The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-09-08
The Entire Fire Department Makes Stub
born Fight to Subdue the Flames, but
the Task Proves Too Great,
And Toledo, Akron, Youngstown and
Other Places Are Asked for Help.
A Fire Lasting Seven Hours, and Destroying
Property Estimated To Be Worth Be-
tween Two and Three Millions.
a CoNFLAGRATIoN.
Great Destruction In the Lumber and Man
ufacturing District Of Cleveland.

ufacturtng District OF Cleveland.
CLEVELAND. Sept IA great conAagration
is raging on the flats. The entire fire depart
ment is in service and kilograms have been sent
to Akron, youngstown Painesville, Erie, San
dusky, and Toledo for assistance The origin Of
the FIRE is unknown. 1ncendiarism is supposed
by some, but the most probable theory
is that sparks from tug set
fire, early in the evening, to a pile Of shavings,
from which the flames spread until Woods,
Perry 6 Co.'S extensive lumber yard was ablaze.
The fire continued to extend. defying all efforts
of the fnemen. The lumber yards of Potter,
Birdsall & Co., and G. G. King 8 Co. were also
consumed. The Variety Iron Works were de-
stroyed, Stanleys candle factory was burned,
and part Of sherwin, Williams & Co.'s yarnish
works
At 10 o'clock the conhagration threatened to
become still more extensive. About ten acres of
lumber and frame buildings were afiame at one
time, and huge clouds Of smoke, thickly studded
with blazing cinders, were blown by the chang
ing wind for miles, causing intense excitement
lest the myriads of sparks should kindle fires in
every direction, and perhaps lay waste large
part Of the city
night twatchman, Joe Simmons, but his story
throws no light on the cause of the fire. Said
he: II had just completed my rounds and ar
rived at the mill went, as usual, all over the
ground on both sides of Carter street. and along
the river, and made sure there was no
fire or anything else wrong in
the yard. ! went through the min
and afterward, when was going to sit down.
outside the door, I saw a bright flame shoot up
in the air, right in the middle Of the lumber
piles between our yardand Mr. Kings Itwas in
our No. / alley and the momentI opened the
door I ran for box Is, under the New York,
Pennsylvania 8 Ohio bridge, on Carter street
Then came back, ana the engines were here in
a few moments.n
AT 7:S0 the FIRE was confined to an area Of two 4
.
the flames were sayagely burning and sending
out myriads of sparks and light pine torches
Slowly the fire gained on the fremen, the
sparks being CARED over their heads by the
wind, which had begun to rise. A spark would
set fire to a small spot in the center Of
pile of lumber, but, because of the height
and the ferceness Of the 6ames nothing
could be done until the flames had reached the
end of the pile, when stream would be directed
that way The lanes or alleys were SO narrow
that it was impossible to get stream playing on
any but the edges of the different sections of the
lumber
The spot where the fire started was built of
green lumber from the Michigan pine woods
and, though it wouldn't be expected to burn
well, the heat was SO intense that the element
continued beyond the power of the department
to control.
SPREAD OF THE FIRE.
/ BY 8 o'clock it was in alleys Nos 3 and 4, and
as the area of burning wood became larger the
men were forced to spread out and less effective
work could be done. At this time some of the
fremen were in alleys almost completely sur
rounded by fire, and, to keep from burning
stream of water was directed against them
thus could they secure comfort
AT $50 o'clock Carter street became impassa-
Bile. The heat prevented any one from going by
the buildings, and only in some places could the
firemen stand The owners of the Variety Iron
Works had beenion the roof Of their large brick
building for a half-hour past, throwing water
and guarding it, in hopes that the fire might be
kept in bounds. They succeeded in putting out
thehames in several places which had caught from
sparks Until the region of their building be-
came red hot they were successful in their OBJ
iect but at 8o'clock the lumber in the yard Of c.
g. King caught fire from the east end Of
Woods, Perry s. Co.'S yard, ani soon the four
million feet in that yard were in partial blaze
The heat along that side of Central way soon be-
came too intense for comfort, and despite the
brisk west wind which had sprung up
the flames crept up in southerly direction and
very quickly reached the street The Variety
Iron Works now caught on the roof. but these
flames were subdued after short fight At the
same time wooden building, a good sized shed
belonging to Woods, Perry 8 Co, also caught on
the front side from the heat Of the burning
lumber just opposite, and attention was directed
to that. Then the fremen wore called to the
iron works building and at O'clock both Of
these buildings were burning and the fire WAS
under such headway that the engines which
could be kept in the street were unable to cope
with it.
Much cause of delay was found in lack Of
water. 1t was dirty, and the engines would get
clogged. In this manner one Of the engines.
which had been throwing stream on the south
west side of the yard, near the railrond. was
forced to suspend work for time for repairz
- Oh.