The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-17

Chase had just fitted the at a cost OF
over $l0,000 for tho manufacture of belt hooks.
a. the rear OF this building, extending PACK
floors. recently erected Two of these were &C.
cupied by Hahn. The third floor had Just been
ntted up for the manufacture of tubing. with
very expensive machinery. From this point tho
hre extended to the Aldrich House. the fire
communicating through the roof. On the lower
floor OF the hotel were the offices of the National
Express Company. F. j. Favre, watch maker
aud jeweler, bar-room and p. Il. r. Green's
printing Office The next building to succumb
that occupied by Ethan Allen as . carriage
repository. which was totally DESTROYED, most of
the contents being saved. Adjoining Mr.. Aliens
building stood the Exchange Hotel, owned by
Harriet f. and George l.. Barnes 1t was soon
q prey to the fire.
Assistance had been summoned from Paw
tucket, East Providence. Johnston and Woon-
socket. and the Boston department. was asked
to hold itself itself in readiness. A mass of
parks went rushing and tumbling before the
northwest gale across Westminster. Broad and
Pine streets. and over Eddy and Richmond
streets big hot Goals dropping along the way
Several other alarms were struck for smaller
fires set by the flying embers, and scores of
buildings were set on fire. Never in the history
of the department have the frerlen had such
battle with flames under such conditions. and
never have they suffered in their heroic service
to such an extent. The freezing blast and the
paralyzing Geld nearly froze the marrow in their
bones, but they fought on bravely, regardless of
everything but the thought that the city was in
danger. The Aldrch House burned slowly, and
it was evident that if the flames were not soon
checked there, wide path would be cut
through the heart of the retail business
section. The fremen concentrated all their
energies upon the tas, of combining the flames
to the north size of Washington street, and al
though other buildings took fire they succeeded
in their efforts At A.. NJ the fire was under
control, and the stout granite walls of the
Aldrich House had served a bulwark to the
further progress of the flames. The tangle of
electric light, telephone and telegraph wires
greatly impeded the fremen. Arson w.
Aldrich. proprietor of the Aldrich House. was
lying ill in the house, and was taken to the
Girard House, where he is in critical condi-
ton. The guests saved very little. One guest
was rescued by fireman, half suffoca,ed by
smoke. He mistook the fireman for thief and
grapped with him. To-day the whole square
a mass of smoking ruins except the Aldrich
House corner, where the granite walls still stand
in weak condition
The following is the loss and insurance as far
as can be ascertained:
Aldrich House, loss estimated at 500, 900; in
surance $27, 900. Shattuck's Exchange (E. g.
Barness estate), loss on building.
$780, 00 insurance. S., 900; on furni-
ture, loss $50, 900; insurance, $l5, 900;
buildine loss. 800 600; Insurance. $50. 900. Isaac
Hahn. loss, $4,000 insurance, $1,000. Allen
building loss estimated at &c. 900; ms ured for
Sd, 900. Chase loss So. 600, insurance. 5000.
American Tubing and Manufacturing Company,
loss, Sl4 600; insurance. $13, 600.
A complete list of the losses has not yet been
made. The latest estimate puts the total losses
at 1862, 600 and the known insurance at $l45 900.