The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-07-25
WHITE CITY TN ASHES.
SIX WORLDS FAIR BUILD
INGS DESTROYED BY FIRE.

1ncendiaries Fire the Great Struc-
lures in Three Places-The Term
inal Station and the Manufactures,
Electric, Mining, Machinery and
Agricultural Buildings Burned.
All the main buildings OF the Worlds Fair.
at Chicago, except tue Horticultural Build
ing, the Woman's Building, the Art Palace,
the Machinery Hall and the United States
Government Building, wers almost entirely
burned few nights ago. They wera the
walton Company, and had been purchased
from the Exposition Company for about
$4,000.
The fire was discovered By several boys.
In the southwestern corner of the first floor.
of the terminal station. When first seen
1t was but an inclpient blaze, and tho boys
endeavored to stamp 1t out for several
minutes. They were unsuccessful, however,
as the fierce gale which was then blowing
from tho southwest famed the fire, and be-
fore an alarm could be turned In the fire
had reached the second story Of the building,
Owing to the distance which separated
most Of the engine companies from the
scene Of the fire there was considerable de-
lay In getting stream OF water upon the,
blazing structure. The first alarm was i'm.
mediately followed by a thres-eleven calfI
and this by a special call for ten engines.
BY the time the first detachment of engines
was fully a. work the terminal station was
mass OF flames and the fire had leapeda
across to the Administration Building. -.
In twenty minutes the dome OF this beau
tiful structure fell with q terrible roar and
sparks and blazing brands were carried BY
the wind north and northeast Of the Mines,
Electricity and Agricultural Buildings. The
Electricity Building was the first to take
fire. In few minutes 1t was enveloped In
flames and at ITO o'clock the glass roof
collapsed and the iron frame work OF the
structure fell In. At 7.15 o'cock the east
end OF the Mines and Mining Building fell
in and the flames became so fierce that the
engine companies stationed between the
Electricity and Mines and Mining Buildings
had to fly for their lives.
Engine Company No. 8 were compelled to
abandon their engine and had to cut the
horses from the traces. One OF the animals
succeeded in getting away, but the other
was suffocated.
The fire was communicated almost stimuli
taneously to the Transportation, the Manu-
factures and the Agricultural Buildings.
By hard work, however, the tremen sue
ceeded in saving the greater part Of the
Transportation Building, but the other two
buildings were soon enveloped In flames,
and by 915 o'clock the last OF the frame
work OF each had fallen In.
When the iremen first reached the spot
an engine company was detailed to pre-
vent the fire from communicating with Ma
chinery Hall, For some time the effort was
successful, but with the four immense
structures-rhe Terminal Building, the
Electricity and the Mines and Mining
Buildings and the Administration Building,
ON fire at the same time, the heat became
30 intense that Machinery Hall was aban.
doned also. The direction OF the wind,
however, being away from the building, en-
abled the f1remen to save part OF 1t.
What is left OF the gllded statute Of the
Republic. near the eastern eEd OF the Court
of Honor, the central point OF interest for
thousands OF visitors to the Exposition, now
looks out upon O waste Of ruins and ashes.
The six large structures which formed the
boundaries of the Court OF Honor were
burned. The fire was Of incendiary origin.
The buildings destroyed were the Termt-
nal Station, Administration, Manufactures,
Electricity, and Mining Buildings, Ma
chinery Hall, and the Agricultural Build
ing.
The Art Gallery, which has been rechris-
tened the Field Columbian Museum, and the
Government Building were saved, together
With the minor buildings south OF Machinery
Hall and the Agricultural Building.
The fire started almost simultaneously at
three points, so selected as to afford the bestI
possible opportunity tor the spread OF the
flames,