Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-01-14

lAe great c0nHAgrat0n which occurred ycSter
day IL one OF the most destructive that has visited
our city for number OF years. with the excep
ton Of the great Ere oa Main street on the lst
OF July last. The FIRE originated in the rear of
the Gait House in dummy used for the pgr-
pose Of raising coal from the cellar TO each OF
the floors above, and a strong draft caused the
flames 10 ascend and increase IN fury as they did
so. On each Of the floors were passages ex-
tending from the front to the of the build
ing, and as the flames reached each floor they
ran through the passages, so that when the FIRE
wac discovered it was on three floors at the same
time The ire occurred between ~ and
o clock so that the large number OF guests were
all asleep. The alarm was at once given. by per
sons rushing through the hotel, knocking at the
DOORS aud shouting fire. fret at the top of
their voices. The guests thus aroused GU. Of
sound slumber Jumped from their beds, and a
scene which battles description ensned
Men, women and children could be seen run
ring IN all directions, mothers anaiously inquir
| ing for their children, who had been lost from
them in the confusion. children running to and
fro in search of their parents, and friends anx-
| iously inquiriDg for each other. The alarm WIS
| so sudden and the fire had gained such Roadway,
that those who escaped had barely time to do so
with their Iives-losing all their clothing, valu
| abIes and other articles The night was very
/ cold one, the payements and streets being GOV
4
in search Of other quarters in their bare feet.
| The sight was a sorrowfal one, and one that will
long be remembered by those who gazed on IT,
| How the FIRE could have gained such headwa y
before it was discovered Is more than we can
conceive, but one thing ia certain, that at the
time the alarm was given, which was sounded By
the mail boat at the landing, the entire rear OF
the building wrapped in one sheet OF flame
After the alarm given the fire department,
1 ..tt. 10
hand and though the fremen worked with ali
zeal to check the devouring element in its march
of destruction, the flames, as they curled higher
I and higher in the air, seemed to mock them 10
their efforts, and bid defiance TO the constant
streams Of water which were poured against
them.
A strong north wind was blowing at the time
which famed the flames. and, rs II were, added
fury 70 the burning mass. In short time the
flames burst from the windows fronting on Main
street. and il became evident that the entire
building, one Of the most magnificent in the
country, would soon be one mass of ruins The
flames spread through the entire building de
stroying everything in their reach, and there
now remains nothing to mork where this magnif
icent structure stood excep, one pile ofblack and
Wondering ruins.
The FIRE soon communicated to the fiue foui
story stone front building adjoining the hotel and
ment. The building was the property OF tn,
Ballard heirs, and Was valued 1T 1000, will
an insurance of $4,000 The building was oc
cuped by Andrew Buchanan, wholesale grocer
and commission merchant, and o. W. Tboma.
& Co, pork packers The loss of the former
was probably $4,000. with an INSURANCE o
S23 900. The loss of Thomas 4 Co. was abOu
$4,000, which was fully covered by insurance
Brandics 4 Crawford had stored in this buildin.
4 VIII which had hoo
movee bat few days previous.
The Gait House building the property o
Q joint stock company, and was valued 5000,
, goo, with an insurance of only S39 500. Th
furniture, fixtures, &C. of the house, which wer
the property of the new lcssees, Messrs. Throck
morton. Anderson and Milton, were valued a
$3.50 900. with an insurance of S92 500. Anon,
n the losers in the Gait House building we're SIC
: Gill ( Mullen, clothing merchants, and W. A
, Warner. dealer in cigars. but their losses wer
fully covered by insurance.
/ Messrs. Martin 4 Co had stored in the celia
: O: the house occupied by Buchanan 400 barrel
,, OF fine whisky. all of which was DESTROYED
Their loss is $4,000. with S2O, 900 insurance
Daring the time that the Gait House wa
burning numbers of guests made very narrow
escapes. Several who slept in the upper storie
of the building were badly burned Captain
Allen had his hand badly cut in making hi
escape. Adju,ant T. Wing, of the Thirty fiji
Kentucky, Mr. Bird. and several others, who's
names we were unable 10 learn. were more o
, | less injured.
Major Frank Bristow. of the 33d Kentucky
made an almost miraculous escape from death
he occupied a room in the rear of the buduI
on the fourth floor, and was not awakened from
!, his slumbers until all means of exit were cut OF
by the ire. The flames entered the room, an
the window in which be is sitting is on fire. an
the flames begin to scorch his flesh. He call.
|, for help. and hundreds gaze upon him. but ar
+, unable to render any assistance. Every one
I looking for him to jump from the window, whic
. would be certain death. when the fremen cam
with ladder. AS the ladder is being run up tn
flames around the major increase; he still call
for help, the fire gains on him, and he is com
> PEELED to get out OF the window and hang on tn
, window-sill BY his hands. The entire crowd ar
c appalled, at the sight When the ladder reache
c the window he succeeds IN gaining fast hold
. he is saved, and one shout goes up from the hun
dreds who had Witnessed the almost miraculou
escape of the major
. The most fearful part of the story remains L
: be told The house was crowded with guests
e SIX of whom are missing. W 7. Hanna o
t Shelbyyille. Kentucky, W NJ. Mills, Mr. Wells
D refugee lady from Tennessee and her tw,
), children all are missing. and have not been seer
e since the iiIe and il is feared that they all per
n ished in the flames. Ii Is certain that the twt
! first named we're burned to death and il is to b.
c hoped that the lady and her children made thei
e escape. Mr.. Hanna was in room 1885, with
friend, Mr. Bird, and the two started from tn
{ room together. After thew had gone a shoi
: distance Hanna thought they were going til,
[ wrong way and started back, since which tim,
D nothing has been seen or heard of him. Yester
e day afternoon the remains Of BODY, suppose,
to be that of Mr.. Mills, was removed from th,
Calf House building and taken to the Office o
DR. Cummins. The head and upper part Of To,
body are in such charred condition that il vii
be impossible 10 recognize IT, The body can b,
seen at DR.. Cummns' office. on Second street
between Market and jefferson
The following table gives the names of the
losers, the amount OF their loss and the amour,
| of Insurance:
? Loss. Insurance
Gait House Company s3O00OO s39 So
Thrcskmorton & CO ...-... 10000 81 so
q. W. Thomas Co. $4,000 1900
" \. " arner. -.---.-.....-. 900 S,OO
Actilll Nullin.. .--... 5000 SEQ
: Ballard heirs. ............ 10000 lO.OO
l. Martin CO ...-........ 10000 20,0O
AL1Tcs Buchanan. -, uOO 100
Total ....sa. ss5O,to0 $23l .6O
By the above Il will be seen that the total loss
outside Of private property. Is $3.50 600, with..a
iusu rance Of s23l 600. which makes the loss
over ard above the Insurance. S326. 400. In ad
dtion TO the above there was fully 800 00l
worth OF private property destroyed, which vii
| swell the total 10 S657 600