The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-02-07

INC pbttern-ToOm next 10 tue Otlco Wos
ablaze in the roof aud was likely to be
destroyed. Chief Webster changed the
line of hose and played the water
from the inside upon the roof. In the
course of half an hour this part of the fire
was practically extinguished. though the
damage to the patterns and other valuable
property was probably little less than to-
tai
The spread of the fire was aim ost in
credibly swift. In thirty minutes after it
BEGAN the departments which first caught
were ruins. The thin one-story walls were
cracking, lettering and falling to the north.
In the direction of the wind. The
numerous pulleys and shaftIng rods. and
the costly machinery stood MP black end
hot on the grou nd out Of the flames. The
frame buildings burned like finder. and the
Hat tar roofs seemed to vanish AVA In
dense columns of smoke.
A second stream was afterward brought
into action and rendered effective service
in keeping the flames under control.
Mr.. Ketcham arrived about 2 o'clock.
He believed at first the whole plant was
doomed, but expressed much satisfaction
when 1t became evident the new structure
would be saved. IL speaking of the work
on hand. he said to a Journal reporter:
WORK CONTRACTED FOR.
I'VE rave the work contracted for the
new Library building and the Commercial
Club in the yards. and there will be but
little delay In getting these contrasts out
In the specified time. We have. also. a
contract for the malleable iron-work,
of the governments building at the worlds
fair. and think the material for that, as
far as 1t is finished. Is also out OF danger.
There may be some work for the st. Louis
and Buffalo buildings which are
destroyed. but l cannot as yet
tell about that. We will push
rapidly the completion of this new
foundry. and / think we can get all our
contracts ont with less delay than would
be expected. We were working full time,
and had all we could possibly do with o
force of three hundred hands"
WORLDS FAIR CONTRACT.
The contract for the worlds fair build
ing amounts to ss5. 600. There were a num-
Der of other very large contracts on hands.
When night Waterman Street first found
the flames in the ceiling. near the gas stove.
he ran first to shut off all the natural
gas and give the alarm. He happened to
meet James Corners, master of the foundry.
and they two attempted to stop the head
way OF the fire with buckets of water.
They found the room SO hot they could
not enter it. 1t was useless to summon
the fire department of the works itself for
the reason that there was 10 steam In the
boiler with which to work the pumps. 1t
so happened that yesterday was the fort
nightly period for cleaning the boilers. and
that the fires had been allowed to die down.
The flames. however. suread so rapidly it is
quite improbable the private equipment
would have been of little use in any case.
The heavy rain of the fore part of the
night had made the streets almost impass-
able. The heavy engines were dragged
along slowly by the smoking horses. whose
first dashing squirt had sobered
down to q jog-trot. The heavily-loaded
hose wagons made but little better time.
The police patrol. with Captain Qulgley in
command, was present to lend assistance
for the protection of property.
How the Fire Started.
a u nv A.1O IA tLO o IIaLlO
half of the fitting department at the ex-
treme western half of that department.
James Street. the night watchman. was
making his rounds. and just reached
this part of the building when
he smelled smoke. and pushing his way on
discovered the portion mentioned in flames.
He ran out in the street and cried Fire"
and in o short time the alarm was BOUNDED
by the National Malleable Casting Com
pany's whistle. The department
the call in as speedy time as was possible.
The fitting department. half of which is
frame and half brick. was entirely con-
sumed before the department. arrived. and
then when it did reach the place consider
able difficulty was experienced in getting
water. The cistern from which the supply
was reached was q block and a half west of
the building. and for forty minutes after
the fire started not a drop of
water v as turned on. Following east, on
the MIchigan-street front, the engine-room,
pattern shops. general and private offices
aud the architectural department. were
consumed. A large force of willing hands
was active In saving all the property on
the first floors that could be saved.
desks. chairs. tables and loose books were
carried out into the street and nothing that
the volunteers could get their hands on
was burned. The more important books
were all looked up in the safes and vaults.
all Of which withstood the fire. The de-
partment turned its first attention to the
new foundry building in the rear of the
general offices. a building now in the course
of construction.
THE NEW FOUNDRY.
It is 150x50 feet in dimensions. and it was
saved. For q time it looked as though the
entire number of buildings and tho north
side of the street would 20. as
the sparks were flying in per-
feet showers and blowing against them.
Especial praise is due the employees who
hive near the plant for their heroic efforts
in saving the property. Many of them
rushed in fearlessly where the flames
were the thickest and saved hundreds of
dollars worth of the property that
would have been consumed but for their
presence of mind.
A number of men who were in the gen.
eral Office came very near being buried
under the roof, which fell in just O minute
after they left.
New Building Saved
At 4:15 everything was consumed except
the new foundry department in the rear of