Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-01-09
SMOKING RUINS.
The Famous White City Falls Vic.
tim to the PitiIess Fiames-A
Gloomy Spectacle.

tim to the PItiIess Flames-A
| Gloomy Spectacle.
Chicago, Jan. 9.-Last nights fire in
the Worlds fair grounds has produced
greater changes in the appearance of
Chicago's famous pleasure park than it
was expected would be caused by six
months of building wrecking. The
gloomy sight of vacant buildings and
almost deserted drive ways, since the
gates closed, added to the spectacle
of smoking and blackened heaps of
debris.
The casino, where thousands spent de-
ljghtful hours Watching gay scenes upon
and about the grand basin, was wholly
destroyed. OF the peristyle, once illu-
minated by thousands of incandescent
lights and Greek fire and furnishing end
less enjoyment, nothing remains. Its
arches were burned away and It's stately
columns, half burned and charred, lie in
confused masses upon the brick pro-
nenade which surrounds it. The colossal
figures which surrounded it fell to the
ground when their supports were burned
Columbus and his heralds, with their
war horses and chariots, are unrecogniz-
able among the mass of ruins. Music
hall likewise is melancholy heap of
ashes and every where twisted iron gir-
ders protude. Not a portion of it was
saved from the flames.
All about the walks are strewn with
debris and charred brands, which the
wind blew from the burning buildings,
and little piles of white ashes where some
of the brands were consumed after fall
ing.
Manufacturers building, both within
and without, presents sight not desired
either by artist or exhibitor. The lattice
work between the top of the roof and
curved dome covering the central aisle on
the east side, were burned away from the
point above the southern end of the
United States sections south to the one
above the Russian section on the west
side. The burned portion of the similar
lattice work extends over tho British sec-
tion to little beyond the south extre-
nifty of the German pavilion. Upon the
tin and glass arched roof lie half burned
boards, which formed part of the lattice
and which when loosened by the fire slid
downward.
SAD HAVOC.
Inside the building the appearance is
worse than upon the roof. Within the
region burned over and for some distance
on either side the floor was covered with
water. Standing in water, which in some
places was two inches in depth, are in
numberable boxes containing precious
wares, all boxed and bound for reship-
ment as soon as they could be released
from bond. Upon and about them lay
the now destroyed decorations of the
pavilions.
The French, Belgium and English sec
tions suffered most and in spaces occu-
| pied by them are to be seen the most dis
astrous results.
The scene in the Manufacturers build
ing was of absorbent interest. The ex-
hibitors were anxious to find out their
losses and move their cases out of the
water and debris, and have engaged addi-
! tiohal help. Laborers were busy with
sweeping away ashes and wheeling huge
boxes into other sections or loading them
on wagons for removal.
Chief Allison was on the ground to as
certain the extent of damage done to his
department and to give necessary instruc-
tions to his employees.
The work of ascertalning as far as pos
sible the extent of the damage done to
exhibits began at once. Many will have
to be opened and the contents repacked.
Through the ice in the aisles of the build
firemen and employees are mingling in
apparent confusion but all working to-
ward the restoration of order.
1t was 1928 O'Clock this morning when
the fire, though still unextinguished from
a layman's point of view, was formally
''struck out" The alarm from Manu-
facture's building was sent in at 1925
O'Clock on the preceding evening, making
a record of fire of four minutes more
| than six hours after the final signal was
sent out
| With the transfer of the property to
the South Park commissioners, the poll
cies were allowed to expire, and hence
last nights loss, so far as buildings are
concerned, is total and falls directly
upon the representative of the city of
Chicago and the South Park commits
sicners. The Manufacturers building cost
originally $1,7OO,OOO; music hall, $2,-
OO0, 600: Casino 100000 and the peris-
lyle about 100000.
The French exhibition in the Liberal
arts building, which was the first to sue
cumb to the flames and where the OBJ
struction is worst, was originally valued
at $1,5O0,0OO. Among more notable
French losses enumerated was the Bronze
statute Of War.
SERIOUS MATTER.
Washington.-The exhibitors whose
effects were destroyed by fire in, the
Worlds fair buildings at Chicago will
J have TO stand what loss has occurred to
them by such destruction unless they
bring action in the courts to show that
there,was criminal negligence or compli-
city on the part of the exposition officials
Eheg government is not responsible for
the safety of goods in bonded warehouses
which are established for the conv enience
OF importers, but when merchandise
stored therein is destroyed it RENTS the
duties which otherwise would have to be
paid on such goods. The customs condi-
tion of the Worlds fair building was to
have expired at the end of December, but
owing to the fact that such large numbers
of exhibits had not been removed was
extended until further orders.