The Indianapolis journal., 1894-04-01
Three Victims Dug Out and Saved. hut
the Remaining Four Unfortunately
Burned to Death in the Ruins.
AUGUSTA SCHMIDT JURY OUT
End Of the Trial Of the Murder
of Young Oscar Walton.
Grant County Auditor Against Turnir.
in a 'Rake-0ff'' TO Green Smith
Blue Prospect for Jason Brown.
Special to the Indianapolis journal.

ALEXANDRIA. Ind, April 1-2 a NJ
Shortly before midnight the business por-
ton OF Alexandria was shaken by a natural
gas explosion under the Whiteside Block
that raised the building as IL by an earth
quake and then let IL drop with fearful
crash that aroused nearly everybody in the
city. William Pyles's tonsorial parlor on
the first floor had seven customers within
in chairs or waiting at the time. and with
out an instant's warning all were buried in
the ruins The building took fire st once.
and, fed by the escaping gas, the flames
rolled up through the fallen structure like
a fire in brush heap. Both citizens and
flremen dashed In among the flames and TIM
bers to rescue the imprisoned victims. some
OF whom could be heard crying for help.
The first man found was the proprietor OF
the barber shop, William Pyle. He was
bruised and stunned. but not fatally hurt
William Heard and James Scott were also
soon found, but the fire had burned them
some and they also suffered from q mass
Of bruises, which are, however, reported
not fatal The work OF rescue was here
stopped by the mass Of flames that had
spread through the ruins, and the following
four men were burned to death:
JESSE HARRELL.
HARRY BOWER.
ORA BALL.
At 1 o'clock the fire had been subdued
sufficiently in the front part Of the building
to permit a search for the missing men,
Two charred bodies were found near the
top of the pile but they were simply a
mass of blackened flesh and beyond all
identification. At this hour the work or
rescue is going on with the hope that the
two remaining victims Will be recovered
The scene about the burning building to-
night is one of unparalleled horror and
belt city. Wives, children, brothers and
fathers were quickly gathered on Main
street in front of the block and worked ike
frenzied beings to assist the rescuers. tneir
cries and lamentations were heartrendlng,
and made the strongest shed bitter tears
The building was a simple two-Story struc-
ture on the first floor were Pyless barber
shop. the American express Office ana the
Whiteside clothing establishment Almost
nothing of the contents was saved, thOuSh
the front wall remains standing. The eX-
DIosion is thought to have resulted from a
gas leak in the cellar. The total loss viii
not reach over $1,000
Town of Borden Partly Burned.
NEW ALBANY. Ind, March S.-The lit
tie town of Borden was visited by a fire
this morning and the loss is estimated at
nearly $4,000. The fire originated in Mill
er's flour mill and spread rapidly 10 a row
of frame stores and dwellings. All were
reduced to ashes and but little OF the con-
tents saved. The citizens organHe1 a
bucket brigade and fought the fire with lit
tie success. Chief Merken, OF the New
Albany fire department sent hose reel
by special train, but arrived 100 tate 70
be of service. The burned district Is near
ly two hundred yards long. Among the
losers were Jenkns's general merchandise
store and Shoemaker's dry goods store.
The names Of the others who suffered
cOuld be learned.