Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-25
BIG BUILDING GONE.
Chicago Coliseum Falls a Victim to
Flame.
4 NUMBER OF LIVES LOST,
Al Least Six Persons Known 10 HaYe
PeTiShed.
EIGHTEEN OR MORE PEOPLE INJURED.
EIGHTEEN OR MORE PEOPLE INJURED.
Some Of Them Severely Burned or
Otherwise Seriously Hurt.
coNFLAGRATIoN VERY RAPID.
Twenty Minutes After Origin of
I,trc. the Great Structure, In which
,,c Inst Democratic National Com
xcption Met, Was u Ruin.

1. n
third street and Stoney Island avenue, in
which the Democratic National Conven-
zion was held last year The fire was
ono Of the quickest ever seen in Chicago.
From the time when IL was originated
nv the crossing OF two electric-hght
wires. until the Coliseum was pile of
twisted iron and hot bricks, was not over
7s.miputes. The building had been rented
f,r a manufacturers exhibition, and was
filled from end TO end with booths all
NJ which were destroyed. with all Of
,bcir contents. 1t is supposed that a
number Of people were lost in the flames,
and all the ruins have been searched for
pcople missing No bodies have been
recovered. but the following people were
undoubtedly lost;
TWO WOMEN DANCERS IN THE
MIDWAY EXHIBIT. Seen in the build
ing lust before it collapsed.
TWO MEN. seen in the centre Of the
building during the fire by fremen.
L. LADANYI AND HIS son, who con-
Quoted a sausage booth in the building.
T.gdanyi entered the structure during the
fire 10 search for his son. who he de-
cIared. was penned in by the flames, and
ne has not since been seen. The father
and son both lived az the Columbian Cen
tral apartment building.
The injured:
PETER FUTZ. watchman, burned about
the face and hands.
HARRY PARKER. New York city;
slightly burned.
C. A. YONS. New York; slightly burned
Mrs. c. A. YONS, slightly burned.
Mrs. BURLEY, burned about the head.
WILLIAM ROBERTSON, face and
hands burned.
NJ. J. WHEELER, watchman; hands
burned.
JAMES. .MAHER, fireman; burned while
cutting a live wire with pair Of shears.
ROBERT HARLEY, fireman; severely
bruised by debris during the collapse OF
a wall Of the building.
Miss HELEN CONGER. shocked by live
wire and severely burned about the right
arm.
GEORGE DEKREKO, proprietor of the
Streets OF Caro- exhibit; jumped from
window Of the burning building and was
severely burned.
LOUIS WEISS. janitor; burned about
the face and hands.
FRANK MURPHY, of St. Louis;
severely burned.
HARRY HAMILTON, burned about the
face.
w. H. WRIGHT burned about the
arms.
WILLIAM ALLABY, fireman; thrown
from a fre-engine in a collision with
Lake Shore train at Cottage Grove ave
nue and Forty-irst street; head bruised.
ALBERT CHAMBERLAIN, burned
about the face and hands.
EUGENE DUGGAN, burned about the
left side.
The IRE originated I'm a booth which
was used for an exhibition of N-rays the
booth being managed by NJ. ). Morley
and William Robertson. The two men
were examining their Roentgen machine
when they were startled by a sizzling
noise behind them and upon turning
saw a part Of their exhibit aoiaze'
Crossed electric wires which were over
the exhibit are thought 10 have caused
the flame. They at first tried 10 smoIheI
the flames. but before they secured water
and cloth. the fire had spread throughout
the entire booth.
ner would be unable TO cope with the
flames. then made an endeayOr 10 save
some OF the most valuable Of the exhibits
Running 10 the machine, he grasped two
Crooke tubes. and then with Robertson
began fghting his way out Of the build
ing. Before he reached an exit the tubes
which ne held I'm both his hands eN-
ploded from the heat, severely lacerating
his hands. His hair also caught fire, and
he was severely burned about the head.
Robertson was burned about the face.
RUSH FOR SAFETY.
About three hundred people were in the
building at the time of the fire, ana at
the first alarm there was rush TOT
safety Fortunately, the aisles were
wide, and owing TO the comparatively
small number Of people in the bullolns
there was little difficulty in reaching the
doors. Most of those endeavoring TO es-
cape ran TO large door on the east sioe
Of the building. which is wide enough 70
admit a team OF horses and wagon. a
crowd Of fully 200 people gathered pe-
fore this door. which was found 10 be
locked. and as the fire was roaring
through the building with great speed
IL seemed for a few minutes as thoush
none OF these would be able 10 escape
W. j. Wheeler. a watchman, saw the
trouble and ran TO open the door pu'
the crowd was packed In front OF II 80
closely that ne had great difhcui'y III
getting II open. once 1t had swung
wide. however. the crowd was ih the
open air In a few seconds.
During the jam at this point seVerai
people were badly crushed, but none
were seriously injured
The balance OF the people made thelr
way through the other doors, and seVe-
raI who were caught In the balcony were
compelled TO jump TO the ground from
she roof The balcony was lined with
windows that swung outwards, ana the
people who were caught there. had no
trouble IN getting upon the roof, whence
they leaped 10 the ground.
The hremen were at hand before an oil
the people were out. and before tney
made any effort TO fight the flames they
devoted their attention 10 clearing Inc
hall OF the people. by the time they
were ready 10 pour water on the hre IL
was useless TO do anything as the fire
spread with such rapidity that there was
no chance whatever Of saving the build
ing after II had once got beyond the
control
Within ten minutes after the flre De-
gan the roof was ablaze and In very
short time after the fire had appeared
on the top OF the building one OF the
large arches that spanned the building
gave way with a tremendous report and
then another ana another, each one gong
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