The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-04-04
Eighty Thousand Bales of Cotton and Four
Congresses. One Called the Fire Proof"
Licked Up by Flames In o Few Hours.
Four Squares in the Residence Portion
of the City Also Burned Over.
Several Hundred People left Homeless
Three Firemen Injured by Falling Walls
Total Damage Estimated at $1,000, 900.

proof compress on Front street. between
Race and Orange streets. The fire depart
menr responded promptly, but the wind
was so strong and the cotton so dry that it
burned like tissue paper. The flames ran
high and in an almost incredibly short
space of time had communicated to the
press itself and were working their
way along the woodwork Of the
roof. The fremen worked hard
TO arrest the progress of the flames, but all
their efforts were unavailing. Through the
yards swept the fire, carrying devastation
with 1t, burning cotton and wood as if they
were so much paper.
After three repeated alarms q general
alarm was sent in, and oil the engines in
city. with the exception of two or three.
were called out. The fire-proof press had
abont ten thousand bales of cotton stored
in it, and in half an hour the
bnilding and contents were consumed.
Gated to the upper press. The destruction
here was as great as at the first one. In q
marvelously short space of time the flames
had attacked the building from all sides.
cutting their way through the woodwork
with wonderful rapidity. In this press
was stored fifty thousand bales of cotton,
some Of which was taken out to a place of
safety. The major portion of the staple.
however, was in flames in q short time, and
it was impossible to save it. 1t required
but o few minutes, with tho high wind
that was blowing. to destroy this press.
The walls soon looked like charred pillars,
tottering to and fro and ~endangerina the
lives of firemen. several of whom had mar
row escapes.
A GREAT SHEET OF FLAME.
The sight at this time was o. awe.in-
spring one. For q space of at least two
blocks q great sheet of flame was shooting
upward. The smoke and sparks from the
fire were carried down into the streets by
the wind and choked and singed the spec.
tators. Suddenly q small Game was seen
to leap skyward from . corner of the Inde-
peDdence press. In . second nearly the
entire square was ablazo, and the
flames formed almost a solid block of
fire. In the yard were stored some
ten thousand bales of the f1ossy staple.
This proved excellent fuel for the flames
and in o little time it was consumed. At
ACAB IA 4OuI 4OW5 u OIL ~ "OIO 0AA
that stood to remind one that o large build
ing had once occupied the site. The last
press to catch was the Orleans. The place
was Quilted and its contents. consisting Of
about twenty thousand bales. were con-
sumed. There was no chance to save any
portion of the cotton, as the work of de-
struction was very rapid. For some time
the fremen worked on the flames and
when 1t became apparent that none of the
bales of cotton could be saved they de-
voted their attention to the surrounding
structures.
The walls OF the different burned presses
fell within a short time of each other. In
each case there was o deafening crash that
could be heard squares away q the
streets would be strewn with bricks and
ether material.
The district burned over is bounded by
Peters, Front. ITALIA and Robin streets.
follows: Fire-proof, Penrose Bros;
Shippers boyd IL Herrick. proprie-
tors). Independence cotton yard,
Orleans cotton press adam Torch. man.
as near as can now be ascertained. Is esti-
mated at $4,000 bales. held by factors and
commission merchants and covered by
their open policies. Much of this cotton
Will Dc sent 10 UQe DlckeTIe6 AID saved, so
that the total loss will probably not exceed
SS0 per bale, making the total loss on cot.
ton between two and two and o quarter
millions OF dollars. The loss on presses and
buildings is estimated at Sos. 000. 1t Is
thought the fire started from q cigarette
which some person threw among the cotton.
THREE FIREMEN INJURED.
For blocks around the burning presses
the residents moved out their furniture.
for fear that tho fire would spread to their
homes. Men. women and children were
seen running to and fro with pieces of
furniture or other property. which they
wished to save. In their flight they would
often throw down their parcels In the
street. and then the fre-thieves claimed
them. While the tiremen were work
Ing the Fire proof press the walls sud-
denly came tumbling down. and. to the
horror of the crowd. three men were seen
falling under the mass. Willing hands were
coon working on the walls. and shortly the
unfortunate hrenlen were taken from the
ruins, and, quickly as possible, removed to
the hospital, where their injuries were
dressed. Their names are Captain Alfred
Dupree. Lieutenant Shaw and pipeman
Bordeaux. DupTee was slightly injured,
but the other two men were badly hurt.
While the cotton press fire was raging,
an alarm was sent in for q fire in the resi-.
dence portion of the city. it being bounded
by Laurel. Annunclation, Second and
Third streets AT the time the fire depart
ment, police and large majority of the resi-.
dents of the burning district were at the
cottOn-press fire. A gale was blowinG and
the flames were famed in all directions
Chief OConner sent several engines to the
scene, but before they could get down to
action, q dozen houses were in flames. All
the engines on both sides of the river were
summoned to the scene at on &C. The heat
was intense. and for this reason il was
almost impo ssible to get near the burning
buildings. People who lived in the square
bounded by Laurel. Magazine, Second and
Third streets began to feel alarmed at the
eHcrOaching flames. At first they packed
up q few valuables. but as the element re.
fused to. be subdued the alarm grew into
fright and a wild scene ensued. Houses
were dismantled and their contents carried
away. House after house went down, anC
the efforts of the already overworkec
tremen seemed in vain. in The
face of the overwhelming odds
The fire spread in q southwesterly direc
ton, and swept across Laurel street with
rapidity that WAS at once alarming AM
AMAZING. soon the section bounded by
First. Third. Laurel and Magazine streets
-four squares-was ablaze. and the wood
en- buildings were deyoured as if they wer,
so much chaff. Magazine street stayed tn,
march of the destructive element westward
and acted rs a barrier on the south.
Every building in the four squares men
TONED, except four. were destroyed. Mos