liz the big
building and lead of hose was ia readi-
ness for prompt attack should there be
thoroughly drowned ont, however, and
no more danger was found.
q ntu daylight a SQUAD Of fremen and
guards patrOlled the building without
doing much in the way of clearing away
the wreck. Later. real progress was
made, bat for a time every one with
whom they interfered was made 10 give
way to the dremen.
a survey today inside the building
showed that the greatest damage had
been east and west of the center aisle
and toward the southern end of the
building. Under the southeast corner,
III which the blaze burned most serious
Is. the American musical section was lO-
Gated. Many of the goods on exhibition
had been removed, and those remaining
were stored in heavy packing cases. The
section was completely deluged and7the
boxes are soaked and covered with ice.
Two or three inches of water cover the
floors In the French. Belgian and Russian
sections, east of the center aisle and
south Of the clock tower. Few goods
have been removed from this section.
although all are packed. Badly soaked
and burned cases give an index TO their
condition, verified when some Of the
boxes We're opened
West of the center aisle the English
pottery section was flooded but little
damage was done, few packing cases re-
naming. Embers from the burning roof
fell directly On the English and Cana
dian sections and streams Of water were
turned against them; the damage Ie-
sulting from the flood and the ice coat
ing given the boxes.
North Of the clock tower, traces Of de-
struction gradually disappeared. Less
water was thrown on these quarters and
fewer EN- bers from the roof fell to the
floor The northwest section is almost
intact. Neither flames nor water reached
the corner. The floors are dry and the
roof unchanged