The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1910-08-15
BIC EXPOSITION n ] I
I. FLAME SWEPT.
Three Sections Destroyed
at Brussels.
LIVES REPORTED LOST


Ing Becomes short-cireuited and
In Few Minutes Entire Structure
Was Mass Of Fire--ouIekIy Spread
to English and French Quarters,
Which Are Soon Reduced to Mass
OF Ruins.
Brussels, Aug. 15.--Fire started in
the Belgian section of the Interna-
tional exhibition here. The flames
spread quickly to the English and
French sections, which were soon de.
stroyed.
II is reported that there has been
some loss of life and that number
of persons have been injured, but
thus far it has been impossible to get
any definite information along these
lines.
So far as can be learned the fire
originated where there was the usual
large crowd outside the building to
look at the fireworks. IL seems that
the electric wires leading into the
temporary postoffice in the Belgian
section became short-circuited, and
within a very few minutes the office
was mass OF flames. A few min.
utes 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 unsubstantial than those
usually used In such construction,
and as q result the building was soon
destroyed.
>The weather has been warm and
sunny OF late and as a 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
spread, rapidly and lesped from one
building to another.
People Thrown Into Panic.
The Kirmesse, which was repre-.
sentation of an old-fashioned fair in
Brussels, was quickly alight. This
was a very popular attraction and
the enclosure was somewhat crowd
ed. 1t was here, according TO the
latest report, that q panic occurred,
with the apparent result, although
this has not been verified, that two
persons were killed and 30 or more
hurt.
Meanwhile the crowd learned of
the catastrophe. They rushed to the
scene, blocking the way and hinder
ing the firemen. II is doubtful, how
ever, considering the infiammable ma
ture Of the buildings, whether the
firemen could have checked the p, OK.
ress Of the fire.
The bridge joining the English and
French sections was the next to fall
n prey to the flames, and in short
time the structure collapsed with
crash.
The exposition covers 220 acres,
and lies southeastward from the city.
It was opened by the king in April,
but 1t is only recently that It has
been In anything like complete con.
dition. Some of the exhibits, which
1t is now feared are lost, are of real
historic value, including old furni.
ture, British and Spanish armor, be-
sides fine French and Indian textiles
and kindred arts.
During the progress OF the fire the
exhibit Of the diamond industry was
burned, and pillagers invaded the
ruins to hunt for gems. The police
fastened to the scene and were about |
to seize the looters when the cry was
raised that the wild animals In Bos- |
tock's exhibit had escaped. There
was wild stampede, and In the
midst of the excitement the robbers |
got away with many gems. Soldiers |
are in pursuit, but so far as known |
none OF the thieves has been cap
tured. There is report that mum.
ber OF ferocious beasts OF the Bos.
took show are prowling In the sub.
urbs of the city
The fire spread to Avenue Sol.
bosch, adjoining the exposition, and
40 private houses were destroyed. Az.
ter the exposition buildings had been
blazing for some time the firemen
blew up a number Of buildings with
a view to checking the progress of
the flames.
When Cupid Sees.
They say that love Ia blind.
But wen Just bet a dime i
That In seeking for her kissy lips
you'll land there every time.