The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-11-20
Handsome Missouri Building
 is Totally Destroyed
FLAMES WERE SPECTACULAR
Two Persons Are Overcome By Smoke In the Building While Attempt
 Ing to Recover
 ValuabIes.

St Louis, Npyesnber 19.-The Missouri state building was destroyed by fire to- day. resulting from the explosion of the hot water heater in the basement.
 The flames shot up through the rotunda, and the north wing and cupolo were a mass of flames within ten minutes after the explosion. The principal loss is in the contents of the building. It contained thousands of dollars worth of furnish ings, the most valuable of which were portraits of all former Missouri gover- nors.
 The fire was spectacular. Thousands of persons hurried from all portions of the grounds attracted by the flames that spurted from the top of the eupolos, mak- ing far greater brilliancy than the il- luminaton used for all the buildings. A wind was blowing from the south, and the flames shot down the northern side of the cupolo' and met sheet of flame which enveloped the northern wing. The build ing was soon afiame from top to bottom in the northern half Sparks were carried over the United States government build ing, and as far as the liberal arts pal- ace. Bucket brigades were hurried to the roofs of these buildings to prevent ig- milton.
 Meantime from all quarters of the grounds the fire department had re- atus from the city. Salvage companies were formed by both Jefferson guards and the worlds fair visitors, and as much property as could be secured with in a few momonts was carried into the Louisiana state pavilion, adjacent.
 Eight Streams Have Little Effect.
 Eight streams of water poured into the burning building with apparently little effect, the fire steadily eating it's way until only a portion of the south wing was left standing.
 M. T. Davis, president of the Missouri worlds fair commission. was in the building when the explosion occurred.
 ''The fire seemed to rise in an instant" he said. T seized a few things and ran through the building sounding the alarm The buildings with all its furnishings cost In the neighborhood of $224,O There was not one dollar of insurance If we had endeavored to sell the build ing we could not probably have raised more than $5O,OOO"
 Mrs Bell Small. one of the hostesses, rushed into her apartments in the build ing to secure some valuables. A fireman found her lying on the floor overcome with smoke. Placing a wet handker- chief over her face he carried her into the open air where she was revived
 J. P. Nixon of Lebanon, Mo-, an at tache of the building was overcome by smoke while securing some property. He also was rescued by a fireman and was carried in an unconscious condition to the Wisconsin building where he was revived.
 One Man Is Killed.
 After the flames were under control and had been sufficiently extinguished to admit the firemen entering the build ing, the south wall fell and buried Lloyd Randolph, driver of a fire engine, and Frank O'Connor, another fireman. Sev- eral escaped by a small margin.
 Several streams of water were directed upon the debris covering the men, and they were rescued before the fire spread to NASic tiey were tHlOlHDtus IL ID thought that Randolph is fatally injurd
 Four hours after the fire was discovered Chief Swinglety of the fire department announced that the fire was extinguished. Small pillars of smoke continued to rise from the ruins and embers that marked the site of Missouri's Worlds Fair pa- tilion.
 While responding to the fire Captain ONeill of Worlds Fair fire truck No. 4 was seriously hurt, George Garbenbach was killed and Jerry Pagan of the same company was probably fatally injured. It was necessary for the truck to pass through the mining gulch, and owing to darkness the horses left the road They separated when approaching large tree. the pole striking the obstruction with terrific force, upsetting the truck