The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-12-16
VISITED THE SECOND TIME
Again Fire Played Havoc in the Show
Window of the "When."
An Electric Light Wire Burned Out Among the
Christmas DecoratiOns-Loss
and Insurance.

For the second time within the last two
When clothing store have been Quilted by
fire and a large portion OF the stock INSIDE
damaged by smoke and water. A few days
ago the north window was decorated in the
representation of a snow scene, a sort of
excelsior being used to depict overhanging
riffs of it. It was made resplend-
emit by q large number of. colored mean
descent lights. which were set in and about
it in an ingenious way. On the floor of the
window and In pyramids of various forms
were displayed the company's wares. 1t
was this window which was destroyed, and
the fire was started by the burning out of
one of the electric wires. 1t caught with
almost incredible rapidity. A number of
persons passing about $50 IN the evening
gazed in at the attractive display, and. be-
fore they had gone q dozen steps. they
heard a crash and saw the flames leaping
forth. Among these was w III. Kershner. who
fastened to the fire-box at the corner of
Market and Pennsylvania street, and Sc
curing a key from N colored man who was
valnly endeavorIng TO make use or IL, sent
in an alarm. The department arrived at
the scene promptly. and it was but the
work of a few moments to e~xtlnguish the
flames. excepti In spots where they spluttered
and smoldered for an hour or more. The
window, its huge plate-glass. its casing and
accessory woodwork was destroyed. as
were its contents. which consisted OF a dis
play of furnishing goods. The furnishing
department Is situated immediately IN the
rear of the window. and the flames COM
municated to O number of the boxes and
: cases containing kwe and similar
articles. great many more were damaged
by an intense black smoke and by water and
chemicals which were thrown into the
blaze. The Offices of attorneys Hawkins
and Smith, which are Immediately over
the window. on the second floor, were also
damaged to a certain extent. The carpets
were burned through in places. and ire
facilitate fighting the flames beneath.
The losses are variously estimated. Mr..
John I. Brush, who Is at the head of the
concern, absolutely refused 10 place an es-
innate on his loss. He said that 1t was
impossible to do so. rs a great deal of stock
might be damaged of which he IS yet knew
nothing. Insurance men placed it at not to
exceed 5000. and others estimate IL as
high as $50 900. The loss on the south win
dow, an exact counterpart of the one
burned last night. at the time OF Its burn
ing was about $4,000. The cloth D.
ing stock was Immediately in
the rear of il, and some valuable garments
were damaged. 1t is thought that the loss
of last night will not equal it. The crash
ing Of the big windows and the sudden cry
of fire created a momenrary panic among
the numerous clerks. and II number OF them
made q rush for the exits. Miss Minnie
Stearn, employed In the Office, Jumped from
q back window to the ground, G distance
of eight feet. and Injured one of her limbs
quite badly. Thomas Muntz, a plpeman of
"a company, received q bad scalp-wound
from a piece of falling glass. completing
the list of casualties.
The loss is amply covered by insurance,
there being. all told, about 100000 on the
stock.
The insurance, as near as it could be
learned last night. is as follows: Grover
& Seguln, on stock: Prussian National,
g, 500; Reading Insurance Company. $500,
and Queen Insurance Company. $500.
Henry Coe. on stock: Orient. 5000; Ger
man of Philadelphia. $500; Girard. $500;
ford. $4,000. On building: American OF
Philadelphia, 5000.
Gregory & Appel on stock: Northwest
ern National. S2.5O0: Spring Garden of Phil
of Newark. $1,000; Sun of England. $500;
Ohio Farmers. $500; Merchants Union.
81, 800. and New Hampshire. $500. On
building: Sun of California. $1,000; New
York Bowery, $4,000, and Citizens of ST.
Louis, $4,000. On fixtures: Continental.
Richardson 81 McCrea. on stock: Ger
mania, $500. On building: Phoenix of
London, 5000; PheDix OF Brooklyn,
$500, ano Niagara. $500.
McGillald d. Dark, on stock: Fireman's
of Chicago. $4,000. Indiana. $1,000; Fire
mans Fund. 5000, and Fireman g of Balti-
more, &. 500.
Rehm q Van Dcinse. on stock: German
of Freeport. $500. and Rockford, $500.
Or building: Paeitic, $1,000. and German
of Freeport. 5000.
C. L. Sayles, on sto ok: Phoenix of Hart
ford, $500, and wich of New York,
1850. On building: PhpnIx of Hartford,
So 500, and Home of New York, $500.
Dyer X Rassmann. on stock: American of
Now York. g. SOC. and National of Hart
ford. $500. On building: National of
Hartford, g., 800.
Walker * Prather, on stock: Northern,
e.. 500.
Powell & Hanckle, on building: Com
mercIal Union. $500.
i. n. Todd. on buIlding: Fire Association,
5000.
John s. Spann 81 Co., on building: Liver
pool. London and Globe, $500.
Robert Zener, on wires and apparatus:
Counaottnof 90 S00