The record-union., 1895-09-19

INDIANAPOLIS (Ind.), Sept. 1S.-Build-
tngs and merchandise in the center OF the
city valued at S400, 600 were destroyed by
fire this morning. The first started at
o'clock on the third floor Of the five
story brick building on Washington
street, between Meridian and Pennsyl-
vania, owned by a. 7. Pettis and occu-
pied by Eastman, Schleicher u Lee. IL
soon ha0 got headway and all the re-
sources of the city fire department were
at once called to combat the blaze. IN
spite of the quick work and hard hight
ing of the tiremen the flames spread rap
IDLY, and it vas several hours before they
were sufficiently under control to save
she business district.
The flames spread quickly to the stone
building on the east occupied by the In
diana National Bank, and thence 10 the
United States and American Express
buildings. The fire communicated TO the
fve-story Western Union building 'front.'
ing South Meridian street.
Next to the bank building Is The four
story brick building occupied by the Pa
clfic Express and United States Express
Companies, with Office rooms above.
Next comes the three-story brick build
ing occupied by George Manntleid, cloth
ing merchant, and George NIngerter, tc-
bacco dealer. Ihese buildings ana STOCKS
were badly damaged.
To the west on the corner of Meridian
street. is the Condit building, four stories
high and OF brick. Considerable dam
age was done in this block by smoke and
wafer.
At o'clock the fire on Washington
street was under control, but the W esIern
hf,fl x4-aQ 1Vii
upper floor, used az a battery-room, and
the floor below, used as the operating
room, were flooded, and all the wires
burned OF, cutting OH all communication
with other points.
The three-story brick OH Meridian
street, north OF the Western l nion build
ing. occupied by the Meyer Stencil Com
pany aud by the saloon OF George Weiss,
was flood with water.
The great vault OF the Indiana National
Bank, situated in the rear OF the building
and fronting on Pearl street, contained
nearly S2,OO0,00O in cash. The flames
licked cIean everything around IL. but tie
vault wItbstood the flames.
Across the alley from the burned quar-
ter on Washington street stands PettIs'
dry goods building OF stone and brick.
The smoke penetrated this building and
the window sIlls caught nre Water was
turned on and the upper moor was soon
Hooded. The water soaked clear through
10 the basement, and The loss was 30, 900.
~ z. Pettis owned the Eastman,
SchIeighter x Lee building. The Vest
ern Union building is owned by W. II.
Coleman and the Condit block by L. L.
Claypool.
The fire in the " Western Union building
was under control about $50 A. NJ. The
instruments were destroyed and lie bat
terry floOr burned out. The entire build
ina GOa x ed
The Eastman, Schieighter Il Lee block
and the Indiana National Bank building.
owned by Nolney I. MaLolt. VIII have
TO be pulled down. The law Office OF a.
c. Harris, over the banking rooms, con-
tanned a library valued al $4,000 which
was totally destroyed, as was everything
else in the building.
The Postal Telegraph building. in the
resr of the Blackford block, was slightly
damaged by ire ana waier, but the COM
pany lost no wires.
The big losers are: Eastman. Schleigh-
ter Lee, stock, $4,000; A. z. Pettis,
building, $50, 600; Indiana National Bank,
$50, 900; Y. T. Malott. building, $50. 600;
Western Union Telegraph Company,
$4,000; W. II. Coleman, building, $4,000;
a c. Harris, law library, $4,000. Twenty
losses OF from 1000 TO 5000 are also re-
ported
BIG FIRE AT OSHKOSH.
OSHKOSH WIS. ;, sept. 1S.-One OF tho
most disastrous fires that ever visited this
city broke out at about 1890 this after
noon, aud property valued at about $50,
001, including two large manufacturing
plants, three residences, one store and
about seven or eight million feet of lum-
Der, were destroyed. one lie was also
lost as a result OF the fire.
The exact origin of the fire is not
known, out il is supposed that it was
started through the carelessness of an
emplOye who was smoking during the
noon hour. During the ire among the
lumber plies OF the Conlee Lumber Com
pany, one Of them fell with a crash, bury
ing three men beneath it. They were e
leased, but one of them was severely
burned about the head. and was removed
10 his home.
The losses follow: The Morgan Com
pany. $4,000; CAB Stretch wagon plant.
$4,000; ConIee Lumber Company. on
lumber, 500, 900; residences, 900. The
insurance on the Morgan plant was light,
while the rest of the destroyed property
was well covered.