Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-08-15

flames into the British section of the
exhibition, and this in turn rapidly
was consumed. 1t as well as the Bel
gian exhibit appears to have been
total loss. Both were demolished in
less than an hour.
| The bridge joining the English and
French sections was the next object to
fall prey to the flames. In a short time
this collapsed with a roaring crash
| This temporarily checked the flames
and 1t seems for time as If the rest
of the buildings might be saved.
An engine corps from Antwerp had
attempted to dynamite the French
bridge, in the hope of checking the
fire, but the flames leaped across and
engulfed the italian, Russian, Austrian.
Japanese, Chinese and Norwegian
buildings
Forty houses on the avenue Solboch,
adjoining the exposition. were de-
stroyed.
Crowd Of 100000 in Grounds.
At the time of the outbreak not less
than 100. 900 persons We're circulating IN
the grounds and the <irmesse. 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 kirmesse, where the vast crowds
became entangled in an almost mex
tricable mass, fighting desperately to
find an escape from the flames which
swept viciously thru the tinder-like
structures.
Considering the rapidity Of the con-
! fla grafton, the small oss of life is mar
velous. SO far as is known up to
late hour last night only two are dead.
The injured, as officially announced,
number thirty. but probably many
hundreds received minor hurts.
AS the flames reached the menagerie
| 1t was decided to shoot the beasts, but
the heat drove back the soldiers and
the animals were left to their fate.
The multitude of people were driven
back to a safe distance and watched
the thrilling spectacle of the destruc-
stion of the white city. Tongues of fire
mounted high into the heavens and
flaming embers were carried off by the
wind and fell upon the residences be-
yond, setting them on fire.
Description Of Exposition.
Belgium's White City stood near the
end of the Avenue Louise, the fashion,
able park drive which on the west side
Of Brussels leads out to the beautiful
building, that Of the Belgian section.
rose majestically on as light elevation
facing the main entrance. To the left
Of the main building was the Kirmesse.
magnificent quadrilateral of gar
dens was surrounded by the four con-
cessions Of France, Germany, Holland
and Italy. The italian pavilion was
built after the Renaissance style Of the
fourteenth century. The German sec
ton was grouped around the main pa
vilion. Eight largo halls were de-
voted TO exhibits Of railroad companies,
agricultural machines, art, and edu-
cation. The Netherlands section in
cluded an elevated roadbed.
One Of the most striking features OF
the French section was the palace Of
agriculture and horticulture special
pavilions being devoted to Tunis, NADIA
gascar. Algeria. western Africa. and
Indo-China. The Spanish pavilion Of
fered remarkable reproduction of the
Alhambra palace at Grenada.
Royal Treasures in Exhibit.
The Court of Lions and several Of the
ruins of state were represented in
which the Spanish government exhib-
tied some of its national treasures such
as tapestries, paintings. armors, and
Jewels Of the former royal families.
An interesting feature Of the fair
was the house of Rubens, which was
the official pavilion of Antwerp. Be
sides representative exhibits of all
branches Of local activity the pavilion
contained a retrospective exhibition OF
Flemish art Of the Rubens period. 1t
was announced some time before the
opening Of the exhibition that many of
the leading museums Of the world
would contribute masterpieces in their
possession.
Exposition Cost $5,ooo0oO.
King Albert inaugurated the colonial
section Of the exhibition April 80. While
not On so large a scale as the Chicago
or ST. Louis worlds fair, it covered 200
acres Of ground and represented an ex-
penditure of more than $5,000.00 Ma
chinery hail. the largest Of the great
buildings, covered an area Of 35O04
square yards.
The exposition has been visited this
and altho the United States was not
officially represented in the exhibits,
many American manufa cturers had in
dividual displays of their products.
Ex-President Roosevelt. in one of his
last messages to congress, recommend
ed an appropriation for an American
exhibit, and the senate foreign affairs
committee reported a bill for 100000,
but the measure was defeated.
JAPAN'S DELUGETOLL