Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-18
RAVAGES OF THE FLAMES
Disastrous Fire in Indianapolis This
Morning.
Western Union Building n Sufferer
Big Furniture House Destroyed
Telegraph Cut OFF.

INDIANAPOLIS. September 1s.-At six
o'clock this morning fire broke out on the
third floor in the five-story stone and brick
building or the south side of Washington
street between Meridian and Pennsylvania
streets, occupied by Eastman, Schleicher &
Co. 1t was at once realized that the fire
would be a disastrous one, and the entire
fire department was summoned.
Notwithstanding the hard fighting on the
part of the department to check the fire, it
soon spread to the four-story stone build
ing of the Indiana National Bank, immedi-
ately east. This building was soon at the
mercy of the flames which continued to
spread, and soon the entire northwest cor
ner of the square was within the fire limit.
The Western Union building in the rear,
and fronting on south side, socn caught.
This latter building is of brick and is five
stories high The upper floor is used as the
battery room, and the next floor below is
used as the operating rccm, and they We're
soon flooded with water and all wires were
burned off, cutting off all communication
with other points
The furniture and china store of East
man, Schleicher & Lee was one of the larg-
est in the country and an immense stock
was carried. The entire building and stock
was totally destroyed, and only the walls
remain standing.
The Indiana Bank building is completely
wrecked. The banking room had recently
been re.nodeled at a cost of about 100000
brick occupied by the Pacific Express and
United States Express companies, with Of
fee rooms above.
Next comes the three-story building occu-
chant, and George Wingerter, tobacco deal
err. These buildings and stocks were badly
damaged. To the west, around the corner
of and on Meridian street, is the Blackford
ht1i1 iph nf hrfo
This is occupied by the American Express
Company, Boston Clothing Company and
the Big Four railroad offices and the Spen-
cerian Business College. Any damage sus-
tanned in the block will come largely from
smoke and water. At o'clock the fire on
Washington street was under control, but
the Western Union building was still
blazing up.
The three-story brick on Meridian street,
north Of the Western Union building, occu-
pied by the Mayer Stencil Company and the
saloon of George Weiss, was flooded with
water.
The great vault in the Indiana National
Bank, which is situated in the rear of the
building and fronting on Pearl street, con-
tains nearly s2,000,00O in cash. The flames
licked clean everything around it, but the
money Is believed to be safe.
Across the alley from the burned quarter,
on Washington street. stands the six-story
Pettis dry goods building, built of stone and
brick. The smoke penetrated this build
water was turned on and the upper floors
soon flooded. The water soaked clear
through to the basement, and the loss will
be tremendous.
A. P Pettis owns the Eastman,
Schleicher & Lee building. and is now in
Switzerland. The Western Union building
is owned by W. H. Coleman, and the Black
ford block by E. F. Claypeel.
The loss and insurance cannot be obtain
ed accurately at this time, but Eastman,
Schleicher & Co.'S loss will be at least
$175 600.
DODGE, Neb., September 1S-This town
was almost wiped out by fire yesterday.
Forty business houses burned with con-
tents and also many residences. The
damage is over 100000. Fremont Scrb-
ner and other towns sent special trains,
with fire apparatus. which arrived too late
to be of service. A fierce wind was blow
ing at the time. Many accidents occurred
during the fire. The property was well
insured.
DECATUR, Ala, September 1S-At II 30
last night disastrous fire started in the
manufacturing district along the river
front. Soon the mammoth lumber mills
and lumber yards Of H. 8. Freeman were
burned, with millions of feet of lumber;
also many empty and loaded cars. Loss
exceeds $4,000.