The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-08-15
Flames Unchecked, Entire
Show Likely to Be
Destroyed.
LOSS OF LIFE IS FEARED
Priceless Art Treasures Also I'm
psTilled-Dense Crowds
Hamper Firemen.
.sp,rla cas:, D,,pacn,, 10 rps srs.

BRUssEIIs. Aug Is. Fire started in tbs
Belgian section Of the International Ex-
hibition here last evening. The flames
spread quickly to the English section.
which was soon destroyed II then
spread To- the French section.
Other sections are now in famea Il
looks ~ u the entire show would he wiped
out There ara rumors Of serious loss Of
life
persons have been injured but thus far
it has been impossible to get any definite
Information along these lines.
Al O'Clock this morning the Russian.
Austrian. Japanese. Norwegian. Danish
and Chinese sections Of the exhibition
were burning At that hour large por-
tons OF ths English and French sections
were in ruins
The whole OF one side of the central
roadway known a. the Avenue des
Nations. where stand the headquarters
buildings OF various nationalities. was
consumed II was reported that Bos-
took = beasts had been saved Reports of
deaths and injuries in tine kermesse
building are not confirmed. but it il be-
leved they are true
The fire has spread To Avenue Sol
bosch. adjoining the exposition. and forty
private houses are on fire there.
After the exposition buildings had
been blazing for some time the firemen
blew UP a number Of buildings. with Q
view to checking the progress 81 the
flames
Il IL learned that among the treasures
in the French section was Robins noted
sculpture Femme Accroupie' There
were also in the French section eight
GoLeIin tapestr iss and hundreds Of paint
inss by the old masters. Their fate n
not known a. yet, hut IL il only too cer-
tainly assumed that they have been de-
stroyed
The total loss this morning II estimated
at $4,000 coo, much Of which will fall
upon French insurance companies.
Some Of the exhibits which il is feared
are now lost are OF great historic value.
including old furniture from British
country houses. ancient spanish armor
lent by King Alfonso. besides fine speci-
mems " French and Italian textile and
kindred arts.
During rhe progress 81 the fire the
T. section 81 the diamond industry was
burned Pillag-r- promptlysinvaded the
ruins T. hunt for gems The polios
hsstened - the scene and were about g.
seize the looters. when the cry was raiseSi
that the Wild animals IN tnstock's eShibIt
had escaped
There was a wild stampede and In the
midst Of the sJciteIneht the robbers got
away with many gems Soldiers are ia
pursuit but. ~ far a. known. none Of
the thieves hss been captured Their. -
a report that a number u ferocious beasts
from the Bostock show are prowhng ia
the suburbs Of the city
10 far ~ can be learned the fire orig
mated Will. there was the usual great
Sunday crowd outsid. the buildings look
ing AT the fireworks IL seems that tn.
electric wires leading into the temporary
post office ia the Belgian section becam.
short circuIted and within a very few
minutes the Office was n mass % flames
This ~as about . o'clock last evening
A few minutes after ths fire was dis
covered the blaz. was running fercely
along the facade. which In the mos, strik-
ing feature Of this section. The facade "
made Of materials much more unsubstan-
tial than those generally used in such
construction and az "A result the building
was soon destroyed.
The weather has been warm and sunny
81 late and a consequence che material
Of the building was exceedingly dry.
This caused the fire to burn with great
hercenes~ and famed by a strong wind
the flames rapidly leaped from one str,Ic-
turs Ia another
The Kirma-ss which was q representa-
ton % an old fair in Br'Isssla. was quickly
ablazs This was a very popular attrao-
ton and the enclosure was somewhat
crowded IL was here. according to the
latest report. that a panic occurred with
the apparent result although this has
not been verified-thAt two persons were
killed and thirty or more were hurt.
Meanwhile tho crowd. which had been
watching the fireworks and which foT
some time was ignorant OF the real situa-
tion. learned Of tho catastrophe. They
rushed to the scene Of the disaster. block
ing the way and hindering tho fremen At
their work. IL is doubtful. however.
considering the inhAmmable character Of
the buildings. whsther tho fircmen could
have checked tho progress OF the fire la
any event
The whole facade Of the Kermess- was
soon q bcap Of glowing ruins and tbs
entire Belgian section was involved
Then the wind drove torrcnt ~ flames
into the Britain section % the exhibits
and this In turn was rapidly consumed.