Al Hayne Monument - Fort Worth,TX - Disaster Memorials on Waymarking.com

“Fort Worth's pride and glory - the Spring Palace - is tonight a heap of blackened ruins, it having been swept out of existence by a fire which broke out on the second floor at 10:30 o'clock, just as the evening concert was over and preparations were being made to begin the annual Spring Palace ball. At the time the first note of alarm sounded there were several thousand people in the building, and in an instant what had been a scene of peace, pleasure and happiness was transformed into a perfect pandemonium. Up stairs and down stairs could be heard the shrieks of women and children and the rush of thousands of people to the many entrances of the building. It sounded like the roar of a mighty wind. Strong men grabbed their wives and children. Young men dressed for the ball, which was to follow, clasped their sweethearts in their arms and joined the mighty rush for safety.

In less than a minute after the first flames were discovered the entire upper part of the structure was one sea of roaring lire and it spread with rapidity to the lower floors. The fire department contingent, which was stationed in the building, was powerless to stay for an instant the onward rush of the flames. But notwithstanding this, strange to say not one person was burned to death. Several were badly scorched and one dangerous and several were badly injured by falling and being trampled on by the rushing thousands. Al Haynes of the fire department was so badly burned that he died an hour later. Judge L. N. Cooper was badly injured by being trampled on and it is thought he will die.

The origin of the fire is said to be a boy striking a match to light a cigarette contrary to the rule of the exhibition and from the match the straw decorations caught with the result above.

The escape of the thousands of people, men, women and children, from a horrible death is almost a miracle, and that hundreds did not die a horrible death is due to the admirable arrangement of the building. This calamity has put Fort Worth in mourning and it is probably the last of the Spring Palace of Texas for all time.”

Austin Weekly Statesman 3/2/1893

"A fountain of Granbury stone and Maine red granite was dedicated today with great ceremony, the mayor and city council, military companies, fire department and thousands of citizens participating. It is a memorial of honor to Al Hayne, who in saving the lives of women and children at the Spring Palace fire in May, 1890, was burned to death. The ceremonies were beautiful, and eloquent addresses were made by Seymour Connor, president of the State Firemen's association, T.J. Powell of this city and others. The fountain is of graceful beauty in design, and is twenty-five leet high."