The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-06-19
MUNCIE'S 100000 BLAZE
Greatest Fire in the History of the City,
Sweeping Away Two Big Glass-WOrk
FLYING Sparks from Railroad Locomotive
Cassas the Ruin Of tie Over WindOwGlass
and the Hemingway Flint Gla'S PlcniS


Special 10 the Indianapolis Journal,
MUNCIE, Ind, June 1S.-The most de-
structive fire that ever occurred in Muncie
was the burning of tho &. III. Over window
glass orks and the Hemingway fInt-glass
factory to-day, entaIling q loss of over
100000 While Lake Erie a. Western
switch-engine was doing some work on the
track between the two big factories
spark from the engine iGnited
a carload of packing straw, and soon after
the engine departed the flames burst out.
A war ehouse near by caught fire, and from
thcre each of the big factories was fired,
and in just forty-fve minutes each was
mass of ruins. and over three hundred en-
ployos out of work. The buildings were
of sheet-iron and wood. and burned with
great rapidity. leaving nothing but brick.
iron and molten glass.
The Hemingway Glass Company came to
Munoie from Covington, KY, and was
listed as the finest factory of the kind in
the country. Their loss on buildings and
machinery1s about $780, 600; on stock. S2O.-
600; insurance, S31.5OO in the following
companies:
Norwich Union, $500; Manchester, $3.50;
Lancashire, $4,000; British American. 81 500:
ct. Paul Fire and Marine, 81 300; North British
Mercantile, 1900; Springfield, 1000; Michl-
gan Fire and Marine, $1,000 Imperial, $1,000;
hamburg Bremen,$ 81 100 Traders, 5000; SUM-
$1,000; Evansville, $1,000; State investment,
81 1000; Western, 81, 900.
The Over factory was the first window
glass-house TO locate Ill the gas belt,
coming here from Bellaire. o.. and the con-
Germ was one of the largest In the West.
The total loss on buildings Is estimated at
$4,000, stock 100000; insurance, S45OOO.
This firm was to have closed down IN two
weeks for the summer vacation, and every
available place was filled with stock. The
companies involved IN Overs insurance
are:
1900; Lancashire, $4,000; Imperial. $1,000;
Home, 81 900; Evansville, $4,000 Caledonia,
$1,000; Springfield Fire and Marine. 81, 900; In.
Wayne. $1,000; scottish Union, 81 500; Reading,
$500; Hamburg. Bremen. 81, 100; State Invest
ment, $1,000; British American, $1,000 Mag
ara, $1,000; sun Fire Office, 81, $50; Manches-
ter, $4,000 Norwich Union, $4,000 Michigan
Fire and Marine, $1,000; North British Mercan-
tile, $4,000; Fireman of Baltimore, $1,000;
Western, 81 500; Traders, $1,000.
The furnace at tho Hemingway factory
was uninjnred, and n shed Is being built
around ii for the blowers to work under
Monday and until new factory Is built.
The rains this evening have badly dam
aged the over-furnaces, but they will be
remodeled. and tonight Mr.. Over stated
that he would at once rebuild. In
dustry In the southeast part of
the city with SIX mammoth factories has
no water for protection, and to-day's
loss IL a result. After two years dallying
by the City Council they recently ordered
the water works company TO extend it's
mains, and they are now partially con-
structed, but too late. Five loaded box
cars. two with sand and one with straw,
consigned to Hemingway, and two with
lumber for Over were burned. The report
in an evening paper that $1,000 was stolen
from Overs safe il untrue,