The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-01-23
CHARACTER OF THE BUILDING.
It was Pronounced Unfit for the Purpose q
Early az 1878.

It was Pronounced Unfit for the Purpose as
Early as 1878.
That the terrible disaster of Thursday
night had long been foreseen is shown by
the fact that in 1878 Mr.. j. g. Pendergast
then chief fire engineer. was ordered by the
Council 70 investigate and report on the
condition of several buildings. among them
the Surgical Institute. That was thirteen
years ago. and Mr.. Pendergast says that so
far as ne knew no steps were taken while
he was chief to provide for the safety of the
patients.
Below is his report to the Council. only
omitting that part relating to other build.
ings than the institute; also his note te
DR.. Allen accompanying q copy CT the re-
port and his letter TO the Council on re-
celpt of DR.. Aliens reply:
DEC. 1o. 1873.
To IN o Hon. N ayor Caven Board Of Aldermen and
Common Council. Indianapolis. Ind:
Gentlemen-In compliance with your order OF
Oct. IA, 1873, and In company with Mr. J. III.
Webster. Z. 4. Burgess ana w 9; Long, have
The first building have TO report on ia the Sur.
gical Institute. This building We gave careful
ing unsafe On the first foor there Is a drug
store, IN the rear part OF which there Is lot OF
oil, old paper and other coInbustible material.
On the north OF that there Is a clothing store,
and then a cigar store. next, grocery and IN tho
rear OF these there is the boiler and heating ap-
paratus. partly inclosed bya wooden shed that
looks like fire might occur at any time. The
boiler looks like 1t had seen much service and
from the outward appearance We could form but
little idea as 20 the safety; but, judging from
what we could see, it was not very safe On the
south of this, on the first floor, and immediately
adjoining the drug store, there Is a laundry heat
ed by stoves connected with old fiues that look
very unsafe. 10 say the least And the old en-
trance from Illinois street running back 10 lthel
laundry and boiler-house with nothing TO cut 10
OF but wooden doors. The front part OF the hall
is closed from the street by double doors opening
on the inside, and from this hall the main stairs
starts running 10 the upper part OF the building.
which Is very crowded and narrow. All the
stores In the building run back, and open out
near the boiler with nothing between but wood
en- doors. In case OF fire anywhere about the
boilerhouse or laundry, there il but little
TO cut IL of from the main stair
way-in fact, nothing but wooden doors.
The halls In the upper part of the building are
very narrow and the ceiling very low. and up
the stairway and through the halls there seems
TO be "A strong draught. so that fire anywhere IN
the lower part of the building would In a very
few minutes fill the halls and stairways 90 fun
or smoke that IL would be impossible for any
one TO pass through them, and the chances 10
get out OF the upper part or the building tho
class OF people We SEQ there would be utterly
impossible Between the old building and the
| one Immediately north is n wooden passage. aud
| from q window In that passage there is an old
rough wooden stairway running down between
thetw buildings 90 the street. bur tho entranao