The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-07
Panic Among the Employees. Many OF
whom Were Girls, and One Tn
fortunate Lost His Life.
NINSTANDLEY is INDICTED
NEW ALBANY BANK wRECKERs
CAUGHT on NINETY-ONE COUNTS.
Cashier Frederick Included in the
Charge of Embezxiement--ses-
sicns of Indiana Teachers.
Special to the indianapolis Journal

Special to the indianapolis Journal.
COLUMBUS, Ind, April 6.-The plant of
the American starch works here, one of the
largest in the country and antitrust
enterprise, valued at $250,000, was destroyed
by fire to-day. At O'Clock this morning
fire was discovered in the drying room,
which is kept heated at about $50 degrees
the hot air being driven about through this
department by means of fast-revolving
fans. Although the employees quickly had
three streams of water playing on the
fire, it could not be extinguished, and in
one hour the magnificent structure was
almost total wreck. From the burning
building the flames shot two hundred feet
high. In the conpany's large elevator were
1900 bushels of corn, which went with the
building, did number of pennsylvania
railroad cars on side track ready to be
loaded. In the shipping department was
$4,000 worth of manufactured starch, which
will be a total loss.
In the works at the time of the fire were
about one hundred and twenty people, a
large number in the packing room being
girls. From this department, which was
on the second floor, there was wild rush,
but all escaped without injuries. In one of
the buildings were three men. one colored,
named Lewis Wade. The white men
s.see en's 'ne iiie ~ lew
anoheh.s' Out the coioreo man STOOD until
the flames and smoke broke in on him. and
his body is still in the ruins.
Inc company once was the only one
that was not burned in the morning, and all
the property was taken from 1t, but after
pected. a blaze shot up from the roof of
this building, and on 1t Tile water was
turned and the office furniture and valu-
aDles were soaked and almost ruined.
So hot were the walls of the burned build
ing yet standing. that no one could go near
Wade, but men will begin this work early
in the morning. A member of the company
was seen This evening and asked ahouI the
probability of the works being rebuilt
and he REPLIED that thew would nor he The
Commercial Club at its next meeting will
take steps to induce the stockholders of
the concern to change their decsion
The plant was erected in 1880 and cost
$780, 600 Since that time it has had several
additions making the outfit worth before to-
days fire at least $25O.OOO For a time the
plant did not pay and twice was it thrown
into the courts for an accounting but its
present owners made ii nav and for some
time it has been running night and day
Some time ago its capacity was greatly
Increased and its output was readily sold
This plant was operated by the MONEYS
of this city and CINCINNATI The company
estimates it's total loss at $1,000 600 On the
building and contents was carried about
5000 600 insurance. S113OO0 of which was as
follows.
lean Al 50f,. Aetna "a ZOO. british American
81 200. Traders Of Chicago $4,000: Lanca-
shire $3.50; National Fire Insurance Com
many 20 5to. Fire Association of PhjIadel-