The Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1893-1901, 1894-01-10
LAID IN RUINS.
Some of the Worlds Fair
Buildings Destroyed by
Fire.
II L. Supposed to BE the Work of Two
Trsmps for Revenge-Loss about
Two Millions.

CHICAGO. Jan. 9.-The Worlds Fair
Pompeii came last night. Probably no
more magnificent. yet terrifying specta
Gle has even been witnessed this side Of
the Atlantic. 1t was long after dark,
when belated people were returning
from work to their homes in the south
ern suburbs along the elevated road, ia
miliar To hundreds Of thousands Of
Worlds Fair visitors. there was noticed
constantly enlarging column Of fire
and smoke ascending skyward in the
east The Worlds FAR is on fire. was
the cry. and few indeed Of the fascin-
ated watchers from the train windows
alighted until the famous terminal was
reached.
Directly past the scene Of the fright
ful fire Of the cold storage warehouse
hundreds Of spectators hurried from the
the train into the celebrated court 81
honor. suddenly the coniiagration came
in full view. whirlwinds Of blazing en-
bers being carried from the end of the
court IL honor farthest from the admin
stration building, high over the roof OF
The mammoth liberal arts building. the
largest structure on earth. The great
golden statue Of the republic could he
seen lifting Ter liberty cap detiantly
aloft through the clouds 81 smoke and
games.
The fire had been burning less than
an hour when the thunderous crash of
falling timber and a tremendous shout
from TIE crowd announced the fall Of
the prristylc \ moment later terrific
. sell from the crowd told that the liberal
I arts building was on fire
An incident marked the destruction
u the peristyle. One of the ladders
+ bearing mp coup II tircmcn fell with
the column. ard one 90 the heroic fire
men went down to death. while mum
ber Of others suffered injuries more oI
less severe.
The tire started ~ the Casino. Just
east of the agricultural building and
south of the peristylc The Casino was
as guIraiy dcvourrA and the flames
surred north pn top ~ the peristy le auc
dropping ciudcrs, madr a second line o
fire NJ the base ~ the column. Tn,
flames thtu -praug through the musl,
hall. which corresponds at the north {,
the pcristylc and to the Casino at th'
south.
The origin Of the tire is said To hav,
been revenge on the part Of a couple o
tramps \ solitary guard in the musit
hall said that Just before the flame
broke out he kicked two yagabonds on
81 the building They left in the direc
tion uf the Casino. and soon after tina
the fire broke out aud terror and conf q
sion ensued Fears Of looting added t
the horrors u the scene.
Ii is possible that the loss will b
100000 by fire in the manufacturer,
building alone. At 10 o'clock the au
thorities began TO realize that larg
element in the crowd was composed G
idlers. who IL once started in lawless
ness would be difficult To control. Sue
preparations as could be hurriedly mad
were set in motion to remove the good
and guard other buildings. but all sue
efforts we're mere child's play. The utts
hupelessness Of such attempts on shol
notice was made apparent at once. tn
few officers on guard could do nothin
+, more than hope the flames would
speedily stayed.
The spectators at this time. partly {,
safety and to prevent wholesale robbel
OF exhibits. were driven back by II
police and lined up against the electri
i'y building. Here they could see gre,
blazing fragments drop upon the exhi
its below. crushing and burninfl the e
quisite French section and threatenir
. to destroy the Eastern and British Sc
tions. BY this time fire boats and e
gines succeeded in subduing the fam
in the ashes Of the peristyle, and on Il
lower southeast side of the liberal ar
building and hopes were entertained tn
the fire was subdued but shortly aft
IL o'clock the flames got beyond cont
!. upon the promenade Of the arts buildil
and the main aisle OF the building
came mass Of flames.
The opinion seemed to be general tn
the loss by water was even greater tn
that by fire. Federal officers put {
loss. il the fire does not spread beyo
the. liberal arts building. at slOOOO
On the other hand estimates by peoI
connected with the local directory ma
the highest figures $4,000.
About lO;45 "A great iron arch GA