The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-08
Loss Estimated Mt 10000 ON the
Building and $4,000 ON Furniture.
with Other Losses to Tenants.
FOUGHT UNDER DIFFICULTIES
Low WATER PRESSURE AND ICE
RETARD THE WORK.
Dining Room and Kitchen Intact
and business Only Slightly Inter-
rupted-Two Ffremen Hurt.

The Denison House, one Of the best known
hotels of the West. which for years has been
the headquarters for the Republicans of
indiana, was visited by a disastrous fire yes
terday morning, which ruined the south
wing or the building, causing a loss of be-
tween $40, 200 and $50. 900. The fire was one
OF the most stubborn experienced in years.
There were three hundred guests at the
hotel, but fortunately none of them suffered
injury. The two top floors of the south wing
were destroyed by fire, while the lower
Hoors were drenched by water, which ruined
TIE rresco work. paper. furniture and the
stocks in the stores beneath. The fire
burned for three hours, in the severest win
ter weather, and was only extinguished
after the hardest battle.
When the fire department arrived, shortly
before 10 o'clock, the indications were for
one of the most disastrous fires this city
mas experienced in years. Smoke was pour
ing from the windows of the fifth or top
moor or the south wing. The wind was
blowing at the rate of forty miles an hour,
carrying the smoke and sparks over the
nelghboring buildings. The temperature
was In the neighborhood Of zero and the
air was filled with a fine frost, making the
work of the firemen dangerous and difficult.
The water thrown. on the building froze as
Pi2O aAid GlcCtTlC llSHl WlTeS
were encased in ice and many broke from
the weight. To add to the seriousness of.the
situation. the water pressure was weak, so
weak that Chief Webster was led to say after
lighting the flames for an hour, that unless
more water could be had the entire build
ing, as we'll as the Grand Opera House build
Ing and all buildings in the block. were
doomed. Despite the great odds the firemen
worked heroically. They worked unmindful
OF the cold and the consequent dangers
caused by the ice. The ladders were covered
with ice and the hose soon froze. but the
fremen simply demonstrated that they be-
long to one of the greatest departments in
the country. Two of them were severely in
Jured. Frank Notter, Of hose company No.
4. and Patrick Ryan. Of engine company
40. Z. were knocked from a ladder by a
falling cornice. A cry Of CONSERVATION arose
from the crowd who stood without the dan
ger ropes. as it witnessed the two brave
men carried down by the force of the fall
INK s1rn hrs ~ Il was Rsb nrst t saio n INA. Do slrr were
where It was found that their injuries were
In the hotel the most intense excitement
prevailed when the alarm was given. The
with them their valuables Some started
down with their trunks, but becoming tired
ann irlgn.s aieats let T Snem no tsm faenf aownN w Tas
hurried down and carried to a safe distance.
The furniture in the north wing Of the build
removal should that portion OF the hotel
seem to be in danger. In the halls and
about the corridors confusion rcigned.
their effects and doors to rooms were burst
open to make sure that Ia no one was in dan,
excited and rushed about shouting fire
The management of the hotel found it hard
to persuade them to aid in the tearing up of
the Carnet3 which were carried out. 1T was
a typical hotel fire, and everybody who
watched 1T while in progress, or looked at
the ruins afterWard. expressed a prayer of
THANKSGIVING that IT. came during the day
instead of the night.
upon the first floor, but by the assistance of
bystanders every picture was saved. If the
exhibit had been. destroyed the loss would
have been increased by several thousand
dollars.
The crowd that assembled showed a win
ingness to work. In fact 1t was a great deal
more comfortable working than standing
idle. The police, however, allowed no one in
the building who had no business there.
The guests were not alarmed at first, but
when the fire apparatus began to appear,
the halls commenced to fill with smoke, the
everybody was aroused. Several guests
when they found that the blaze was con-
fined to the south wing. they went back
f,se J 5se rushed PTsPf IN hunting nn ! wd for fris safme par.
ents were hunting for children. and every
body was hunting for something. The fire.
men hunted for the fire. Manager Cullen
went about reassuring his guests that there
was no derger and that their comfort would
be cared for. Without was heard the clang
of the bells as the different companies ar
rived, the orders of the captains and the
excitement of the crowd. Upholstered furni-
ture was piled up in the old library yard
and guests of the hotel sought refuge at
first in neighboring stores and offices and
from places of safety watched the burning
wing. The smoke poured forth and occa-
sionally q blaze leaped heavenward. The
people rushed to and fro. unprotected from
the biting frost, making a fire scene indie
scribable.
The management of the hotel is inclined
to attribute the fire to a defective CRATE
upon the fifth floor or to an exposed electric
wire, but there are many who think 1T was
the work of an incendiary. 1t is known
that after the fire In the south wing was
under Roadway some one started a second
blaze in the main portion of the building.
In the center of the floor of a small closet,
next to room No. 1872. a. match was put to
a pile of paper and rubbish. When the door
was burst il: the room was filled with smoke
and flames. II would have been impossible
for the fire from the burning wing to have
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