The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-09-29
Numerous Streams from Street and River En-
gines Only Increased Its Fury and Filled
the Cutters with the Blazing Fluid.
Eight Firemen Injured and Half a MILL
ion Worth of Property Destroyed.
Insurance Estimated at About Half the Loss
Cedar Beach Clubhouse Wiped Out
$4,000 Damage to Q Steamer.
DISASTROUS FIRE.

DISASThOUS
Oil Warehouse and Other Buildings De-
stroyed-Eight Firemen Injured.
Special TO the Indianapolis Journal
PHILADELPHIA. Sept. 2S.-Shortly after 2
o'clock this afternoon fire broke out in the
basement of the large building No. l36
Delaware avenue. 1t was used by Messrs.
Phillips & Cunningham as a warehouse for
lard. linseed and other oils and was well
stocked with goods. The structure was
four stories in height and extended through
to Water street. The width of the store
was about twenty feet and it was packed
with barrels of oil on every floor. An
alarm was sent out and in about ten min
utes the firemen reached the premises and
their efforts were directed to the oil store.
then aflame. in the hope of confining the
fire within it's walls. In very short
time, however. it was seen that the fire
was more extensive that at first thought.
and orders were given for q second alarm
to be sent out.
AS the flames were observed to be mount
ing up u corps of firemen conveyed a line
of hose up to the second and then to the
third story. They broke in the sashes
ed it upon the blazing oil. The water
stream seemed only to mako the flames
more wicked. and at fash they enveloped
the firemen and drove them back to the
ladders. down which they tumbled ana
were severely injured. The hospital am
balances wero on tho ground aud the in.
iured men were promptly removed. About
this time the fire burst forth from the
Water.street front of the building. and
great volumes of greenish. heavy smoke
belched forth from the roof, driving the ire
men back from their positions. Every bit
of water that could be obtained from the
street mains was now being thrust into the
burning building, and Delaware avenue
became q rivulet of oil and water just In
the nick of time the police boat St0keley
arrived. and in a little while W as pumping
water from the Delaware river on the
fames
All these mindful efforts failed TO keep
the fire down, however, and at 3 clock the
buildings on the west side of Water street
caught fire. although they bad been soaked
from rOOf-tanks and with private fire ap.
paratus of large firms like Weikel & Smith.
the Spy mills operators. Nos. 81. "a and 30
North Watcc street were seen to be smOk-
ing along the roofs clear through to Front
street At this time the Armour Packing
Company's place was seen to be on flre, and
it looked as If the Whole block would go,
ment was ordered into service, and the
police boat King was ordered to the scene
The energies of the tiremen were now di-
rected mainly to tho burning buildings on
& Moore, which adjoined CunninRham's
place to the north. early became ignited.
and the property walls began to bulge
placing O large tank of machine-Oll. con-
tanning 1,5OO gallons. in an extremely peril
GUS condition.
Ats o'clock. without a moments warn.
ing. and while the street in front was
crowded with tiremen, the tank caught fire
and the flames shot out through the win
the west side of Water street, coming in
contact with the rear of the wool ware
house of Thomas Wilson, No. 137 Front
street. The contents were soon consumed.
and the adjoining properties. Nos. 145 and
Ink Company and u. w. Elkins were
scorched pretty considerably.
When the tank fell the property wall be-
tween Cunningham's and the Jessup-Moore
Company fell with q crash. This weak
ened the front wall of the oil warehouse
to such an extent that oil the spectators
were ordered from tho spot, and mono too
soon, for at 3:55, two minutes afterw ards,
with mighty shake and a great rush the
five stories of wall came down with thun-
dering noise. bricks flying in all directions
Firemen were on q ladder resting against
the Armour Beef Company. One poor fell
and losing his hold fell. receiving slight IN.
juries on the back of his head. He was at
once removed to the hospital The fire at
about o'clock was practically under con-
troll.
Delaware avenue was q river of running
oil and was utterly impossible. Telegraph.
telephone and other wires were down in
every direction. The members of the firm
of Philips q Cunningham were on the
ground, but were unable to estimate their
loss. but said it would be very great. Their
building contained in tho neighborhood of
$500 barrels of OIL.
The tiremen injured numbered eight. two
of whom were hurt In the early stages of
the fire. With the exception of Richard
Cantrell of Engine 81. all were taken to
the Pennsylvania Hospital, as follows:
Charles Porter, No. 90, foot cut; James
Sharen. assistant foreman; Edward Dona-
fremen Filbert and Porter. No. 81. and
Frank Lowry, OF Truck ID. None of the
injuries was serious. consisting for the
most part of slight fractures
over half million dollars. the insurance
being little over half of the loss.
later dispatch says that. conservative
estimates place the loss at about 100000
cred by an insurance of $1,000 The
Armour Packing Company building
several thousand dollars. while the
worth 100000. is said to be damaged SO
per cent. covered BY insurance in Western
companies. The other tenants, j. NJ
Rowe Son IL Co.. claim the damage
TO their stock will amount to Sl5..
OOo Their insurance amounts to $4,000.
James G. Kitchen q Co.'s wool ware
house. No. $50 North Water street. dam
aged mostly by water, from $4,000 to
$4,000 is insured for S6OO0o Koens,
Schwatz * Co.. No. 1877 North River street.
grocers' specialtieS suffered some damage
by water and smoke. n. X. Fairbanks * Co,
lard. No. 13S North Delaware avenue, lost
$1,000. George w. EIkins, No. l49 North
Front street, hops. lost $500 Other prop
critics were damaged by smoke and water
sufficient to bring the total up to the
amount above mentioned.
SUMMER RESORT BURNED.