The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-14
scarcely contains brick dwelling. All is wood

either side of the burning belt were filled with
blanched faces of hopeless men, women and
children, who could do nothing in such gale
| but crouch down for shelter and watch the flames
lick up the fruits of lifetime of labor.
Although the victims comprise number of the
wealthiest residents of the city, whose individual
wealth runs up near the millions, yet the great
majority of those burned out lose the better
portion of their fortunes or their little ALL Some
families saved a good deal of furniture; others
are left with only the clothes on their backs, so
confident were they that the fire would not reach
them. The loss in personal and household prop
erty can never be estimated and is not included
in the previous estimates of the loss. Even the
huge wooden water-tanks, and fences and side
walks, and telephone poles are burned to white
ashes. Business is entirely suspended.
The calamity is so great that men choke with
tears in speaking of it. Some scores of sick
people were hurredly removed during the con-
fagration, and many women are reported pros
| trated by the terrible excitement
meeting of citizens is now in progress at the
Cotton Exchange to provide immediate relief to
the poorer victims. Already the rich men of the
city and the well-todo, even those who have lost
their elegant mansions. have determined to look
after and provide for the poorer people, and Gal
weston will probably make no appeal to the out
! side world
| Following close on the heels of the great
| strike, which inflicted a money loss on the bust
ness men of Galveston of fully $4O0, 900, this
| lamity is the climax to the citys woes and sore
| Affections. With the exception of half a dozen
grocery stores and the iron and ar-repairing
foundry where the fire originated, no places of
business were destroyed.
Insurance agents are now going over their pol
icies, and it is hoped that by nshtfall they will
have completed the insurance list.
kilograms of sympathy and offers of aid are
already pouring in from sister cities in Texas.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
Accurate charts of the burnt district were
completed this evening, showing that the course
of the fire in southeasterly direction.
Beginning at the foot of Sixteenth street, on The
Strand the fire crossed Avenues G, d and E.
Here it worked its way to the east half of the
same block on which stands the postoffce and
the United States Court room. The flames
threatened the postofice in the most aggressive
manner, and the building was ha-tily cleared of
mail matter, and all valuable mail was placed in
the vaults. Fortunately the flames spared the .
government building and passed on
ward toward the gulf. At Avenue
the fire fiend reveled in the stateliest mansions
of the city. One of the first Of these splendid
houses to succumb was that Of Mrs Magale, a
$4,000 house Then, in rapid succession, went
the residences of Julius Runge, of the house of
Kaufman & Runge, Leon Bloom, Moritz Tasker,
d. FelIman. George Sealey. president of the
Santa Fe railway. Green Duffield's new mansion,
90
gins and 300 of lesser value. These names rep
resent loss of $500 to 10000 each, but all
are insured.
The business portion of the city was not
touched but in the burnt district were twenty
one groceries, saloons and small stores. The
| chief of these are Cross & Co.. grocers, and
| John A. Hammer. lumber merchant They lost
| everything. as did other small stores. AS the
| fire swept past the county Jail, rejecting its
fearful glare and intense heat through the grated
| windows, the forty imprisoned inmates became
nearly frantic with fear. They set up yell
| which was heard for squares over the awful roar
| of the flames. The jail was on fire dozen
times, but was saved All the street cars were
hastily run out of the Galveston city railway
stables, and they were abandoned to their fate.
but, as if in mockery at their fright, the monster
| spared the habtation of the humble mule, seek
| ing richer fields.
When the fire started the gale was blowing at
| the rate of thirty miles an hour. At o'clock
| the signalservice observer estimated the veloc-
ity of the gale in the vicinity of the fire at sixty
miles per hour, and this velocity was maintained
| until near o'clock. when the fire gave signs of
| exhaustion, and the cyclonic vacuum seemed
broken. The fire swerved through its path as
| though it were gigantic funnel, and for two
| squares on either side the heat was suffocating
and the clouds of cinders binding. The fire de-
partment had become utterly helpless, and the
water-w works gave poor satisfaction The only
public building consumed was the Second dis
| trict school building frame structure. which
| recentlV a fnta al
area Of the burnt district is one hundred acres.
and forty and one-h half blocks were
swept clear of everything combustible 1t
is estimated by the relief committee
homeless, great majority of whom Especially
the poorer ones) lose everything. AS the fire
started in the poorer district they had no time
| in which to move furniture while the wealthier
effects. Several of the finest houses, however,
were burned without single article being re-
moved, so confident were the owners that they
| would be spared.
prominent citizens was organized with W. L.
| Moody, president Of the Cotton Exchange as
chairman. A finance committee of FIVE, with
| Col. VIM. NJ. Hinckly as chairman, was named
| by the original committee Besides these
mittees there are subcommittee for the various
| sections of the burned district. Contributions
are pouring in from all parts of the city At the
citizens meeting at the Cotton Exchange SIS, 600
was subscribed Dy business men. Among the
larger subscribers are Ball. Hutchinson & Co.,
bankers, 81, 900: P. j. wills &d Co.. wholesale dry
goods, $1,000; L. & H. Bloom $500; W. l..
Moody, $500; j. D. Rogers & Co., $500; Island
City Savings Bank, $780, and the Geo. Ball
| charity fund.- 81, 900.
Capt James B. Eads, the celebrated engineer
| telegraphs 81, 900 from st. Louis; Kinman & Co,
cotton buyers of Houston, send $780, The fol-
towing telegram was received at o'clock tonight:
| NEW YORK Nov 13.
| To Hon Roger L. Fulton, Mayor, Galveston:
am just in receipt of dispatches giving an account
| of the terrible confagraton that has visited your
city Please accept my deep sympathy in your mis-
| fortune. only hope the loss is overestimated You
| may draw at sight for SIS 600, to be used un-
| der the direction of relief committee, otherwise
| at your discretion, to relieve the needy.
| JAY GOULD.
| Tovle peneral rnaraper of the Rostop