The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-03-24

ron front. It's depth~yvas 100 feet. ca the
'irst floor there were nine store rooms
the uppers being designed for offices, sleep
ing apartments, etc The estimated cost
when finished was sI00,0O0 The following
are the owners. Mr.J. III. Vsjen, who occu-
pied what was known as ''Vsjen's exchange
block" and had frontage of us feet on
Pensylvania street. His loss is estimated
at $40, 900 on which there was no insurance.
, William Mansur owned the middle of the
block, having frontage of 80 feet. His
loss is estimated at 900, on which there
was no insurance. Mr.. John C.. Wright
owned the north part of tine block "a 'front.'
age OF 40 feet three inches.) His loss he
estimated last night to be $4,000, on which
he had an insuI snce of s., 900. All the three
? owners stated to q Sentinel representative
, that it was their intention to rebuild as soon
as possible. They did not seem downcast by
their heavy losses, b1t with usual American
pluck under adverse were CHEEKY and bright
as ever. They doubtless will before long
carry out their plans as expressed last night,
" Mercantile row" will be even handsomer
than it had until last nights disaster given
token of being.
GLEANINGS FROM THE FIELD.
THE CROWD IN THE sTREETs-THE WORK OF
THE ENGINEs-THE ,APPEARANCE OF THE
| BUILDINGs--GU ESSEs AND CRITICIsMS-THE
| WORK OF THE FUrCRE.
For fully a halt hour after the lurid col
umns began to tighten the sky, the crowds,
rushing circleward were led to suppose that
the Journal building was in flames. From
Meridian street this was confirmed, the long
low building in the reaDwas completely hid
den by the brilliant iig6t.beyond. Presently
however, figures rushing bither and thither
eXcitedly, could be seen outlined
against the burning background and the
real point of destruction became distinct.
For time, however, 'theI journal building
seemed doomed. The heat, as far over as
the Sentinel building, was intense the
sparks absolutely reddeniBg the pavement
as they whirled backward over the pit of
| fire. Viewed from the rear, that is the Cir
| Gle and the Sentinel building, the spectacle
was threateningly grand. Mountains of
fame seemed to spout from the top of
the tall front of the journal, which
stood like an ImpenetrEble curtain before
the fire. An engine standing at the corner
drowned the murmur of voices and the
rushing of feet as the crowd passed forward,
eager to see and fearing TO be overwhelmed
by the fire or water. Horses coming to the
Circle on Meridian, struck unexpectedly by
the glare from the pile beyond
would plunge and rear, and finally
| lead by. friendly hands, w0lsld disappear
from the scene. But with all the startling
destruction and dimensions, there was COM
psratively good order, with little of the
bosterousness which frequently marks fires
of. such proportion. The sidewalks were
ifued .witha wondering but byNO means I'M
ruly crowd, and there were no arrests
for violence or stealing. Zone SUI
perSseryiceable policeman took it upon
himself to arrest and conveytO the station
house, two VOnnQ iS0ntlamaga who IN
| their way TO their room, which'was in the
Vicinity of the fire. In the confusion of the
moment his zeal overcame his discretion,
and instead OF attending to the fire.
men OFF to the durance, which, they
Didn't endure, however. When Martin
dales bloe]awas seen in flames, lit was the
general fear that the corner opposite the |
pestofiice, on. Pennsylvania, must1surely go. |
and fears were entertained for everything |
in the'vicinity down as far as Baldwin's |
block. These establishments vaIaables were
looked after with solicitude. every svoop of |
the flames strengthening the .pur-
pose of the tenants to be |
which stood the severest test there
was anxiety and indecision. Whether
to try and get the paper out was
the question. At eight o'clock orders were
given in the Sentinel office to make
ready TO receive the Journal folks
II.
az from this point, it looked Ceer-
tsda that the Jenrnal would be swal-
in the flaming volcano. The managers
were solicitous too. Men stood ready in the
press room. to clear away the wall and carry
OUT tbe,en0.mus pile of machinery which
makes up the press, and the printers stood
equipped in light marching order, ready to
take the cases and types to q less torrid II
cline. The walls next to the flames fairly
cracked with tine pargatorial test put
upon Chem and sprays falling :tlsem
from Ltie pipes, evaporated instantly into
putis Of steam. The lockers on gave up the !
building, but by a miracle ii was saved
The criticisms on the management of the 4
fire were free and frequent. One gentle d
man remarked, as particularly bad failure
in the play became apparent, 20 will rua s
over to the druggists and get syringe. &
then we shall have chance" A group {
of gentsAGaen consisting ,ef one or two $
ot the couacil stood in the vicinity q
Of Lang's a. the havoc spread, and detecting !
a stream w-Sieh for the first time reached
above the second story, they FASTENED to
examine the source, end foundIit to be the
water works pipe-the engines pegging
away feebly st the lower storiek. The ver- r
1ict from tiaat source & was prompt
and emphatic that the machines
ar their managers were very ineffi- /,
2ent. Others VINO had watched from the
irst declared THAI the streams thrc wn into
Vsjen's building we're not strong eCough to T.
make the slightest palpaole sign Of effect. n
bose stream thrown from the rear of
IauGs restaurant and Mor<ison's house did u
nore service in saving the rear of the Jour- O.
raI building and Staying the bach ward d
preaG of the fire than all the efforts a. the =
Ire department. Flslugi1 gas1ava -sgi =
The,destructiOn of the bu Mdings is a seri- q
US blow 20, the prospects of that portioE. of I'll
se.city. Great calculations had been made n
y retail merchants, upon the rapid growthof =
1a&e, so sson as the magnifeent new bloeizs
Tere fully completed. The loss to Mr. n
heetfs is particularly trying He.had byf al
ereaiean ehieavors brought his place to iheE q,
erge0f occupation and men were at work y
repairing for tenants when by. this calami- u
JUS hours work. the fruits of years have been Ia
wept away. EIe means however to go l'ci
lo