The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-10
A FIERCE AVENUE FIRE.
Damage to the Block at Nos. 20 and
81 Massachusetts Avenue.

Last night about 8 O'Clock fire appeared
in the three-story brick building at Nos.
% and 81 Massachusetts, avenue, causing a
loss of several thousand dollars. The build
ing, divided into two rooms running back
to Ohio street, was occupied by William
Ward with stock of artists materials.
pictures. frames, etc, and by the mantel
and CRATE establishment of Pursell & Med
skier. The fire was confined to the west
room, occupied by Ward. His loss will
probably reach $1,000 and was fully in
sured. The building was owned by f. j.
Van Vorhis and NJ. s. Huey. and was prob
ably damaged to the extent of $4,000.
The fire was first discovered by some one
passing the building, in front of the second
floor The alarm was carried to headquar-
tiers of the fire department across the
street and truck was sent over without
sending in alarm, as it was thought that
there was very little fire in the building.
But 1T was soon seen that a very serious
fire was raging on the inside and an alarm
was sent IN; second following shorty s
windows of the second floor and dense
cloud of thick black smoke rolled out. There
was no fire visible but the smoke was so
dense that the firemen could not get close
enough to the window on the ladder to
throw a stream of water in the building
There was no fire on the first floor at all
and when a clerk arrived and opened the
front door, a number of people beg an TO
frames. Most of this stock taken out
before any water was thrown in there and
was placed in the neighbortng stores.
Several companies went to the entrance
on Ohio street and In short time the fire
was being fought from front and resr. The
smoke and it was apparent that there was
considerable fire in the center of the build
Ing Smoke was also pouring from the third
story windows which had been broken In.
A ladder was placed at the TOP windows
and line of hose carried up. The. ladder
was covered with firemen up at the win
dow when suddenly great sheet of flame
burst forth enveloping the men. There was
a cry of horror from the big crowd which
had gathered, but as the flames receded, the
men were seen to be uninjured, as they
great difficulty in getting at the seat of the
fire for the firemen directed large number
and tSrd sory ' With seemnsy me eect
The fire was beginning to appear up on
the roof and under the cornice work and
for time it looked If the whole block
was doomed. The front door of the room
occupied by. Pursell & Medsker was broken
In and the firemen went through the rooms
with chemical line, but found no fire ex-
cept on the roof and this was quickly ex-
After two hours of hard lighting the
flames died out to some extent, and the
smoke began to diminish. About that time
over against the building and line of
hose taken to the top and directed down on
seen, but it quickly disappeared. The tor
rents of water thrown into the upper floors
poured down through the ceiling of the
first floor and soaked the few pictures which
had not been carried out. In the other room
there was little damage. The stock of
mantels and CRATES could not be damaged
by the smoke and there was very little
water thrown in that part of the building.
Mr.. Ward said that he had invoiced the
first Of the month and that he had between
S., 600 an $1,000 worth of stock, and carried
5000 insurance, placed with the Robert Mar
tindale agency. He estimated his loss at
about 81 COO
The loss on the building was estimated
at about $1,000. This loss was on the side
owned by DR.. Van Vorhis. The origin of
the fire is unknown, but is supposed to have
been from spontaneous combustion The
framing department and a quantity of oils
and paint was used there. These caused
the fierce fire and helped to make the flames
so hard to control.