People's Pilot, Volume 2, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 April 1893 — DESTROYED. [ARTICLE]

DESTROYED.

Fire Wipes Out the Armory of the First Regiment, I. N. G., in Chicago—The Building and Its Contents a Total Loss —Two Colored Men Burned to Death— Two Others Badly Injured. CHICAGO, April 25. —The armory of the First regiment, Illinois national guard, Sixteenth street and Michigan avenue, was destroyed by fire at 3 o'clock this morning. Two lives were lost and two men were badly injured. The scenery and stage fixtures of the Trocadero, which was to have opened April 29, was also destroyed by the fire. The two lives sacrificed were those of colored men employed as porters in the building. They were known only as George and Walter. Those who were injured are: E. W. Lathan and Chris Wiegand. Lathan was foreman for the Edison Electric Light company in the building and Wiegand was his assistant. The fire was discovered at 2:35 o’clock. In less than an hour afterward only the four walls remained. Everything in the armory, including the arms and accoutrements of the First regiment, was destroyed. Not a vestige of anything was saved. It was only by circumstances almost miraculous that Wiegand and Lathan escaped with their lives. Officer Frank Howard, of the Harrison street station, discovered the fire. He was standing on the east side of Michigan avenue opposite the main entrance of the armory at the time. He first saw a puff of smoke ascend from the roof in nearly the center of the building. The smoke disappeared for an instant and he began to doubt that he had seen any smoke. He was soon undeceived. A few seconds later the smoke was succeeded by a tongue of flame. Then, while his eyes were still riveted upon the startling sight, the entire roof of the building seemed to be lifted away and from the whole interior of the building poured forth columns of smoke and then fire that illuminated Michigan avenue for a mile each way. The alarm was turned in and a big force of firemen was soon on the ground. But the armory and its contents were beyond the control of all the fire departments in the world. Even when Marshal Townsend arrived he realized that to attempt to put out the fire was hopeless. It must be allowed to run its course. All that the fire department could do was to prevent the fire from spreading to adjacent buildings. Families on all sides moved out, however, and the sidewalks were strewn with furniture and wearing apparel. Many in their haste did not even take time to properly dress themselves. Their fears were not without ground. Sparks from the combustible material in the burning building showered upon roofs on all sides and the flames made all as light as day. In the northeast corner was the magazine of the regiment, and the police drove everybody away from the building, as an explosion was momentarily feared. The intense heat caused the walls to crack and fall on all sides, and by daylight but a small portion of the magnificent structure remained. Small quantities of gunpowder were constantly exploding and added to the danger of the firemen. The discharges came in many instances from the rifles stored in the armory. The armory cost between $150,000 and $200,000.