New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-28
TIE CHICAGO COLISEUM FIRE.
WAS IT CAUSED BY A LITTLE DOO7-TIIE sTRUCT
URE NOT Likely TO BE REBuHT.

WAS 1T CA1srD BY A LITTLE DO07-THE STRICT
uRE NOT Likely TO BE REBUILT
Chicago Dec N-The Coliseum. which was
burned on Christmas Eve Is said TO have been
set or fire by pet dog. an explosion OF gasolene
having set the dog on fre. Lolita, a dancer IN
the CUBAN village says that Frank Murphy. an
empoye of the X-ray booth. confessed to her that
he caused the explosion. She SAYS he told this to
her and her mother when he called on them about
the benefit TO be given the exhibitors Lolita said:
Murphy told me to-day how the FIRE started. IL
,yay caused by the expiosioa OF gasoiene in the
X-ray exhibit A big lamp was used to hSht the
booth but It was consd 'red sufficient. and the
manager OF the show sent for a gaso!cne torch
Murphy said a man named Bowen gave the saso-
lene torch the manager. and about e;D
o'clock Murphy carried In hve gallon can oi
gaso.ene. The lamp was burning close Wy
and when Murphy went 10 Nil his gasoiene torch
he was quite near the burning lamp. Morley the
manager II the exhibit. was on ladder almost
over the lamp, arranging the drapery about III"
booth Murphy started to pour the gasolcne into
the tank Of the torch. which had been e1tnguiseu'
but the nuid caught fire and went up In pun
There was n little pet deg In the place connected
with the exhibit. and when tho gasolene exploded
IN. dog WAS covered with the burning oil. The poor
beast rushed around in terror and set nre TO Inc
drapery OF the booth. which hung to the moor
Quicker then a fash the whole trimming OF IN"
booth was on fire the blaze was rising TO the
balcony,
about the booths near by ran and got the eHtih-
euishers but they would not work nose WAS
turned on but they could get no water j. Moraies
n Mexican dancer. warned me 10 get out. ana VIC
Eere tust getting to the doors when The gas 'aih
that supplied the lights for the tght-rope walkers
exploded and the place was mass OF hames.
This story about the origin Of the hre was cor
| roborated by Frank Hatfield the doorkeeper
Murphy when seen denied that the explosion OF
n can of easolcue was the cause OF the hre lie
thought the drapery caught are from c'sa'"''e
Tie origin OF the fire will be thoroughly inves-
tipatc1 by the police and by agents or thc iisui
ance companies and our company VIII 90 an ii lls
nower 10 assist in the investigat on. said Coonri
John T Dickinson. president OF the COLISEUM ON @
nanv 81 do not know yet whether the IRE waS
due 10 the act OF an inccndiary or not aIthoush
am inclined 10 think II was caused by Some acci
dsn, I'm the X-ray picture exhibit ABOUT an
tbat have heard that would Indicate incendidrlsin
bas heen CLEANED from the newspapers. we WIZ
have a meeting OF the Executive Committee 10
n,orrow The subject OF rebuilding VIII douptitss
he considered but from what know or the temper
~ The stockholders | am satisfied that no such
procct will be undertaken by them. Tor, alihoush
he Coliseum bade fair TO be very proh,aoe IN
ves, mcnt those who put money INTO u nave; o,
course lost heavily by its destructlon We nao y,
lust got clear or deot hfo weio III -'''' "'' ~
make money In the future