The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-08-15
Bic EXPOSITION
LIES IN ASHES
Great White City of Brussels
Worlds Fair Practically
Destroyed.
ONE HUNDRED MILLIONS
ESTIMATE OF THE LOSSES
Two Known to Be Dead and
Many Injured in All-Con-
suming COnfagratiOn.

BRUSSELS, Aug 14.-Fire swept the
great Belgian exposition tonight The
flames were famed by a high wind and
soon destroyed the Belgian, English and
French section. 1t is believed the whole
exposition will he destroyed. Two are
known to be read and scores were in
jured.
The White City OF the Worlds Fair
as the BeIgIans have called their 1910
exposition, is tonight mass OF flames
and smodering ruins, A spark falling
into innammable material in the tele-
graph building burst up in flames. which
driven by a high wind, swept rapidly In
all directions.
Soon the Belgian. English and French
sections were destroyed. The hremer
and detachments OF soldiers called TO the
scene found themselves baffled by the
gale, which carried tho burning embers
to all parts OF the grounds The loss
is estimated at sl00. .0o0.0 900.
Crowds Are Panic-Stricken.
To the left of the main building rose
the picturesque roofs and spires OF
Bruzelles Kcrmcsz. Belgian Concy
Island, with water chutes, toooggap slides
and scores Of side shows. This place was
alive with Sunday crowds and before
they could be gotten out with any semi
blance OF order the Kcrmesz was anTe,
The crowds became panic stricken and
mon, women and children fought mahly
TO escape. The exits became cboked With
the struggling masses and men used their
fists to clear the pathway. Many were
trampled under foot and badly injured.
An engine corps from Antwerp at
tempted to dynamite the buildings In the
French section in the hope OF checking
the fire. but the flames leaped across ana
eugulfed the Italian. Russian, Austrian.
Japnuese, Chinese and Norwegian build
ings. Forty houses on the Avenue Sol
boch, adjoining the exposition, were de-
stToyed.
Al the time OF the outbreak, not less
than 100. .O00 persons were circulating In
tho grounds and the KermcsZ. Troops
were ordered out and came at double
quick to aid the police in clearing the
great grounds. This was accomplished
in fair order. except within the limits OF
the Kermcsz. where the vast crowds be
came entangled in an almost ipexlric-
able mass, lighting desperately to ind an
escape from the flames which swept Wig
orousiy through the t!nder-like struc-
lures.
Few Lose Lives.
Soon the enormous facade tumbled in
ruins. Considering the mpidity of the
coniiagration. the small loss of life is
marvellous So far as Is known UP 10 .
late hour tonight only two are dead.
number 80. but probably many hundreds
received minor hurts
As the flames reached the menaGerlc
~ was deClncd 10 snopt inc pcsSts, Dut
the heat drove back the soldiers. and the
animals were left to their fate. The mul-
titudc OF people were driven back To
safe distance and watched the thrilling
spectacle OF the destruction OF the white
city. Tongues OF fire mounted high into
the heavens and flaming embcrs were
carried off by the wind and fell upon
the residences beyond, setting them on
fire.
The fire finally was got under con
troll The Belgian and English sections
are In ruins. while all the other sections.
including the American, were partly de-
stroycd
Bands Of thieves engaged In pi1lagc.
and n soldier WAS stabbed while attempt
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