Omaha daily bee., 1897-12-25
Re is CAUSED BY THE ELECTRIC WIRES

etroyed the Coliseum building at Sixty-third
street and Stony Island avenue In which the
democratic uational convention was held last
year. The fire was one of the quickest ever
seen in Chicago From the time when 1t
originated by the crossing OF two electric
light wires, until the Coliseum was pile
OF twisted iron and hot bricks was not over
twenty minutes.
The building had been rented for an ex-
hibition OF a manufacturers 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 number OF peo-
pic were los. in the flames, and although no
bodies have been recovered, the following
people are missing and have undoubtedly
perished
TWO WOMEN dancers in the Midway ex-
hibit seen entering the building just before
it collapsed.
TWO MEN. seen in the center of the build
ing during the fire by fremen.
SOME OF THE WOUNDED.
The injured are:
Peter Foots watchman, burned about the
face and hands.
Harry Parker, New York City, slightly
burned.
G. A. Lyons, New York City, slightly
burned.
Mrs c. A. Lyons severely burned.
NJ. j. Morley, lacerated by explosion OF
Crookes tubes and burned about the head.
william Robertson face and hands burned
NJ j. Wheeler, watchman, hands burned.
James Maser, fireman, burned while cut
ting live wire with a pair of shears.
Robert Harley, fireman, severely bruised
by debris during the collapse of wall of the
building.
Miss Helen Conger, shocked by live wire
and severely burned about right arm.
George Dekreke, proprietor of "Streets of
Cairo exhibit, jumped from window OF
the burning building and was severely
bruised.
Louis Weiss, jantor, burned about the face
and hands
Frank Murphy, St. Louis, severely burned
Harry Hamilton, burned about the face.
w. H. Wright, burned about arms.
Albert Chamberlain, burned and cut on
face and hands.
Eugene Duggan, burned about left side.
Howard Geyser, Wilmington, Del, deco
rator. x;
Joseph Byrnes Hoboken, N. j., decorator.
Geyser and Byrnes were decorating one of
the booths in the balcony when the fire
broke out. The manager of the exhibit ran
to the booth and called to the men that the
place was on fire and for them to save them
selves. They were apparently in no hurry
and the last seen OF them they were still at
work. 1t is thought that they were both
lost.
The fire originated in a booth which was
ased for AN exhibition OF X-rays, the booth
being managed by NJ. J. Morley and William
Robertson. The two men were examining
,tertled by sizzling noise behind them, and
Ipon turning saw part OF their exhibit
tbiaze Crossed electric light wires, which
we're over the exhibit, are thought to have
.aused the fire. They at first tried Ia
smother the flames, but before they secured
water and cloth tne fire had spread through
,ut the entire booth.
Morley. realizing that he and his partner
you'd be unable to cope with the flames. then
made an endeavor to save some of the mos,
valuable OF the X-ray paraphernalia. Run
ming to the mach!oe. he grasped two Crookes
tubes and, with Robertson, began fighting
his way out of the building. Before ne
reached an exit the tubes, which he held ir
both his hands, exploded from the heat
severely decorating his hands. His hair ais
caught fire and he was severely burned abou
the head Robertson was burned about the
face.
CROWD TO THE MAIN EXIT.
About 300 people were in the building al
the time of the fire, and at the first alarm
there was a rush for safety. Fortunately
the aisles we're wide and owing to the com
parativey small number of people in the
building there was little difficulty In reach
ing the doors Most Of those endeavoring t
escape ran to a large door, on the east side
of the building. which Is wide enough to ad
nit team OF horses and wagon.
crowd OF fully 200 people gathered be
fore this door. which was found to be locked
and as the fire roaring through tn,
building with great speed u seemed for
few minutes as though none of those woulC
be able to escape. w, j. Wheeler, a watch
man. saw the trouble, and ran to open tn,
door, but the crowd was packed In front o
Il so closely that the had the greatest diHi
Guilty In opening 1t. Once II swung wide
however. the crowd was In the open air in
few seconds
During the Jam at this point several peo
pie were badly crushed. but none were seri
ousy injured. The balance of the peopl
made their way through the other doors. an
several who were caught In the balcony wer
compelled to Jump to the ground from tn
roof The balcony is lined with window
that swing outward and they had no troubl
In getting up on the roof. and from there tn
leap to the ground was not great
The hremen were at hand before all tn
people were out and before they made al
effort to fight the flames they devoted thei
attention to clearing the hall OF the people
BY the time they were ready to pour waite
on the fire there was no use OF their doln
anything, as the fire spread with sue
AT fhara fha uha
OF saving the building after It had once go
beyond the confines OF the booth IN which
started.