The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-02-07
Which Serves to Check the Fury Of the
Flames-The Local Department Respond
cd Promptly, but Could DO Nothing
Fireman William CASTOR Injured by
Being Thrown from a Truck Wagon.
The Firemen Worked Heroically and Succeed
ed in Confining the Fire to the 0He Build
ing-The Loss Placed at 5000.


covered in the Haugh, Ketcham 81 Co.
iron-works, in H~auRhville. and in q short
time the greater portion of the machine
department was q great mass of flames.
The fire was discovered by the night
Waterman, and Is supposed to have caught
from a gas stove which was burning in a
little Office in the southwest corner Of the
machine-room
Att o'clock thismornirg thewatchmanwas
in this office and everything was all right.
When he returned about twenty minutes
later ne found that the walls were on fire
and the blaze was fast communicating to
other portions of the fitting department..
The local fire department. was immedi-
ately summoned, but could do scarcely
anything. rs it consisted only of o hand
pump and there was no water to work
1ith. The city department was also called
and arrived on the scene after Q long. hard
run over miserable streets and worse roads,
only to find that il could not do much to
stay the fury of the flames.
The great mass of lurid flame LIE up the
western sky with q red light plainly visi-
BILE for miles. In Haughville the ciriz ems.
who had been aroused from their midnight
slumber by the cry of fire, were greatly
excited. and. for q while. pandemonium
reigned supreme. In q short time the en-
tire machinery department. was q huge
mass of flames, roaring n their madness.
and thousands of sparks were hurled in
every direction.
An hour after the fire was discovered it
attained its greatest fierceness, and at that
time great fear was expressed that it would
communicate to buildings across the street
and make the confiagration general in its
nature.
About 2 o'clock the fire department sue
ceeded In turning two streams on the burn
ing building. getting the water from a
c~istern. and this served to confine the fire,
at least to the foundry.
The secretary and treasurer of the Haugh-
Eetcham Company, Mr.. John l.. Ketcham.
resides in this city. and as soon as possible
lie was notified of the fact that the foundry
was on fire. He arrived at the scene about
2 o'clock. Mr.. Ketcham said 1t was no time
to talk. and would say nothing further
than that the total amount of in
surance on the property aggregated about
10000. The loss will probably exceed
100000. 1t was understood his morning
that the Haugh-Ketcham Company had
taken a large worlds fair contract, but Mr..
Ketcham would say nothing about the mat
ter and it could not be confirmed. At $50
the confiagration was practically under
control so far as spreading to adjoining
buildings was concerned.
The excitement q short time after the
fire broke out was intense. The several
hundred hands employed at the works all
had their valuable tools stored in the ma
chinery-room. and the first thought was
to save them. The work of get
ting them from the burning building
was begun. and as the FIRE grew. so did the
excitement. The ~citizsns feared for their
homes and did all they possibly could to
stay the tismes. As soon as the fire depart
ment cocid get q couple Of streams on the
building the mel worked nobIy. and it was
owing to their efforts that the loss was not
greater.