The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-09-19
A Large Part of the Business
Portion Destroyed
AGGREGATE LOSS ENORMOUS
Some OF the Best Business Blocks
Were Burned
Western Union and Postal Telegraph Build.
ings Damaged-S7, 200. 900 In 1
Bank Safe Saved
Associated Press Special Wire.

INDIANAPOLIS, Sept 1S.-At clock
this morning fire broke out in the five-
story building on Washington street, be-
tween Meridian and Pennsylvania, occu-
pied by Eastman, Schleighter 81 Lee. 1t
spread immediately to the stone building
on the east occupied by the Indiana Ma
tional bank, thence to the United States
and American Express buildings. The
fire communicated to the five-story Vest
ern Union building, fronting on South
Meridian street. Eastman, Schleighter
e. Lee, the Indiana National bank and ex.
press offices have been entirely destroyed.
The loss is estimated at this hour at
about 81 900, 900. The Western Union
building may be saved, but it has been
deserted as the upper floor is destroyed.
Eastman, Schleighter IL Co. carried
stock of carpets, etc.. valued at 500. coo.
The insurance is not known. ALI tele-
graphic comm unication is cut off.
Next 10 the bank building is the four
story building occupied by the Pacific
Express and United States Express com
panies. with office rooms above. Next
comes the three-story brick building oc-
cupied by George Mansfield, clothing
merchant. and George Wingerter, tobacco
dealer. These buildings and stocks are
badly damaged.
To the west, on the corner of Meridian
street,is the Blackboard building, four
stories high and of brick. Considerable
damage was done in this block by smoke
and wafer. at 8 o'clock the fire on
Washington street was under control,
but the Western Union building, of brick
and five stories, was still blazing. The
| upper floor, used as battery room ana
| the floor below. used as an operating
room, were flooded and all wires burned
| off. cutting all communication with 9th.
er points.
The three-story brick on Me.idian
street, north of the Western Union build
ing, occupied by the Meyer Stencil COM
| pcny and the saloon of George Weiss, was
Hooded with watlr. The great vault in
| the Indiana National bank. situated in
the rea- of the building and fronting on
Pearl street, contains pearly W, 700. 900.
1he 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 building and the window stills caught
| fire. Water WIS turned on and the upper
| floor was soon flooded. The water soaked
| clear through &c the base ment and the
| loss will be Tremendous. A. p. Pettis
owned the Eastman, Schleighter & Lee
| building. five stories, Of brick and stone.
! The Western Union building is owned by
W. II. Coleman and the Condit block by
E. F. Ciaypool. The losses and insurance
| cannot be obtained authoritatively as vet.
Eastman, Schleighter & Lees loss will
lie at least $40, 900. Their stock of fix
lures and chinaware was one of the larg-
est in the country. The building was
completely destroyed.
LATER-'rhe fire in the Western
| Union building was under control about
9:30 a. m. The instruments were de.
stroyed and tie battery floor burned out.
| The entire building was water-soaked.
| The Eastman. Schleighter & Lee block
and the Indiana National bank building,
owned by Volney T. Maiott. will have to
be pulled down. The law office of A. G.
Harris, over the banking rooms. contained
library valued at $l5 900, was totally de-
| stroyed, as Was everything else in the
building. The Postal Telegraph building
in the rear of the Blackboard block was
slightly damaged by fire and water, but
the com panY lost no wires.