Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-12-30

Chicago Dec. 26.-Fire Friday night
destroyed the Coliseum building,
Sixty-third street and Stony Island
avenue, in which the democratic ma
tiOnal convention was held last year.
The fire was one of the quickest ever
seen in Chicago. From the time
when the fire originated by the cross
ing of two electric wires until the
Coliseum was a pile of twisted iron
and hot bricks was not over 20 min
utes. The building had been rented
for an exhibition Of the Manufacture
ers' exposition and was filled from
end to end with booths, all of which
were destroyed with all Of their con-
tents. 1t is supposed that a num-
Der Of people were lost in the flames,
and although no bodies have as yet
Eeen recovered the following people
are missing and undoubtedly persisted:
Two unknown women, dancers in
the midway exhibit, seen in the build
ing just before the collapse.
Two unknown men, seen in the cen
ter Of the building during the fire by
firemen.
Howard Geyser and Joseph Brynes,
decorators; Geyser and Byrnes were
decorating one of the booths in the
talcony when the fire broke out. The
manager of the exhibit ran to the
both and called to the men that the
place was Oh fire and for them to save
themselves They were apparently in
no hurry and the last seen of them
they were still at work. 1t is thought
that they are both lost.
The injured are: Peter Foote,
Waterman, burned about the face and
hands; Harry Parker, slightly burned;
C. A. Lyons, slightly burned; Mrs.
C. A. Lyons, severely burned; M.
J. Morley, lacerated by the explosion
Oh Crookes tubes used in an X-ray
exhibit and burned about the head;
William Robertson, face and hands
burned; M. J. Wheeler, Waterman,
hands burned; James Maher, fireman,
burned while cutting live wires; Rob
ert Harley, fireman, severely bruised
by debris during a collapse Of the
walls; Miss Helen Conover, shocked by
live wire and severely burned right
arm. George E. Leekreke, proprietor
streets of Cairo exhibit, jumped from
window Of burning building and was
severely bruised; Louis Weiss, jani-
~, burned about the face and hands;
rank Murphy, severely burned;
fairy Hamilton, burned about the
face; W. H. Wright, burned about
the arms; Eugene Duggan, burned
about the head and side.
The Coliseum cost s25O,O00 and it
was as large as the Madison Square
Garden building in New York. 1t had
a floor space of seven acres, including
the ground floor and galleries and was
IT'S feet long and 300 wide. On Aug
ust 2, 1895, the first Coliseum, then
in course of construction, was wrecked,
entailing loss of S125,000. The
cause OF the collapse has never been
known but it was thought that the last
arch was not placed in position cor
rectly. Six hundred men had been
working on the building up to a half
an hour before the collapse. After
the collapse the first building plans
were reorawn for new building and
it was constructed and opened to the
public June 1, 1896. Its area was only
equaled in extent by that Of the Ro-
man Coliseum. The building was in
sured for $4,000.
The total loss Of the building and
contents is said to be $478,000. OF
this amount $350,000 was the value of
the building and s12S.O00 the estimated
cost of exhibits and material in the
exposition in progress in the building.
While responding to the alarm Of
fire from the Coliseum Engine Com
pany No. 19 collided with a passenger
train on the Lake Shore road, smash
ing the engine badly. Only two fire
men, Albert Chamberlain and William
were injured, however. The
accident occurred at Fortyfrst street
and Cottage Grove avenue. The hose
cart was ahead Of the fire engine and
close upon the tracks when the watch
man was letting down the gates for
the approaching train. Before the
driver could stop his horses they
crashed into the gate breaking it
down. The Waterman seeing that I'M
less the other gate was opened the cart
would certainly be run down, opened
it letting the cart cut # danger. The
driver on the engine which was close
behind, thought from the raising Of the
far side gate that the way was clear
and urging his horses dashed on the
tracks. The train was there before he
was. however, and he drove squarely
before the rapidly moving train. All
Of the fremen were thrown from their
seats and all pYeant rhomhorIoin ond