The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-01-10

play. Ine utter nODEleSSnSSS VI SUN at
tempts on such short notice were made
apparent at once. The few officers on
guard could hardly do more than shut
their eyes and grit their teeth, hoping
against hope that the flames would
speedily be stayed.
Driving Back the Spectators.
The spectators at this time, partly to
guard their lives and prevent whole
sale robbery of the exhibits, had been
largely driven by the police eastward
over the bridges from the lake and lined
up in a solid mass against the electricity
building,
Here they could see believing out
handfuls of the roof and great blazing
fragments dropping down upon the ex-
hibits below. Through the glass roof
and buildings could be seen pieces fall
ing like powders in an avalanche, crush
ing and burning the exquisite French
section and threatening to destroy the
Russian and British sections.
The fire boats and engines on the lake
side had by this time subdued the flames
In the ashes Of the peristyle and in the
lower eollonade OF the southwest side Of
the liberal arts building and hopes were
raised that the fire had been subdued,
but shortly after 11:15 p. IN. the flames
got beyond control away up on the top
promenade of the liberal arts building
and the main aisle of the building was
mass Of flames arising from the blazing
brands which came from above
RemOrselessIy the fire was hurting
itself through the inteTstiees Of the big
iron arches at the dizzy nights above.
The flames wound, boa constructor fash
ion, in and around the mammoth electric
light eOFonas suspended from the roof.
Below these fearful circles Of iron, likely
to drop at any moment, no man dared to
he.
In a hundred feet. Frantic horses with
heaVily-loaded trucks were piunging
through the aisles not encumbered with
wreckage or drenched with the falling
cataracts OF water, most of which fell
far short Of the topmost flames.
The clouds Of smoke and vapor that
every moment or two shut out the view
of the fire in the roof were colored in the
most fantastic fashion, running from
green violet to vivid scarlet Just what
caused the extraordinary views none
seemed TO know. Guesses were that the
dyestuffs and chemicals in the exhibits
crowned in water were the origin.
The Loss.
Opinions seemed 10 be general that
the loss by water would be even greater
than that by fire. The federal officials
put the maximum loss, if the fire does
not spread beyond the liberal arts build
ing. at 81, 600, ,OOO On the other hand. the
estimates made by the people connected
with the local directory made the high
est hgures only $l5O,0O0 in the liberal
arts building.
About 1O:45 great iron arch gave
way directly above the French wares
and falling heavily. buried them beneath
the burning pile and they were aban-
doned. Back OF the French was the
japanese exhibit. and about il clustered
q son rod orel fvatr4 To.
This, like many exhibits, has not been
released from bond. and the goods
could not be taken from the building.
Under the direction Of some Japanese
officials the wares We're carted to the
doors and there they stood guarded by
the natives Of the fowery kingdom.
who sOrrowfuliy awaited the destruction
that seemed inevitable. All of the Amer
lean exhibits had long ago been removed
but the formalities of the custom
house had detained the goods of the
foreigners.
The Sacrifice of Wealth.
superintendent Graham Of the manu-
facturers' building said it would be
weeks before a schedule of the damages
could be prepared. 1T can hardly be
overestimated," said MIR. Graham. 1T
IS an awful sacrifice of wealth. | have
feared this ever since the fair was closed
dreamed
All through the great structure frantic
exhibitors rushed seeking the safety of
their goods. Our hands are tied" said
the building. We must stand idly bv
and see them burned. We can do moth
ing"
The fire department fought with en-
ergy and skill. but the conditions were
al against success. A fierce wind came
over the lake. fiinging fiery embers
everywhere and tanning the flames into
fierce life with every moment. Huge
billows Of flame rolled northward over
the great glass roof, being manfully COM
batted by the men upon the roof. who
were handicapped. however, by the lack
OF water. A heroic effort was made to
get streams TO the top OF the giant
structure. for the only apparent saliva
ton OF the structure lay in getting men
upon the encircling promenade and pour
ing streams into the furnace below. But
the water supply was fearfully made
quate. Time and agin the streams were
cut on almost entirely. Scattered
throughout the fair grounds are hy-
drants from which the supply was to
be drawn, but they We're insufficient in
an hour Of need. Finding that it was
impossible 10 reach the roof, the chief
ordered his engines into the building.
With changing gOngs and clatter Of
hoOfs, steamer after steamer ratified
through the smoke down the fire-lit
aisles until the center Of the building
was reached.
Retreat of the Engines.
They Were ranged about the burning
heaps Of merchandise and the last strug-
gle Of the firemen was taken up.
Streams of water were hurled upon the
blaze, but with little effect.
From above a frey hail of embers
poured down upon the fremen, the
heaps Of blazing merchandise grew more
and more numerous and foot by foot
the engines were forced back toward
the other end Of the building. Now and
then a blaze would break forth In a new
place. AS the shouts arose, telling of a
new stand Of the insidious enemy, pipemen
were hurried in the direction Of the fresh
danger and with the eXtinguishing OF
the blaze rushed back again to the bat
tie over the exhibits. About the manu-
factures' building cordons of policemen
were stationed and groups of blue coats
guarded every entrance. But the eager
crowds which thronged over the bridges
and crushed about the walls Of the blaz-
ing piles could not be stopped i'm their
course and thousands gained admittance
TO the building. They thronged every
aisle and crowded every passageway and
pushed forward to be thrust back time
after time by the officers on guard.
Little Hope for the Big Building.
ST can see little hope Of saving the
manufactures building" said Superin-
tendent Graham shortly after midnight.
"for all 1 can see Of the great structure
will by morning. be a mass of snoIxfpp