The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-01-10

ldIuUuS pleasure PARK tnau III WAS eA-
pected would be made by six months OF
building wrscking. To the gloomy sight
of vacant buildings and almost deserted
driyeways since the gates were closed is
now added the spectacle OF smoking aud
blackeued heaps of debris. The Casino
was wholly destroyed. OF the peristyle
nothing remains. The colossal figures
which surmounted it toppled TO the ground
when their supports burned away, and
are broken to pieces. The Music hall like
wise is a melancholy heap of ashes. At
the various hydrauts the fire engines yet
remain to throw heavy streams upon the
smoking ruins to prevent any possible new
outbreak of the flames.
Tue manufactures building, both within
aud without, presents sight not desired
either by artist or exhibitor. The floor Is
covered with water. Standing in water,
which at some places Is two inches in
depth, are innumersble boxes containing
precious wares, all baled and bound tor
reshipment. The French, Belgian aud
English sections suffered most, and in the
space occupied by them is TO be seen the
most disastrous results.
The scene iuside the great manufactures
building today WAS Cf absorbing interest.
Here and there were seen boxes with their
tops half burned through, but their CON
tents safe. except for the water that had
leaked into them. A few rimbers in the
roof were still burning aud smoking. Up
on the corona were a number OF firemen,
who from their perilious perch directed a
stream above or below upon any iucipient
blaze that might anywhere break out.
Policemen guarded the doors, aud would
allow lngress TO none except exhibitors or
those who had WORK to do in the bGiliing.
The exhibitors, anxious to find out their
losses and to move their cases out OF the
water and debris. had engaged additional
help. The laborers were busy. Chief
Allison was on the ground and the Gus
toms officials were busily looking after the
Interests of the department aud exsrting
themselves to satisfy the desires Of exhibi-
tors so far AS possible.
Outside upon the grounds had assembled
the largest crowd since the gates closed
on November l. The crowd climbed To
the roof and windows wherever praetic-
able TO view the work of destruction.
Thousands swarmed about the grand
basin discussing the event which had
broken and destroyed the harmony of tbs
artists conception. The gilded statue of
the republic alone remained 10 remind
sightseers of the gorgeous scenes present.
ed during the summer.
The work OF ascertaining, as far as pos
sible, the extent of the damage done TO
exhibits began at once. Many boxes will
have to be opened aud their contents re-
packed.
II was 2:29 o'clock this morning when the
fire. though still unextinguished from a
layman's polnt OF view, was formally
STRUCK ont" according to fire depari ment
usage The fire burned six hours View
Ing the building from the outside the fires
course is clearly marked. On The east it
started lo the fifth arch from the south,
and burned north about so feet across.
On the west liue the patti of damage Is
not SO wide. Traces of destruction appear
about 800 feet from the south front, aud
the damage is confined between that point
and 300 feet north.
Noue of the buildings that were destroyed
were insured. With the trausier OF the
property to the South park commissioners
I he policies were allowed to expire. l. was
not deemed necessary to carry them any
longer, and hence last nights loss, so far
as the buildings are concerned. is total,
and falls directly upon the representatives
OF the city of Chicago, the South park
The manufactures build
ing cost originally 81. 900; Music hall.
s42O 600; the Casino, 500, 900, anu the peri
style approximately 100000. Only II irac-
ton OF this could have been realized by the
sale or the structures, the expense of re-
moval to purchasers, If purchasers could
have been found, being so great as TO in
volve an almost total shriukage OF value.
The French exhibit in the liberal arts
building, which WAS the first TO succumb
TO the flames. and whore the destruction
was the worst, was originally valued, COM
plete, at 81 $4,000.
One OF the most hairbreadth escapes on
record Is that of Fire Captain Frederick
Ioetz, who fell from the roof of the manu-
factures building. His rescuer WAS daring
young Irish-American named James W.
fireman during the fair. Goelz |
,eil between TWO girders, which were
twenty inches apart. The space was wide |
enough to admit the passage OF his body, |
but his extended arms caught or. the heavy !
ron, and In this position he clung for /
several minutes helplsss. Kennedy hap
)ened to be IN the balcony near where /
Captain Goetz fell. With agility he /
climbed up the gIrdrr, and in moment |
ne had seized the captain by the arm. /
Inelr position was perilous. as it was 2uJ !
eet TO tue floor With the greatest diff /
,ulty Kennedy brought the captain safely 4
% tie balcony, the lAtter's leg being bro /
Ken. lie assisted him to the main floor,
,ud the injured man was removed to the /
'erv!ce building and taken 10 the Emer-
sency hospital. There it was found that
le had been internally Injured. HIS chest,
90, was injured snd his condition was
considered serious, though the physicians
lid not think death would result.
Harry Hughes aud William Coleman
we're two other heroes. Each climbed 10
tie top of the manufactures building
our times and extinguIshed, they sup
posed, tiny flame that Ia each Instances
VAS maxim. its way through the roef (
The crowd, which numbered thousands, I
.beered while each ascent was r>s,is.
Il Is probable that iraups set IRE TO the
,alldIugs. Oaly one guard was charged
With the care OF the grounds last evening,
'nd small army Of them could have /
;ampsd III the ugoccupied buildings.
Inc msnufGoLurss building since the !
air closed had assumed tie naturs OF
government bondeI warehouse, bat TIE
government officials tacltly wanted IL 20 |
~ understood tust they would not pro-
iibi; the removal OF goods from tae build
ng to place o. safety. Goo1s We're tak<a
rom the building, aud waIis, AT tie tuost,
hey were pied on tie ground OUTSIDE.
tail under tue eye OF treasury officials {
here Is 10 doubt that many cases Were
emoyed from the grounds, aud L ae!e
IN may experiences great difficulty IN
oilecgtng the duty.
WASHINGTON. jan. e-The exhibitors
whose gods were destroyed ia tas wo1i1's
air buildings viii have tO stand what Joss
las occurred, ualsss they brigz action to
how iAere Was criminal ne.jI-eace OF
somps'ctsy on the par Of the exposition
slcIais- The g0geFun48t wac nos re !
.sossso.s fox the safety of tas goods.
4 YOUNG FIENO.