The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-10-29
was on fire whom he reached tho dwelling.
But his mother had been carried ont by


neighbora
Scores of blocks of Milwaukee's largest
business firms. together with hundreds Of
frame houses were destroyed by the fire.
The fire commenced in the establishment
of the Union Oil Company, at No. 27o East
Water street, and was burning fiercely
when the city department reached the
scene. Owing to the hurricane that was
blowing the firemen were utterly unable to
do anything and for any practicable
eu,ts might as well have done
nothing In spite Of this they worked
bravely and did every thing In their powsr.
risklpg their lives in the burning buildings
and endeavoring by tearing down blocks
in advance of the path of the FIRE to check
il. This was in vain, and all night long
the flames continued along their way.
From the establishment on East Water
street where the blaze started, the path of
the fire was in the shape OF an immense
v, the connecting point of the two
lines being the oil company's works. One
line extended directly east to the lake,
while the other ran to the lake in a south
erly direction. Through immense factories.
from four to seven stories high, which were
supposed to be fire-poof. the flames spread
with as much ease as through the framo
cottages further east.
IN THE FREIGHT YARDS.
After wiping ont the factories and whole
sale establishments the fire found easy
prey in the score of blocks filed with
frame houses, which extended east of Mil.
waukee street. From these the flames
lsaped to the freight-houses of the Mil
waukee, Lake Shore a. Western railroad.
These caught on the extreme southern end,
and in q moment were ablaze along the
whole length. over two blocks. Adjoining
the depots were the freight yards of the
same railroad, as well as of the Chicago &
Northwestern. These yards were filled
with hundreds OF loaded cars all of which
were quickly consumed. As soon as 1t was
seen that the yards were in the path of the
conf1agration q score of switch-engines
were set at work to endeavor to get the
loaded cars ont of the yard. The men
worked bravely and succeeded in remOv-
ing some of the trains. but they could only
take them further south. the yards to the
north being blocked. This did no good. as the
almost direct north. and in moment the
cars which had just escaped the flames in
one place were burned in another. 1t was
in these yards that some Of the most pitt
full sights were seen. In one place were
half a dozen poultry cars, full of ducks and
chickens which were roasted alive. As
soon as the destruction of the railroad
yards was assured. the wind, as though
prompted by malice, veered from west to
north. Had it remained in the west the
fire would have exhausted itself in the
lake.
Chief Foley kept the fire confined to one
block on East Water street until o'clock.
when it got away from him and leaped
across the street aud began q rapid march
toward Lake Michigan. six blocks away.
cutting down in short order the following
stores: +. Dohmen & Co.. Wholesale drugs;
M. Bloch. Wholesale liquors: Bubb q Kipp's
seven-story furniture factory; Roundy.
Peckham & Co.. wholeAale procers: Jacob
Wellauer & Co., wholesale grocers; John
son Brothers cracker factory american
Biscuit Company. and the National Dis
tIlling Company.
The entire lower part of the Third ward.
inhabited largely by poor Irish families. is
devastated. About three hundred cottages
have been destroyed. and the poor people
are wandering ab0ut the streets. loudly
lamentlng their losses. Some plan of re-
lief for them will no doubt be made. but at
this time people seem to be stunned and
are doing nothing.
A L. H., O. ,;x,,~
parts of the city widely separated. and il
was thought fire. bugs helped in the work
of destruction. The fine residence of l.. F.
Hodges, member of the Board OF
Trade. at Ninth and Cedar streets
two miles from the place where the
fire started, has been destroyed.
| Up to 9 o'clock only two fatalities have
been reported-one fireman killed and a
woman suffocated. At that hour the gas
works were burning. and frequent explo
sions were occurring in the fre-stricken
districts. Many of the scenes of the great
| fire of 1871 IN Chicago we're enacted. the
dynamite explosions the Ieaping flames
and crumbling walls adding to the terror
| of the situation. All the city except that
portion lighted by electricity was IN dark
| ness after the flames attacked the gas
| works.
At one time the flames were burnins
tiercely in the block sonth of the new home
of the Sentinel. and there seemed to be bur
little hope of saving the printing. press
Embers and blazing fraRments of paper
and cloth were being carried through tn,
air by the high wind. Finally force O
printers was stationed on the roof, and
armed with pals of water. succeeded il
saving the building There will be mucl
suffering among the homeless poor. ant
outside aid will De necessary.
| LIKE A BRILLIANT SUNSET.
During the first progress of the blaze tn,
scene was indescribably magnificent. Th,
sky. which had been clouded with gray
leaden-like clouds. was lighted up until ir
brilliancy rivaled the brightest sunset Th
flames seemed to reach to the very skies
Although it was rapidly growing dark tn
east side of the city was as light as dav
so bright was the blaze. The electric
lights assumed blue color. an,
seemed more like will.0'- the wisp
than the lights which usually iliumi
mated the city. From the O,
company's building. where the fire started
flames leaped out in all directions. Her
the fremen fought like demons knowin
that If the fire once gained the start. ow