The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1904-11-24
EXHIBIT BURNS
WORLDS FAIR STRUCTURE ANo
CONTENTS DESTROYED.
MISSOURI BUILDING A WRECK
A Hot Water Heater Exploded and
In Ten Minutes the $4,000
Building Was a Mass Of
Flames-Not Insured.

ST. LOUIS-The Missouri state
building, with all It's exhibits, burned
Saturday evening, The fire resulted
from the explosion Of a hot water
heater in the basement. Instantly the
flames shot up through the rotunda
and the north wing and cupola were
a mass Of flames within ten minutes
after the explosion.
The loss cannot be estimated accu-
rately. owing to the temporary CON
structi1n material which has no sal
wage value. The principal loss is in
the contents Of the building. The
building cost $500 0 and in the
building were furnishings worth $685.
600.
The paintings in the Missouri build
Ing, which included the portraits OF
every governor from the first. except
B. Gratz Brown and Governor Dock
cry, and also the portraits OF the
judges OF the supreme court. were
mostly saved. The collection also in
cluded many works OF the states best
artists for the last twenty-five years.
Governor Browns portrait was not in
the collection because II was so large
it could not be placed. The burned
portraits cannot be replaced.
The fire MAS the most spectacular
that has occurred in st. Louis in
years. Thousands Of persons hurried
from all portions Of the grounds, at
tracted by the sheet Of flame that
spurted from the top Of the cupola.
Sparks were carried over the United
States government building as far
northwest as the Liberal Arts palace.
Bucket brigades were hurried 10 the
roofs Of these buildings.
Meantime from all quarters OF the
grounds the fire departments had re-
sponded and were augmented by APP
paratus from the city department.
Salvage corps were formed by both
Jefferson guards and worlds fair Wis
itors. and as much property as could
be secured within a few moments was
carried into the Louisiana state pa
vilion, adjacent. Eight streams Of
water poured into the burning build
ing with apparently little effect, the
fire steadily eating its way until only
a portion of the south wing was left
standing. NJ. T. Davis. president OF
the worlds fair commission, YVES In
the building when the explosion oc-
Cured.
THE fire seemed to be everywhere
in an instant" he said. Il seized a
few things and ran through the build
ing. giving the alarm. turned to re-
enter the building and saw the flames
shoot up through the center. I real.
lied the building was doomed. The
fire started from the explosion Of a
hot water heater in the basement.
The building as II stood. with all its
furnishings. cost in the n~eighborhood
Of $685. GOO. There vas not one dollar
Of insurance. II we had endeavored
to sell the building we could not prob.
ably have realized more than $4,000
Mrs. Belle Hall Small Of Sedalia.
No, n Of the state ~hostesses. rushed
into her Aartments in the building to
secur some valuables. A fireman
followed her into the smoke and found
her lying on the floor PlRc,
ing a wet handkerchief over her face.
he carried her into the open air
where she was revived.
After the flames were under con,
troll and had been sufficiently extin.
guished To admit the firemen entering
the building, the south wall fell with
out warning and burleS Lloyd Ran
dolph, driver OF city engine No. Is
and Frank O'Connor u city truck No
2 Several others narrowly escaped
Several streams OF water were instant
~ directed upon the debris GOVERNS
the men and they we're rescued betorS
the fire spread to where they wers
entombed. The men were badly
bruised. Randolph II dangerously in
jured.
-Four hours after the fire was dis
covered Chief swingley OF the 81
Louis department announced that th'
fire wa practically extlnguished.
ararLr,rlan. A.. Nd