The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-04

Falling Of a Floor I'm SchnuIf & Co.'s
Started It-Several Escapes


Started It-Several Escapes.
There is a difference Of statements con- 4
cerning the origin of the fire. but all state
ments agree that 1t began In the establish
ment OF Schnull & Co. The latter firm is
composed of Henry and Gustav A. Schnull,
w. ]. ard George G.. Griffin. On the street,
while the fire was still in it's infancy, report
had it that the falling of the third floor,
which was heavily stocked, caused the fire
% start. This statement was made by one
or two of the employees. Business men of
the neighborhood say they heard the crash
and rushed out, but saw no smoke. Proba-
bly, three minutes later smoke was OBJ
served coming from the windows of the
building member of the firm made the
explanation that the fire had been burning
for some time undiscovered and the falling
or giving in of the third floor was the first
intimation the employees had of the fires
existence. On the second floor there were
ave hundred cases of matches. The third
.ioor fell. there is no difference of opinion
concerning that. The theory held by many
is that the falling floor ignited the matches,
which burned with flash. filling the build
ing with smoke and flames.
III. n. Goe, merchant of Irvington and
a customer of Schnull & Co., was in the
elevator with two employees of the firm at
the time the floor fell. Mr.. Goe had been
down in the basement where goods were
stored because of the overcrowded condi-
ton Of the top floor. He, with two en-
.,loyes. were on the elevator when there
came dull heavy sound which shook the
building. The elevator was blocked and the
shaft was filled With debris There was
only a small opening whereby escape from
-
employees We're slim men and they crawled
through the opening. but Mr.. Goe, who is
robust. could not make himself ht the open
ing. He removed his overcoat, undercoat and
vest. but he could not force himself through.
Above, on the second floor, could be heard
the cracking of the flames and sparks
oegan to fall down the shaft The two en-
ployes did not desert Mr.. Goe, but for a
second they seemed helpless ard the sec
md seemed age to the prisoner. Axes
were procured and the opening enlarged
through which Mr.. Goe escaped with a
prayer upon his lips. His overcoat and
lndercoat conta ming his ba * book were left
behind. The building had already filled
With smoke, although but a few minutes
mad been taken in liberating Mr.. Goe. The
cookkeeper of the firm a prisoner be-
ore he realized 1t. He smashed the front
lass with chair in true melo-dramatic
style, escaping in that manner. The ship
ling clerk escaped by the roof and others
got out as best they could. In the con-
fusion over the fear Of loss of life the
alarm was not turned in at once.
When the first apparatus of the depart
lnent arrived, the entire building was filed
with smoke while flames poured from tn.
second floor windows. The department was
IN the scene probably seven minutes after
he floor fell. That the fire should become
20 general in this space OF time makes
many believe that gas was probably the
| ,ause and II was an explosion which shool.
| third flood to fall The seriousness of the
situation was soon realized and the entire
department of the city was called 70 the
scene. Chief Webster was one of the first
| 10 arrive and he engineered the work of the
| mon. Streams were directed at the Schnull
| building, but the hearts of the crowd sick
| ened to see the water rise but TO the sec
ond floor in such weak streams as to dc
little good The wires interferred with the
| use of the ladders. An effort was made t.
run lines to the top of the building to the
north, for the wind was from that drec
tion at the time. but the harnes were com
| ing from the roof of the Schnull building
and the firenaen could not get at desirable
| distance. They worked from the tops OF
the ne.ghboring buildings for a while, but
| and in order to prevent any possibility OF
| loss of life Chief Webster ordered his men
lnent of many when he said il VIC would be
| better to have the whole square destroyed
| than have second Bowen-M erriil catas-
| trophe. Had the department been In pos
| session of a water tower some think the
| fire could have been stopped in all proba-
| bility with the loss confined to the Schnull
| building. A water tower could have thrown
| half dozen streams on the top of this
building. place which the fremen could
not reach with safety to themselves
vEERING OF THE WIND.
i
south of schnulI & Co., occupied by the
agency OF Fairbanks. Morse s. Co, dealers
in scales. The wind was blowing the
lanes southwark. ani 1t looked as II the
damage might extend as far as Georgia
street. Fifteen streams of water were
poured on the burning buildings. but they
failed to reach the desired spot. The Fair
banks, Morse & CO. building was soon
! burning as readily as If no water had been
poured on it, The Ward drug house
| caught but the fremen prevented the
| DANES from passing Chesapeake street.
Directly across the way Is the coffee es-
tablishment of McCune 4 Malott. and this
| arm was moving out. when there came a
| sudden change in the situation. cause.l by
;hange in the direction of the wind. The
latter began 10 come from the west. blow
| ing the smoke down in Meridian street and
| carrying the flames across the way. The
wind continued 10 change. until, at $50
clock, when II came from the southwest
| making the destruction OF the buildings
| north Of the Schnuil building but question
of time. The place waere the fire began
continued 10 be the center or the confia-
| grafton Directly north OF tne Schnull
building was the wholesale liquor house of
| Eckhouse Brothers, which connected the
wave OF destruction with the establish-
merts of Wooiford & Pohlman and the
| dildebrand Hardware Company. At 10
O'Clock the fire was 80 general the depart
ment could Go little but keep II under con-
When the fre began 10 take northVard
lcourse she printing establishment OF Lcvey