The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-11-08

DRy-GOoDs
ESTABLISHMENT DESTROYED.
LOSS ON Building and Stock About
S0o,OO0-An Explosion OF Gas
Pipes Canses of blaze.

morning and the building and stock are an
entire loss. The Isawrie & Robson stock
was worth about 10000. The AIcazar cigar
store. adjoining on the left, was damaged
about 81 900 by water and smoke and the
notion store of s. II. Knox & Co., adjoining
on the right. was damaged. mostly by wa
ter, but the damage has not yet been esti-
mated. II is thought it will not amount to
more than $500. The stocks of both these
latter stores are fully insured. while that
OF Lawrie & Robson is partially covered.
The fire was first discovered by the
Waterman in the tower at Sis o'clock yes
terday morning. He saw a small blaze sud-
denly shoot out from the rear of the store
near the ground and a moment later it be-
gan to grow larger. 1t increased so rapidly
that a moment after turning in the first
alarm. he turned in the second and soon
followed with the third. BY that time the
flames had shot to the top Of the rear OF
the four-story building, and it was very
apparent that the fire was going to be a
big one. The blaze started in the rear of
Lawrie & Robson's store. but by the time
the department arrived. five minutes later,
the flames were throughout the entire
building and were burning iercely. The
water tower was at once placed in position
on Washington street before the building
and the water turned on. A deluge poured
from the nozzle into the street, but the
firemen We're unable 10 direct ii into the
burning building. as one of the screws in
the movable platform caught and pre-
vented its working. In vain they
tugged at the platform; then, shut
ting off the water, they t. rned
the entire machine around and were en-
abled to pour a stream from the nozzle
infn the Hanaao Thf1 Ioloxv A4...1 ~1r
mitted the ia mes to get well under way,
and by the time the water from the tower
poured into them the building was like a
roaring furnace, and the water seemed to
have no effect on it. The firemen and few
early morning spectators we're Disguised
with the tower. 1t had been taken apart
and cleaned after being used at the Pear
son d Wetzel fire, en- South Meridian
street, recently, and the screw IN the plat
form had not been properly replaced.
Fifteen minutes from the time the first
alarm was turned in the building was
doomed. The fremen turned their atten-
ton TO saving the az. dining buildings.
Thick walls separated them, but the flames
almost burned through. AT 5:45 o'clock the
fourth floor OF the Lawrie e Robson build
ing crashed to the third, which in turn
rave away and precipitated the debris to
the second. There was a short interval,
and then, with the added weight, the burn
ing timbers of the second floor gave away,
and the mass crashed through the first
floor into the cellar. leaving a portion of
the southeast corner of the second floor
remaining.
When the floors fell there were deafen-
ing roars as of heavy artillery, and the
flames and sparks shot high into the air.
VI -N:-o x-o. L~a.I g.. --s&
and people soon came hocking to the fire
in great numbers. The fremen gained an
advantage in fighting the flames by the
falling of the walls. and by 8 o'clock had
gained control. The flames burned fiercely
in the front Of the building and were
fought from the aerial ladder, which did
better work than the water tower.
The cornice began burning and
four firemen ran to the top of
the swaying aerial ladder, carrying a line
of hose with them, and, crawling to the
roof adjoining, battled with the fire in the
cornice. The flames drove them back time
and again, but they kept bravely at their
work. Two of the firemen finally walked
out upon the cornice to better direct the
stream of water, and people on the street
shuddered, momentarily expecting to see
the two men either precipitated into the
DQA ilAi5 DulAdltlS VI u lit SlOHc pavement
below. They were in anger greater than
warranted by the burning of the cornice,
and Chief Webster called them down. By
7:l5 O'Clock the fire had been subdued, and
II only remained TO extinguish the glowing
embers. The walls were dripping with
water, and, though the front wall of the
building remained standing. il had buIged
out of line with the heat and softening of
the material by the water, and 1t is in a
dangerous condition. The cellar was filled
with water and it was late in the after
noon before the sewer connection could be
cleared sufficiently to permit the water to
drain out The rear of the store is marked
by a Jagged wall, which may fall at any
moment. The side walls have bulged out
with the heat and are unsafe. Some of
the stock was carried out when the build
ing was seen TO be doomed. and that alone
IS what was saved. All the rest of the
goods in the east window. Peculiarly
enough the plate glass in the front of this
window was not broken. and as the rear of
the window has a shed-like roof the dress
goods were protected from flames and wa
ter. but damaged somewhat by smoke. The
other window is a complete wreck.
AS near as can be learned the fire startec
from an explosion of the natural-gas pipes
IN the rear OF the store. When the explo-
sion occurred the flames broke through a
rear window in the basement and flashed
out into the alley and were seen bv the
Waterman from the courthouse tower. just
what caused the explosion can only be con-
Jectured. A number of people claimed that
they heard a sharp report, like a report of
a gun, just previous TO the alarm of the
tAal lie pipes GX-
ploded in several places, as the fire swent
through the building so rapidly. A num-
Der OF breaks were found In the pines
yesterday afternoon. P
III ceiling of the Alcazar cigar store was
so water soaked that to prevent its fallinp
a temporary wooden ceiling was put mn
yesterday afternoon and the place opened
for business. The stock of cigars. candles
and flowers was damaged by water and
smoke. The business Office of the News in
the west portion Of the building was
soaked with water. The ance-Msfth
Printing Company, in the same buildinr
on the second floor, was also drenched b1,
Is fully insured The building occupied bv
,. III. Knox & Co. was water soaked and
thoroughly smoked. The store was closed
all day yesterday while the proprietors
cleaned up the room and made an invoice
Of the damage.
Street cars were delayed for about an
hour by broken wires. At one time the
live wires kept people jumping out of
harms way and sparks showered over
horses and men. o. H. Ballard. living at
46 Cornell avenue, got a shock, which Sc
verely burned his right hand and NAV
necessitate the amputation OF the little
finger.
The building occupied by Lawrie & Rob-
son was owned by the Mansur estate. and
was built over twenty years ago. at that
time being regarded as one of the hand
soonest buildings in the city. 1t had nor
been constructed on modern lines, and the
large amount OF wood in its construction