The Chipley banner. (Chipley, Washington County, Fla.) 1893-1943, 1900-04-14
FIRE DESTROYS
AUDITORIUM
Meeting Place For Democratic
Convention Reduced to Ashes.
WILL Be REBUILT At ONCE.
Subscriptions Taken While Hall
Was Burnlng--Adjacent Prop.
erty Also Annihilated.

Convention hall, Kansas City's pride.
wherein the Democratic national con-
vention was to have been held on July
4th. WAS laid in ruins in less than
thirty minutes time Wednesday after
noon. from the time that it started,
from an unknown source at / O'Clock.
The fire burned with such fury that
1t was evident almost from the start
that the structure was doomed, and
the fremen soon turned their atten.
ton to saving surrounding property.
A stiff breeze was blowing and be.
fore the fire was subdued at 2:l6
o'clock the Second Presbyterian
church, one Of the finest edihoes in
the city; the church parsonage, the
Lathrop public school. two.story.
thirteen.room building, all situated
across the way on Central street, and
. half block Of three story fat build
ings on Twelfth street, were rendered
Q total loss.
Several residences were damaged TO
greater or less degree, and for .
time 1t was feared that several blocks
Of buildings in the residence district
would go.
The aggregate loss is $500. 900, APP
portioned as follows:
Convention hall, s235,0OO, insur.
ance $155, 900; church, $4,000, in.
sured; parsonage, $4,000, insured;
school, $4,000, insurance $40, 400;
Williamson block, Twelfth street,
$50, 900, insurance 846, 900.
Plans are on foot to rebuild Con-
vention hall Immediately, and make It
ready for the Democratic National
Convention in July. While the fire
was still in progress members Of the
Commercial club, through whose ef.
forts the hall was conceived and built,
mingled in the crowd Of spectators
and began soliciting funds for a new
structure.
During the evening $4,000 had
been subscribed, and Secretary Glen
denning of the club, called a mass
meeting OF citizens to devise ways and
means OF raising an additional $780,
900. The hall association has SIC, 900
in the bank and will have the 1855, 900
insurance for immediate use, the in
surance companies having spontan.
taneously agreed to waive the sixty
days limit and make settlement on de-
mand.
The Kansas City Lumber Company,
who furn ished four. fifths OF the lum.
Der for the old building, has agreed IA
duplicate their order at once at the
rate in existence two years ago, and
the Minneapolis firm that furnished
the steel Orders for the immense roof
has been telegrsphed to duplicate their
order.
A strong wind carried the flames 10
the Second Presbyterian church on
carpenters and forced thirty.f,s oil
them TO quit work. The present rat,
Of wages is 81 80 per ten.hour day,
The leaders Of the movement demand
cd and eight.hour labor day.
At noon Thursday . mob OF over 10
900 people assembled and attacked tn,
st. Thomas laborers. There were 16(
policemen on duty, but they made nj
attempt to disperse the crowd, and {
company Of infantry was called out Il
preserve order. The crowd was no
violent beyond beating . few men
The agitators we're headed by Santiae
Iglesias, late delegate to the labor COZ
vsntion OF New York.
The leaders from 81. Thomas rsiui
Cd 10 return to work, being afraid {
attack after hours. The workme
who were satisfied and willing TO wor
were forced out BY the so.called unto
leaders, with the result that the nj
tives will not be engaged. The con
pany has cabled to the United STATE
for twenty-five carpenters. They wi
arrive On the next steamer. The pi'
u now protected BY soldiers.