The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-07-13
BIG ELEVATOR FIRE
CENTRAL ELEVATOR COMPANY's
PROPERTY A TOTAL LOSS.
Damage VIII Probably Reach 100000
\ CIew TO the Origin-Other
Property Endangered.

destroyed by a fire which started shortly
before s o'clock last evening. In the eleva-
tor there was thirty thousand bushels of
oats and six hundred bushels OF wheat,
which was also lost. The fire burned rap
idly and f~iercely. it being one Of the hot
est fires ever seen in the city. The rail-
road tracks, fifty feet away. were warped
Until they resembled grape vines. The grass
Tor q hundred yards around was burned
by the heat. The glass in four cottages
one hundred feet away was melted and
the paint on the front blistered. Two men
were overcome by the heat while some
distance from the building. The flames and
sparks swept across the tracks. threaten
ing the works of the Brown-Ketcham
company. The sparks flew in clouds over
the business portion of the suburb and all
buildings had naen upon them extinguish-
ing each spark as it fell. The flames cast
a light which could be seen in all parts
of Indianapolis. attracting a crowd of sew
eral thousands TO the suburb, expecting
to find it being destroyed. Had it not been
for a good water supply and the assistance
of the Indianapolis fire department the
town would no doubt have suffered a great
loss.
1t was ten minutes before s o'clock when
a number of persons observed flames COM
ing from the northeast corner of the top
OF the high elevator. Patrolmen Moore and
Hoffbeaur observed the light a half mile
away and rushed to turn in an alarm. The
tower Waterman at the same time discov-
cred the blaze and turned In an alarm.
The whistles OF other factories and Of the
engines on the tracks began blowing and
within a few minutes time all Haughville
was appraised OF the fact that the large
elevator was On fire. Two engines, four hose
companies, two chemical engines and one
ladder company from the indianapolis de-
partment were sent across the river. In
the meanwhile the local department was
attempting to extinguish the flames, but
it was impossible, for they had secured a
good Roadway. Within fifteen minutes after
e cae sia q line was Of g gose to u t mas bn nrnp9sSie eIeva 40
tor on account Of the heat and the atten-
ton of all was directed to other build
ings.
There was a strong southwest wind blow
ing, which placed the town buildings and
homes in great peril. West of the ele-
quickly emptied of all people and property.
and left to their fate. Water was thrown
upon them from the rear. and. strange to
say, they did not catch fire, although the
leaves on two trees i'm front were burned to
a crisp. the glass in the windows was melt
ed and portions of the fence was scorched
black. The flames and sparks were carried
directly over the Brown-ketcham works,
and men with hose were stationed on the
buildings. SO intense was the heat that
men did not dare IT, pass between the burn
ing elevator and the Brown-Ketcham works.
The fence separating the works from the
railroad tracks was destroyed. and several
times burning embers and grass threatened
TO start a dangerous blaze In the yards OF
the works. Eotl
The telegraph wires along the railroad
were melted and two poles were destroyed.
Four freight cars which stood on a switch
some distance away were completely de,
curled under the great heat,
tearing the ties from the ground
to be burned One man. whose name could
while two hundred yards away. He was
sitting on a fence watching the fire, when
he fell in a faint, from which he soon re-
covered, after being carried further away.
Jerry Isgrig. a molder, accustomed 10 great
heat. was overcome while attempting TO
a and he e hhaadi to to- be e0 removed % % p'i his home 10 sa'
After the fire had burst forth, showing
that there was no hope of saving the ele-
vator, and while many hundred people were
ooking on from a point dangerously near
II was discovered that there was a carload
Of coal OK on the track at a point near the
fire. A few persons were seeking shelter
from the heat behind this car. Some one
gave the alarm of danger and IL was de-
cided that the car must be removed before
Moore and Hoffbauer drove the crowd back
to hplace of safety and went with a crowd
of workmen, who, with a rush. rolled the
car to a place of safety. Later an empty
car standing but a few feet from where
the one loaded with oil stood was COM
The origin Of the fire is unknown. 1t
seems to have started near the top or the
tall building: Yesterday some wo 'a men
they had no fire there They quit work at
6 O'clock. The building has been undergoing
Some f rstat Observed ~"a was a pile of waste
material. One theory advanced Is that
spontaneous combustion was the cause.
engine probably was responsible. The
building was all OF wood. excepting a small
brick portion. which was used as the en-
After the fire had gained a good start it
resembled n huge ball of fire turning around
and around and a The een nnnea waS r whi'g From Tnn
this huge ball. which enveloped the build
ing. the flames shot toward the northeast,
s fis,ng ige T hearts she of Hang sRSsA property Terty
owners with apprehension On every mouse
top and upon each building could De seen
garden hose keeping the roofs moist ana
putting out each spark which fell. A few
women were observed on the houses stand
ing guard over their property.
The buildings and houses on Michigan
street north Of the Haugh-Ketcham works
fire hosS were attached to the plugs, and>
the pressure furnished was excellent. Inc
DEPARTMENT experienced little difhculty with
bursting hose, only two sections preaking,
and that was the rubber hose purchased by
the Board OF Safety as an experiment. sew
eral times alarms arose because OK purn-
ing grass northwest of the fire. but every
where people were on guard IN order 10
prevent a spread.
IT was nearly 10 o'clock when the elevator
fire burned sufficiently low TO end all dan
ger to other buildings. Water had to be
thrown upon the tracks and adjacent
ground before men could approach TO throw
streams upon the smoldering ruins. Men
were put to work Immediately repairing the
warned tracks, but it was nearly morning
before any trains could pass.
Charles F. Robbins. of this city, Is presi-
dent OF the Central Elevator Company. He,
with his family. is out of the city. William
Greiner. the superintendent, telegraphed
him OF the loss last night. The Central
company recently obtained possession of the
property from the L.. d.. x w. railroad.
There was some litigation over the property,
which resulted in the Central company OBJ
tanning II. 1t had just commenced TO make
extensive repairs. and already new hues
had been placed in the boilers. There was
some difference last night regarding the
value OF the property. superintendent
Greiner is claimed 20 have made the state
ment that il cost $4,000 TO construct the
elevator. and that Ii was worth about S15,-
OG6 before the fire. The value placed upon
the building by futile & Seguin, who hold
the insurance. is $23. 600. The oats and wheat
destroyed was worth about $4,000. which is
fully insured. The insurance upon the
building is $4,000. placed in the companies
OF futile & Seguin.
The following is the list OF the companies