The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-01-12
ElNrHUH rARrIcULAR.
Tho Fire Generally Beie.-;'i e. 2ags
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Tue Fire Generally bsiie.-;;'' E, aass Been
og saoenaiary Origin.
MINIATURES, 49,. - "A force Of 1915 ygorf--
men were engaged all day at the runs OF 49,
Inflated Newhall House searching for bodies,
but none were found up to o'clock this
evening. The remaining walls were pulled
down because they endangered the workmen
gentleman who occupied quarters in the
house said the building had been set on fire
at least four times during the past year, once
the fire was set on chair placed
in the hall in connection with the
elevator On the chair had been piled
oiled kindlings, the fire got pretty good
start The next time the fire was started in
barrel of tinder which stood in the hall on
the first floor against the elevator. This time
hole was torn through the plaster in the
wall at the bottom OF the elevator, and
mass of infammable stuff inserted which
was fired and only extnguished with tho
greatest difficulty. Still another time a fire
was started near the bar-room on the first
floor adjacent to the west side OF the elevator
shaft These all had undoubted incendiary
origin and were started at night also near
the elevator, so as to preclude any idea OF
saving the house; but each time luck held
sway and the blazes were blighted. With
each recurring fire the boarders would say
some one had spite against the building,
and would yet burn it. They
would avow their intention of leav.
ing. but as time would elapse the idea
would be erased only to recur with another
attempt to burn the building This time the
incendiary was successful, as the theory
seems to leave no doubt OF incendiarism.
| Only few weeks ago fire ignted in G. A.
Hendry's room from bad CRATE and burned
considerably before being put out. This was
oIrTNr tod hNy
quarters last week, but no special damage
was done.
Three bodies remain at the morgue, that OF
OtilR Waltersdorf, eighteen years old, an EN-.
ploye She has been fully identified by
brother residing in this city A young irish
girl, supposed to be Nora Flanagan, waiter
She was recognized by Mary HI rdy,
of the Plankinton House. but not posi-.
lively. The body of an elderly
woman, apparently of Irish nationality,
about fortyfive years of age, unidentified, OF
medium size, dark hair tinged with gray, on
the middle finger of the right hand fiat
band ring.
formal coroner's inquest will be held
next week, after the recovery of the bodies
under the debris
William Mckenzie, night watchman at the
hotel, makes the following important state.
ment: "On the night OF the fire | had made
my rounds as usual Visiting the different
landings, floors and basement rooms, and
nothing unusual was observed, The bar
room was open until , o'clock that morning,
and George Scheller the proprietor was
there three-quarters OF an hour after | had
been to the wood-room about z
O'Clock, and, i'll opening tho
dooor leading to the bar-room, saw that
place was still occupied. At a later hour [
had run the elevator down to the bottom
landing to take up gentleman who camo
from the bar. Nothing like smoke was de.
90 ~ ol tlf,
l. b. Elliot came on late train I was in
the office and he asked me If the elevator
was running | told him | would take him
up, and did so, letting him out on the third
floor. then went up to the top floor tax.
ing railway conductor up from the third
Then l looked around the halls and got
into the elevator to go down. This was
few minutes past $3.50 O'clock As
l got into the elevator, 1 noticed
little smoke and Immediately started
down TO see where it came from. BY the
time reached the Office floor, the smoke was
so dense that / could go no further in the
elevator. Throwing open the door, rushed
out and started Tor the stairs shouting to the
night clerk that there was fire down below,
and was going to see about it. BY the time
| reached the bottom of the elevator shaft
the smoke was so dense and sitting that
knew that something must be done, and
called to the engineer who was
in the engine-room, and told
him to rouse the servants. Then
| started back to awaken the people, for I
knew there was no chance to stop the. fire
alone. By the time | reached the first fooI
above the Office and had yelled at Mr..
Cramer's door, the heat had cracked the glass
doors to the elevator, and in a moment after
ward the flames poured out In the mea2'
time | rushed into tie bank building te
arouse as many dodgers in that portion as
could. Afterward | rendered what help
could in saving people. l hardly know whai
to say about the commencement of the fire
but know it caught Mt the bottom of w