The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-08-15
Brussels Exhibition Has Big Sunday
Blaze Which Destroys the
Belgian, English and
French Sections.
BURNED LIKE TINDER
Two Persons Killed and Thirty or
More Were Injured in the
Panic in the Great
Crowd.

BRUSSELS, Aug. 15.-Fire started
in the Belgian section OF the interna-
tional exhibition in Brussels last |
evening. The flames spread quickly
to the English and French sections.
which We're soon destroyed. Other
sections were also in flames.
Two were reported killed in panic,
and number Of persons have been in
jured, but thus far it has been impos-
sible to get any definite information
along these lines.
SO far as can be learned the fire
originated while there was the usual
large Sunday crowd outside the build
ing to look at the fire works. 1t seems
that the electric wires leading into
the temporary post office in the Bel
gian section became short circuited
and within few minutes the office
was mass Of flames. This was
about o'clock in the evening.
A few minutes after the fire was
discovered the blaze was running
fiercely along the facade, which is the
most striking feature of this section.
The facade is made of substances
which were much more substantial
than those usually used in such con-
structfYn, and as result the build
I ing as soon destroyed.
/ The weather has been warm and
/ sunny of late and as consequence
/ the material in the building was ex-
ceedingly dry. This caused the fire to
| burn with great fierceness and famed
by strong wind the flames rapidly
leaped from one building to another
/ The Kirmesse, which was a repre-
1 sentative Of an old fair in Brussels
1 was quickly alight. This was a very
popular attraction and the inclosure
was somewhat crowded. 1t was here,
according to the latest report. that
panic occurred with the apparent re-
/ suit although this has not been veri-
fled, that two persons were killed and
thirty or more were hurt.
Meanwhile the crowd which had
been watching the fireworks and
which for some time was ignorant OF
the real situation, learned of the cat
1 astroptn
They rushed to the scene of the dis
aster blocking the way and hindering
j the firemen at their work. 1t is doubt
full, however, whether the firemen
could have checked the progress OF
the fire. Soon the whole facade OF
i the kermesse was heap of glowing
ruins and the entire Belgian section
4 was involved
The wind drove q torrent of flames
into the British section of the exhibi-
tion, and this, in turn, was rapidly
consumed. It, as well as the Belgian
section, appears to have been a total
/ loss Both were demolished in less
!, than an hour.
The bridge joining the English and
4 the French sections was the next OBJ
ject to fall prey to the flames. and
7 in short time this collapsed with a
Y roaring crash. This temporarily check
ed the flames and it seemed for a
while as if the rest of the bui 4ings
might be saved. According to the
latest reports to reach the newspaper
offices, sparks were raining on the
French and Italian areas and tLey
were botn ignited. The work or ruin
was still going on, and there seemed
but little hope of saving any OF the
exhibition
The exhibition covers 220 acres and
lies southeastward from the city, ad
jacent the Bots de la Cambre. II
was opened by the king in April, but
, 1t is only recently that it has beer
in anything like complete condition
Some of the exhibits, which it is nov
feared are lost. are of real historic
value. including old furniture, ancien
Spanish armor lent by King Alfonso
besides fine specimens of French ant
italian textile and kindred arts
Loss 5000 900 900.
The exhibition will be closed be
cause Of the fire. which wiped out two
thirds Of the exhibits. Loss $2oo, o,ooo
COO No lives were lost and 40 wer
injured
: Millions Of dollars worth of dian
It onds, works Of ar and tapestry wer
+ destroyed. VandaIs were shot dow
|. by the troops. An effort was made I
g save the animate in the meneaeri
It but the flames were too hot and the
e were left to burn to death.
:,