The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-02-18
Firemen Powerless to Stay the Progress of
the Flames-Most of the Losses Covered
with Insurance-One Fireman Hurt

fancy goods; IL. Flpie. gloves ana per-
fumery and Wenger's Concert Hall are in
ruins-in fact, the walls of all these build
ings have fallen.
The soene of the fire was Canal street,
the principal thoroughfare of the city, at
the point where it is intersected by Bour-
bon. Schwarrz's establishment, q COM
manding structure. and but recently COM
pleted. occupied the corner of Canal and
Bourbon streets. 1t was four-story and
mansard roof, brick, stone and iron build
ing, surmounted by high clock tower.
At 1918 o'clock. last night, waiter in Mo-
reaus restaurant. on the opposite side of
Canal street, perceived o small tongue of
flame licking its way along the cornIce of
the roof of Schwartzs building, and
hastened to give the alarm.
The department responded promptly. but
experienced great difficulty In getting to
work, and the whole edifice was ablaze be-
fore q stream could be brought to bear
upon it. The flames spread backward to
Krause Bros establishment and across
Bourbon street to Cluveriuss drug store
simultaneously. and the department found
itself in moment powerless to cope with
the destroyer. A general alarm and then a
the suburban engines were pressed into
service.
CRASH FOLLOWED CRASH.
Backward the fire spread to Hof-
mans: to the left 1t attacked
Werlein's and lcrash followed crash as the
falling roofs overburdeued the floors be.
meath, already heavily laden with stocks
of merchandise, and each gave way in turn
until the interior fixtures of the stores and
on the floor. Stripped of all support. the
walls of the Schwartz building toppled and
fell and the WerIein building quickly fol-
lowed suit The buildings on the river
side of Bourbon street crashed in soon after
and full half square of the most valuable
property in the city was smoking mass of
ruins.
A breeze arose to fan the flames, and they
attacked their prey with renewed viRor.
On the opposite side of Bourbon street the
Cluverius building was the frstto collapse.
and carried with it the walls of Runkcps
establishment. McCloskey's confectionery
was mass of seething flame. and Keeger's
building was also burning fiercely. The
Nickel plate shoe store intervened to save
the main On trance to d. II. Holiness immense
establishment on Canal street. and that
portion of the store was but little dam
aged. The Bourbon-street entrance to
Holmes's. however. Jared worse. The
massive plate glass windows and weather
doors were shattered to atoms and the
more inflammable portions of the stock
thus exposed caught fire in moment.
Long ere this the fire department was
fairly at work. and tons of water were be-
ing poured upon the burning material. and
the flames showed the first symptoms of
yielding. On Canal street east of Bourbon
the fire met an impossible barrier
in the massive Touro buildings,
which adjoin Werleins. and. though
the roof of oil Of the stores
comprising the row we're once more on
fire. the flames could make no progress
against the sturdy masonry. The new
Cosmopolitan Hotel and the adjoining
structures. which front on Royal street,
just off Canal. and run back to the center
of the block, caught fire in the rear, and it
required the utmost effort on the part of
the firemen to save them.
The promptness with which the various
electric circuits running through the heart
of the city were shut off prevented fatali-
ties, and the only accident noted is an in
jury to fireman caused by flying debris.
LOSSES AND INSURANCE.
Schwartz's stock. valued at over $500, 900.
was insured for S360.000. and the building
for sS5.O00 considerably below it's value,
Holiness stock was insured for half q
million and was worth nearly twice
as much, but the damage to it il not
thought to be very great. Cluverius car
ried s.. 900 on stock. and the others were in
sured In proportion. Every insurance
company in the city has about an equal
share in the loss the risks having been di-
vided. Most of the buildings were newly
erected. and considered separate and ex-
cellent risks.
The individual losses so far as they can
be ascertained tonight, are as follows:
A. Schwartz & Sons, loss $500. 900. iusur-
ance S565. 600; Benevolent and Protective
Order of Elks. $500, uninsured; W. Il.
Cluverius, $500. covered by insur-
ance; Wengers Garden. $4,000. insured
ID. III. Holmes. S25.000. insurance
S6O0.OOO; Nine. l.. GODDARD loss
slight. insurance $1,000; Nine. Godin,
5000. insured: J. NJ. Hoffman, sl7.oOo in
sured: John Curry 81 500. uninsured; s. G.
Keeger $4,000. insured; John McCloskey