The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-03-27
BICYCLE WORKS FIRE
Century Cycle Company's Plant
ON Virginia Avenue Burns.
Loss May Reach 4O,O0O-Located in
Skating Rink Opposite Hose
House No. III.

At 1920 o'clock this morning a blaze
Manufacturing Company's plant on Vir-
ginia avenue. An hour later the building,
with its contents, was a blackened heap
of ashes and warped iron. The cycling
company occupied and owned the building
formerly known as the plant of the Stand
ard bicycle works The building was orig
inally erected for skating rink and for
several years was given over to that IA
vorite pastime. 1t was called the Virginia
avenue Rink and was located block
south of South street A few months ago
when the Standard bicycle management
made an assignment the building was pur-
chased by H. c. Smithers, who is the
present proprietor. At the present time
but eighteen were employed In the
works, but until the dull season set in
the company turned out a large INSTALL
ment of wheels each week.
The building was a frame structure Of
two stories, and rooted with pitch.
The flames started in the rear, burned rap
idly through the ceiling, and ignited the
inflammable material on the roof Within
five minutes after the fire was discovered
the flames were shooting high in the air
and showering sparks on the roofs. of the
adjacent property. Blazing particles of
pitch, caught up by the brisk wind, were
blown several squares away, and it required
prompt work the part of two three
owners to save their stables and sheds,
which caught from the burning pitch The
Elevens hose company is located imme-
diately opposite the factory, and
a line of hose was dragged out within a
few minutes after the fire was discovered
The Elevens were quickly reinforced by
engines from other houses called out by
first and second alarm from Box II. The
firemen were prompt and worked hard to
avert the loss, but were only able to
partially prevent the flames from spread
ing to valuable property in the vicinity
Notwithstanding their efforts, the fire COM
municated to the residence Of Jacob Fike,
No. 24S Virginia avenue, and to the home
of Charles Glazier, Immediately south of
the burning factory.
The establishment was practically de-
stroyed within twenty minutes after the
fire started, and the managers of the con-
Germ saw that 1t would be useless to at
tSHpl " save dlly part VI Tie SlOCh. LII
addition to the dry framework of the struc-
ture, the building contained a great deal
of material that burned readily. The fire
men, on account of the intense heat, were
compelled to play on the flames from the
outside; consequently, there was no oppor-
tunity Of cutting off the flames from any
part OF the building. At one time there
were more than a dozen streams playing
steadily on the fire, but there was no per-
ceptible result from the effort
1t is estimated by those interested in
the Century Cycling Company that the
loss will reach nearly $4,000. The building
was we'll stocked with bicycles and raw
material In addition to the manufacture
of bicycles the company had recently be-
gun to manufacture pneumatic tire which
is an attachment to the Standard sulky.
stored away in the wareroOm. The stock
valued at $4,000, while the loss to the
building will probably be $4,000. Both build
ing and stock was covered by insurance
placed with the Sayles agency. w. F. Cor
nelius superintendent of the business
and A. j. Teeters was business manager.
The residence OF Jacob Ffke, adjoining the
bicycle factory on the north, was damaged
to the extent of $1,000. At one time 1t
looked as IL the house and contents would
be totally destroyed, but by hard work
much of the furniture was gotten out. The
Glazier residence, on the south side of the
factory, was slightly damaged. Other prop
erty in the vicinity was damaged, but not
extensively.