The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-16
RAISED FROM THE RUINS
The Contents of Two Safes That We're
in the Great Fire Are Found Intact.
the Debris-Reys. Jenckes. Lamport and
Edison Preach About the Fire.
CLEARING AWAY THE DEBRIS.

Three Safes Are Taken Out of the Ruins by
the Firemen.
The scene of Friday nights coDfiagration was
again visited yesterday by thousands of people.
Men, women and children crowded around the
ropes encircling the burnt district. Only fire.
men, business men interested and reporters
were allowed inside the ropes by the detail of
police that has been constantly on guard since
the fire occurred. Owing to the extreme frigid-
ity Of the weather visitors didn't tarry long on
the scene and all day there was a constant
stream of people passing up and down South
Meridian street
Norwisns standing it was the Sabbath it was
busy day about the ruins. The iremen who
still on the ground had much to do. Several
walls that were tottering and several likely to
fall at any moment, should a brisk wind come
ND, were pulled down early in the morning
that the work of removing what few valuables
had been spared, could begin with safety.
Most of the water that had been kept pourine
upon the ruins of ErwinIs and Stouts stores for
fortyeight hours. flowed into the cellar of Byram,
Cornelius & Co. g store, and during the forenoon
an engine was put to work pumping it out
Members of the losing firms were on the
ground early in the morning making arrange
ments for removing their safes, which were
buried in the cellars under ten feet of debris.
BY 10 o'clock a large force of men were at work
on the ruins Of the west side, which had cooled
much more quickly than those the east side
of the street. Removing the debris from off
the buried safes was found to be very disagreea-
BILE business and was also attended with consider
able danger. The bricks were still hot. and the
shaky walls were in constant danger Of tum-
bling down. BY hard work the safes Of Tanner
q Sullivan and Cones, Son Go. we're
hAd nf
noon They were still hot, but apparently in
good condition. They were hauled out, and
then the work of opening began by Charles
had q very difficult task before him. but he
eeeded in getting inside of both. The one be-
longing TO Cones, Son Sc Co. was opened first,
and all the contents were found to be intact
The books and papers were smoked and slightly
dampsned Tanner e. Sullivan's safe opened
with considerable difficulty When the outside
door was opened steam andssmoke issued from
the vault Within and it was supposed that the
contents had burned, but when the inner door
was opened everything was found to be in good
shape The books were slightly scorched but
the figures the ledgers had held their color.
When Pearson 81 Wetzeps safe was unearthed
of the other two. The cornice around the top
had not been melted of. While the safemove
was pulling the safe out the cable broke and
allowed the safe to fall back to the bottom of
the cellar. Several workmen narrowly escaped
being hurt by the accident. The safe was finally
got out, but not in time for Mr.. Gorsuch to open
IL laSt evening. However,, there Is no douOe
about all the firms books and papers being
intact
The work Of removing the buried safes will be
continued this morning. The biggest job will
be to get out the one belonging TO d. P. Erwin
81 Co. 1t Is much larger than any of the others
The cellar of the building was still almost like a
furnace yesterday, and it is doubtful whether
the debris will be cooled off enough to-day to
allow the removal of the safe In the cellars of
all the destroyed buildings there are some goods
that have not been destroyed. and to-day a large
force of men will be put to work removing the
debris and securing whatever of value remains
beneath it.
Superintendent Travis last evening again de-
tailed ten men to guard the ruins, and force
will be kept on watch until all the goods of any
value have been removed The firemen still
watched the burning debris last night and they
say it will not be safe to leave the scene for a
day or yet The terrible weather Of the
last two days has been trying on the firemen
and policemen. and they feel grateful to Byram,
Cornelius g. Co., who have each night furnished
them with hot coffee and provided them with
gloves. ear-muffs and other articles OF comfort