The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-09-19
Insumciency Of the Fire Apparatus
List of Insurance Policies-Burned-
Out Firms Preparing to Reopen.

One of the most disastrous fires that
ever visited the retail business portion of
the city started yesterday morning, shortly
after o'clock. in the carpet. queensware
and house decorative establishment of
Eastman. schlecher & Lee. at Nos. Z and
9 East Washington street. The building
was owned by Mr.. Pettis. of New York,
one of the proprietors Of the New York
store. The flames spread with wonderful
rapidity, and others suffered extensive loss
There was strong west wind blowing at
the time, which carried the smoke and
sparks eastward. placing the buildings in
that direction in great peril. The Indiana
National Bank building, which adjoins the
Pettis building. was completely destroyed
the bank. which contained hundreds of
thousands in money and several million
dollars worth of valuable papers, with
stood the great heat, thereby preventing
an enormous loss. The New York Store
building caught fire. but the firms fire
force fought the flames from within, and
the principal loss there is from water.
Dhe stock from the top floor to the cellar
MAS damaged. The Condit building.
a six-story block on South Meridian street,
whose rear meets that Of the Pettis build
paratus Of the Western Union Telegraph
Company, on the sixth floor. was de-
stroyed and tae9,ailding flooded were the
flames extinguished
FIRES GOOD START.
The stock of at least dozen firms was
ruined by water and smoke. Dozens OF
offices were gutted. For three hours the
department worked untiringly, and during
the time it thought that the entire block
was doomed to destruction. The entire loss
is estimated in the neighborhood of $780,
600.
1t is thought that the fire first started
in the cellar of Eastman, Schleicher &
Lees establishment. and that it burned
for some time before breaking forth and
o'clock some laborers on their way to
work observed smoke coming from the
basement through the stones Of the front
sidewalk. About the same time two of
the boys of the District Messenger Office
observed smoke coming from the rear of
the building, and within few minutes
alarm was turned in. The department
was quick in responding. Nelson Black
we'll. janftor at the store. was just opening
the front door when the first company
rived. At a glance 1t was seen that the
the situation was realized Immediately. A
second and a third alarm were turned in,
calling out the entire department of the
city, The flames could be seen creeping
along the ceilings and around the case
ments of the floor, and the open space in
the center of the building which allowed
the light to come down from the skylight
was as a fiue Dense smoke came from
the cellar and passed upward. and the
entire interior seemed to be on fire. The
firemen carried several lines Of hose in
the buildings, but they were soon driven
to the street by the smoke and flames.
Fire and smoke poured from each of the
five stories of the building and crept
around and over the buildings to the east
The heat became intense. and the firemen
were forced to fight the flames from a
distance or from buildings to the west, 1t
being impossible to remain on those to
the east. Had the department had a wa
ter tower six or seven streams could have
been poured in on the top, the building
flooded and an end put to the fire. 1t is
thought. The water supply was good. but
hardly sufficient tc reach the roof OF a
five-story building.
THEN AN EXPLOSION.
While the fremen were at work, stiil
Schleicher & Lees, an explosion was heard
in the rear portion. which shook the neigh
borhood. The flames burst forth with re-
newed energy. fairly wrapping the Indiana
Bank building in their grasp. The cause
Of the explosion is unknown, but it might
have been from gas or from varnish. there
being small amount on hand. The straw
and excelsior in the cellar. used in pack
ing furniture and queensware. was excel
lent fuel to assist in the work of destruc-
tion. So great was the heat that several
times the buildings across the street caught
fire. but there was a force Of men on each
and every spark that fell or every little
blaze that started was extinguishcd
While the fire at Eastman. Schleicher &