The record-union., 1894-01-09
BIG FIRE AT CHICAGO.

Worlds Fair Buildings Go Up in
Smoke-Work OF Incendiaries.
CHICAGO, Jan. S.-The Worlds Fair
Pompeii came tonight. A rushing vol
cano of flame, huge Gothic architecture
tumbling into chaos, bewildered mobs of
people-all were there. Under a great
starry sky Of Italian clearness, with Lake
Michigan's broad expanse a second Me-
diterranean, probably no more magnifi-
cent yet terrifying spectacle has ever been
witnessed this side of the Atlantic.
1t was long after dark tonight when
belated people returning from work to
their homes in the southern suburbs
along the elevated road, familiar to hun
dreds of thousands OF the Worlds Fair
visitors, noticed a constantly enlarging
column OF tire and smoke ascending sky
ward in the east The Worlds Fair is
on fire." was the cry, and few, indeed, of
the fascinated watchers from the train
windows alighted until the famous ter
minal at the exposition grounds was
reached.
The last half mile of the journey is di-
rectly east to the lair, SO that all view Of
the blazing pleasure houses of the world
was shut Oft for a time completely. Di-
rectly past the scene of the frightful fire
in the cold storage warehouse, hundreds
of spectators hurried from the train into
the celebrated court of honor. There
suddenly the contiagration came in full
view. Whirlwinds OF blazing embers
were being carried from the end of the
court OF honor, farthereSt from the
administration building, high over the
roof OF the mammoth liberal arts build
ing, the largest structure on earth. The
great Holden statue OF the Republic could
be seen lifting her liberty cap defiantly
aloft through the clouds of smoke and
flames.
The fire had been burning less than
hour when laundering crash of falling
timber and tremendous shout from the
crowd announced the collapse OF the
peristyle. A moment later u terrific yell
from the crowd told that the liberal arts
building was on fire, and the whole ex
position was threatened. A dramatic in
cident marked the destruction of the peri
style. One of the ladders bearing up
group of firemen fell with the columns,
and one heroic fireman went down TO
death, while mum Der OF others suffered
injuries more or less severe.
The origin of the fire is said to have
been revenge on the part of a couple of
tramps. The solitary guard in the music
nall said that just before the flames
broke out he kicked two vagabonds out
of the building. The left IN the direction II
of the casino, and soon after the fire
broke out and terror and confusion en-
sued.
Opinions seemed general that the loss
by water was even greater than by fire.
The Federal officers put the loss. if the
fire does not spread beyond the liberal
arts building, at 81 900. 600. on the other
hand. estimates by people connected with
the local directory made the highest
figures about Sl,500000.
At l0:45 the great iron arch gave way
directly above the French section. and
falling heavily buried the French wares
beneath the burning pile. Around the
Japanese exhibit adjoining clustered
crowd of scared and frantic Japs. This,
like many exhibits, had not been released
from bond. and 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 formalities of the Gus
toIn-house detained the goods of for
eigners.