The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-15
Appearance of the Locality Through Which
the Flames Swept-Buildings That Mark
the Limit of the Destruction.
The Losing Firms at Once Begin Making
Arrangements for New Quarters.
All Will Be Filling the Orders of Customers
Within Day or Two-A Correct State
ment of the Losses and Insurance.

ruin ana smoke WneT0 SLOOu Inc Jay O0LOfo some
of the best buildings in the wholesale quarter Of
the city. Everybody wondered that the con1a
grafton was confined to that limited ouarter
since for an hour or more the flames seemed tc
be beyond the control Of firemen, and threat
ened to extend throughout the two squares
bounded by Georgia, Louisiana, Illinois and
Pennsylvania, with Meridian running between
them. On the east side of the
latter street and the corner of Georgia stood ap
parently unscathed the fine block OF Byram
Cornelius & Co., and at the southern limit oil
that side. on the corner Of an alley the new
building recently purchased by Pearson &
Wetzel Between these two was the debris OF
J George W. Stout and d. p. Erwin e. Co. g whole
sale houses. from which not an article was
saved. Here $3.50. 900 in dry goods and groceries
were consumed, while the wiping out of the
buildings entailed an aggregate loss of
$4,000. Stopping the flames on the north.
the block of Byram, Cornelius 81 Co. prevented
them from crossing Georgia street to the large
wholesale dry goods house Of Murphy, Hibben
e. Co. Had that gone down in the wreck there
is no telling where the fire limit could have been
drawn. On the south the unfinished and rnoc-
cupied building of Pearson & Wetzel checked the
confagration from sweeping down to Louisiana
street, taking in it's way wholesale liquors, drugs
millinery. grocery and, dry goods houses. 1t
stands to-day with blistered walls and roof
partially gone, but not in such bad condition
that the Insurance will not put it in good order
again.
In the wreck the flames would now and then
break out viciously, if finding an outlet to re-
sumo their work of destruction. but they had
nothing more to burn. Now a tottering wall
would crash into the debris and cover the mass
of heated brick and mortar, from which came
constantly, smoke aud steam. Upon this mass
several streams played the entire morning,
while others were turned on the building of
Byram, Cornelius g. Co. EARLY in the afternoon
the rumor started that this building had caught
fire. but it proved untrue. It stood as it did
when the fire this side had exhausted its
force. leaving the firm losers Of S. 900 by smoke
and water.
On the west side Of the street the ruin was
more extensive, but not more complete in bare
walls and destruction of goods. At the corner
of Georgia street stood the ice-covered ruins of
Mckee & Branhams large shoe warehouse
with not even the part of floor girder or ioist
from the cellar TO the top. Every thing that
could burn had gone into the wreck.
Next to this the factory of G. B. Cones, Sons
& Co., then the store of Tanner Sc Sullivan,
L
Wetzel and then the damaged clearinghouse
of David Newman, once Lewis Dessar,
marked in the same way the ravages of the fire.
In this space $1,000 worth of goods were de-
stroyed, while Moore & Coughin added lttls
TO the total by damages of So. 600 done to their
stock This building escaped by a scratch, and
had it given way the fires would have
passed the alley, taking in their course
hundreds OF thousands Of dollars in various lines
OF goods and some Of the best buildings in the
square Here, too, the fremen continued to
throw their streams throughout the day. but in
the afternoon all danger of a renewal of the fire
had passed and the principal part of their WORT:
was applied to pulling down the injured walls.
So complete is the wreck of buildings that. from
Georgia street to David Newmans clothing
house. the block must be rebuilt entire.
Moore s. Coughlen deny that they had any
powder in their cellar and state that it was in a
box on the sidewalk, with wheels and was
plainly marked Powder" It was tho contents
% this box, they say, that was carried away
from their store.
1t marks the spirit of the enterprise of the
osing firms that none of them hesitated long
what to do. With goods destroyed and the
buildings gone, the only question they seemed
10 consider was where to resume business again.
George w. Stout early settled it as far as he is
by renting the building at No 6s |
south Pennsylvania street. where he will be |
eady to receive orders on Monday. d. F. Err |
vim & Co. will be ready in a day or |
wo. For the present Pearson e. |
vetzel will have their Office with Fahnley g. |
icCrea, a. the corner of Meridian and Louisiana
treets. They have in the Big Four warehouse
IL crates of crockery which came from across
he ocean few days ago. These crates would
Nurr1 fhA 1%k-.1 -
cen stored in the firms building. Within
hrty days the firm will have it's new building
cross the street ready for occupancy. Tanner
Sullivan have secured room with the Rich
rdson Drug Company. Mckee g. Branham
MI get new quarters as soon as
ossible. For the present the firm can be found
Murphy, Hiboen & Co.'S. Mr.. Stout intends
The overall and clothing factory OF C. B.
ones, Son d Co., which totally DESTROYED |
'as tne largest concern of the kind in the
ounsry: and one OF the leading industries of the
ny. FROM modest beginning, a few years
go. IL had grown into a mandatory employing
ooSs al ali po oSp an the year, and sending
undecided whether 10 re.Iocata
ere or 60 TO Chicago, strong Inducements hay-
liz been offered him to remove there whara his
usiness could be more advantaeeouslv con-
ncted in some respects. and where he conld oct
proper building. without difficulty. He saws
lere Is no such building in Indianapolis, !
'ntrally located, as is necessary. and willis
IS establishment will probably have temporary
uarters here. until some permanent arrange
ent IS made, he does not know that ha ,.;II |
locate here If proper building could he Z
und or built here, suitable for his business he
ould be glad to paw rental for il, which would
We the owner fair and reasonable return for
o money invested both in the building and the
ound-
There is organization already here. in
nich Mr.. A. +. Potts is prime mover, whose
Irpose is to offer inducements for manufact.
ers TO locate here and encourage the various | '
dustries already here. 1t is suggested that if q
Is association. or other enterprisiug business ,
en-, should take some steps looking towards | {
eping the Cones establishment here il would :
or great benefit 20 the city and good invest | :
snt for whoever undertook it, in a business =
nse :
There were some unavoidable inaccuracies in !,
Q first account of the fire. 1t was mistake '
regard 10 private Waterman John Reed that =
lad become unstrang at the fire occurring on !
beat and left his duties for the night to =
other person. Mr.. Reed and Jasper Clary !
covered the fire ut about the Same time and