The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-07-06
FIREMEN ARE LOST.
Believed to Have Perished In a Worlds
Fair Blaze.
Big Buildings Are in Ruins-Fire
Burned Furiously and Soon Got
Beyond Control.
BIZ The Associated Press.

CHICAGO, July 6-All the main build
inRs of the Worlds fair. except the hortl-
cultural building. the womsn's building,
the art palace. the machinery hall and
the United States government building.
were almost entirely burned last night.
They were the property Of the Colum bian
Exposition Salvage company. and had
been purchased from the exposition COM
pany for about $4,000
The fre was discovered by several boys
In the southwestern corner of the first
floors of the terminal station. When
first seen IL was but an incpient blaze.
and tho boys endeavored to stamp It out
for several minutes. They were unsuc-
cessful, however, as the fierce gale which
was then blowing from the southwest
famed the fire, and before 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.
Quick Work OF the Flames.
The first alarm was followed by 311
call. and this by q special call for the en-
Rines. BY the time that the first detach-
ments of engines was fully at work. the
terminal station was a mass of flames,
and the fire had leaped across to the ad-
ininistration building In 10 minutes the
dome OF this beautiful structure fell with
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 a few minutes IL was en-
veloped in flames, and at 7:10 o'clock the
glass roof collapsed and the iron frame
work OF the structure fell In.
At 7:15 o'clock the east end of the mines
and mining building fell in, and the
flames became SO fierce that the engine
companies stationed between the electric
ity and mines and mining buildings had
to fly for their lives
The firemen OF engine company No.
were compelled to abandon their engine.
and had TO cut the horses from the traces.
One CT the animals succeeded In getting
away, but the other was suffocated. Sew
eral hundred feet OF hose were also
burned.
The fire was communicated almost 81.
multaneously to the transportation, the
manufacturers' and the agricultural
buildings. BY hard work, however, the
fremen succeeded In saving the greater
part OF the transportation building, but
the other two buildings were soon envel-
oped In flames, aud by a,1ao,cloek the last
OF the frame work Of each had fallen in.
Firenghters Bafiicd.
When the fremen first reached the spot
IN engine company was detailed to pre-
vent the fire from com ommunicating with
machinery hall. For some time the effort |
was su ccessful, but with the four immen
structures, the terminal building, the |
electricity and the mines and minerals |
buildings and the administration build |
ing on fire at the same time the heat be- |
came so intense that machinery hall was |
abandoned also.
The direction of the wind, however,
being away from the building, enabled
The firemen to save part of it. An un-
known man was burned to death. He
with companion was standing upon one
'f the conduits through which power
was transmitted from the electrical build.
ng to the MacMonnie's fountain. The
roof OF the conduit whic was burning
inside caved IT,. letting both men into the
lanes. One OF N was burned to death.
md the other badly burned that he
nay die. Both were bookkeepers for
Field, and were present as spec
ators.
Engine No. 10 and fve OF the crew are
Missing, and 1t is reported that they have
'een burned to death. Hook and ladder
70. l3 and all the members Of the COM
any are also missing.
The fire is believed to be Of inesndiary
riGin.