The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1894-01-12
WHITE CITY BURNED.
WORLDS FAIR BUILDINGS RE-
- DUcED- TO ASHES.
FIREMEN LOSE THEIR LIVES
The Big Manufacturers and Liberal
Arts Building, tbs Casino, Music
Hall and the PerIstyIe Totally
Ruined - The Fire Said to
Have Been Started by
TrRmps-HeaVy Loss.

CHICAGO, Jan. 1O.-The worlds fair
Pompeii came last night. A rushing
volcano of flame, huge gothic archi-
lecture tumbling into chaos, Devil
dered mobs of peopIe-all were there
under a great starry sky of Italian
| clearness, with Lake Michigan's broad
expanse a second Mediterranean.
Probably no more magnificent, yet
terrifying, spectacle has ever been wit
messed this side of the Atlantic.
1t was long after dark when belated
| people returning from work to their
homes in the southern suburbs along
the elevated road, familiar to hun
| dreds of thousands of worlds fair
| visitors noticed a constantly enlarg-
| ing column of fire ascending sky ward
| in the East.
Collapse of the Peristyle.
The fire had been burning less than
| an hour when thunderous crash of
| falling timber and tremendous sho ut
went up from the crowd announcing
the collapse of the Peristyle. A mo-
ment later another terrific yell from
the crowd told that the Liberal Ar is
building had caught fire, and that the
whole exposition was threatened A
ton of the Peristyle One of the lad
ders bearing up a group of fremen
fell with the columns and one of the
heroic fighters went down to death,
while a number of others suffered in
juries more or less severe. The sky
was livid, brilliant at this time with
falling sparks. many of which fell
away to the north. showering the
roofs of the Art Palace, Women's
building and the various state struc-
ures with fire.
Whirlwinds of blazing embers were
being carried from the end of the
Court of Honor furthest from the Adj
ministration building high over the
mammoth roof of the Liberal Arts
building, the largest structure on
earth. The great golden statue of
the republic could be seen lifting her
liberty cap de6antly almost through
the clouds of smoke and flame.
Started in the CasiuO Building.
The fire started in the Casino, just
east of the Agricultural building and
south of the Peristyle. The Casino
was quickly devoured, and the flames
surged north on top of the Peristyle.
and dropping, made q second line of
fire along the base of the columns
The flames then sprang through the
Music hall, which corresponds at the
north end of the Peristyle 20 the Cas-
inc at the south.
While the fire was burning there
was one of the most singular and fas-
cinating sights of the night. Along
the top of the Peristyle were scores of
statues The spectacle for those peo-
pie fortunate enough to be on the
sidewalk Just east of the Peristyle was
no of n CPio
man beings plungiug one after an
other headlong into the waters of gthe
lake below.
The origin of the fire is said to be
revenge on the part of a couple
of tramps. The solitary guard
in the Music hall says that just
before the flames broke out he kicked
two vaga bonds out of Music hall and
told them to find quarters elsewhere.
They left in the direction of the Cast
no and soon after the fire broke out,
and soon everything on the grounds
was terror and confusion.
The fire boats and engines on the
lakeside had subdued the flames in
the ashes of the Peristyle and in the
lower cOllonade of the southeast side
of the Liberal Arts building, and
hopes were raised that the fire had
been subdued. But shortly after II
p. m. the flames got beyond control
up in the top promenade of the Arts
building and the main aisle of the
building was a mass of flames, arising
from the burning brands which came
from above.
Three days ago the number of pack
ages awaiting shipment in each build
ing was: Manufacturers, 11,O74; Mid
way Plaisance, 1900; Fine Arts, $50;
Woman's, $40; Horticulture, 1000;
Transportation, 600; Mining, 1850;
Electricity, 657; Agriculture. 800,
and 1, $50 scattered in other buildings,
making a total of %, 654 packages
shipped away prior to December 20
last. Most of the goods remaining
were foreign exhibits
Shortly after IL o'clock, four fire
men were caught beneath crush of
falling timbers just outside the Man
ufaetureS' building. Streams of water
were instantly poured upon the mass
and soon the injured men were re-
moved. Their names could not be
ascertained by The chief, but it was
said all of the men were unconscious
when rescued and that two of them
are fatally injured.
President RIggtnbotham Talks.
at midnight President Higgin-
HOOAoH- Sd.A1 Nc AoA OOCA IL Inc OuEH-
ing building over two hours; that the
roof had burned and fallen. but that
fortunately none of the exhibits were
in range of the falling embers 81
should say" said he. that the loss by
water would be much greater than by
fire. The total loss to exhibits will
not exceed 500. 900. Of course the
loss is serious enough, but the fire is
now fairly under control, and there Is
no more fear. All told the contents
of the Liberal Arts buildiug did not
exceed 81 200, 600 in value As to the
Casino Peristyle and Music hall. there
is no loss. We should not regret their
burning, as it is the cheapest way to
remove them"
schaeFer Defeats sIosson.
CHICAGO. Jan. To- In the three
eornered billiard tournaments Lass