The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-12-26
Practically Certain That Only One
Man Was Killed.
SOME THRILLING ESCAPES
EXPERIENCE OF THE ARMENIAN
IN CAIRO EXHIBIT.
The Building Is a Total Loss-Inter-
view With President of the Com
pany = Chicago Laughed at the
Project at First-Permanent Bull
ding Talked Of.

Chicago, Dec. 25.-The fire which last
evening destroyed the Coliseum at
Sixty-third street and Stony Island
avenue, claimed only one victim. He
was N. H. Johnson, whose charred re-
mains We're recovered from the ruins
today. Johnson was a fireman, en-
ployed about the building. He had
evidently remained at his post until
the last moment. Then he rushed
toward an exit. Within few feet of
the door an immense piece of glass
fell from the roof, pinioning him TO
the earth, while the flames slowly
smothered him. 1t is practically GER
tain that Johnson was the only person
killed, but a thorough search of the
ruins is being carried out. Those who
were reported missing last night, re-
turned to their homes today. Most of
them had narrow escapes from death.
ARMENIAN's EXPERIENCE.
Sho1an Hufian, the Armenian who
was employed in the streets of Cairo
exhibit, and who was thought to have
been killed, returned to his hotel this
afternoon, after having wandered
about the city all night He said that
in trying to escape from the burning
building, he ran to the wagon exit.
When he finally reached the open air
he had inhaled so much smoke that
delirium set in, and he wandered about
the streets all night. The fresh air
finally revived him, and he appeared
at the Coliseum this afternoon.
A TOTAL LOSS.
Shortly after the fire Colonel John T.
Dickinson, president of the Coliseum,
was seen. He said:
1.-The building is total loss, and
there is little prospect that any attempt
at rebuilding will be made. There
was 100000 insurance on the building,
which is just sufficient to cover the
bonds The Coliseum company was
bonded for 100000. The building had
proved a success every way. The ex-
pectations of the building had been
fully realized, even surpassed.
SOUND JUDGMENT.
when we started out to spend $780,
600 in an exhibition building out here
in Woodlawn, we were laughed at by
many, but the result has proved that
our judgment was sound However,
times have changed, even during the
last two years, and in my opinion there
should not be an effort made to re-
build the Coliseum, but, on the con-
trary united effort should be made
to push forward the plans that. have
been prepared for the erection of a
splendid exhibition palace on the Lake
Front. Chicago must have a large
building that can be used for all man
ner of gigantic amusements. The Coli
scum has been swept away, and the
city is absolutely without anything
that answers the purpose of an exhibit
ton building.
STIR UP CHICAGO.
while the destruction of the Coli
scum is great personal loss to many
and also great loss to the city, l be-
lieve it will result in stirring up the
people in the matter of a permanent
exhibition building. Since the building
was opened it has been used 10 nights,
and has brought in something like
$4,000 revenue. All of this money
had been put into the building, and
the stockholders haye never received
a cent of returns on their investment"
STOCKHOLDERS.
Among the principal Coliseum stock
holders are:
Continental bank, $4,000; A. O.
Oughyton, $4,000; J. Irving Pearce,
$4,000; Illinois Central railroad, S25, 900;
Chicago City Railway company, $4,000;
j. b. Worth, l2,OO0; l.. 4. Letter, $l2,-
600; John Dickinson. $4,000; d. w. Nc
Kay, $4,000; B. Lechter, $4,000; Carl
Binder $4,000; F. w. Schultz, $4,000;
A. H. Buehler $4,000.
The 100000 worth of bonds were
held principally by the Illinois Central
Railroad company and the Alley IL"
]. Irving Pearce, the owner of the
grounds upon which the Coliseum
stood, was also g. large holder Of the
bonds. The bonds are amply secured
by the insurance.
The officers of the Coliseum are:
President, John T. Dickson; vice. presi-
dent, Carl Binder; treasurer, F. w.
Shuttle.