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| BURNING OF THE COLD-STORAGE WAREHOUSE - At the
southwest corner of the "improved" portion of Jackson Park stood a
large cold-storage warehouse, covered with staff, and bearing the
typical appearance of an Exposition building, save that it was
without windows, except on a line near the cornice. The structure
was severely rectangular in its ground plan, and in the center there
rose a square tower, made of wood, from the middle of which a
sheet-iron smoke-stack protruded, and belched black smoke over the
grounds. It was destined that the ill-omened, ill-built, and
doubly-dangerous house (for its upper floor was intended to be used
as a skating-rink) should furnish the calamity of the Fair of 1893.
Shortly after noon of Monday, the 10th of July, fire was discovered
in the top of this tower, and about twenty-five of Chicago's bravest
and most experienced firemen were soon on the platform of observation
that had been built near the summit. No sooner had they reached this
elevation, however, than flames broke forth beneath them; and, as the
tower was made of pine and plaster, which had been dried both by sun
outside and hot sheet-iron chimneys within, it burned fiercely. A
moment later, and in the presence of at least fifty thousand
horrified spectators, an explosion of gases followed, the roof heaved
and gave way, the men leaped over the bulwarks, and sixteen perished
almost instantly, falling into a pit of gaseous flame. About
$100,000 were subscribed for the families of the victims, and the
committee was criticised for the deliberation with which this money
was apportioned. |
