The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-22
STAMPEDED THE HORSES.


The tower Waterman saw flames shoot
ing up from the rear end of Frank E.
Janes's stable. in the rear of Whitsett's un-
dertaking establishment. 13 North Della
ware street. at 10:1 O'Clock last night. and
turned in an alarm from box 81, located
at fire department headquarters. At that
time the wind was blowing fiercely. and 1t
seemed for a time that the fire would ex-
tend to Frank Birds livery stable, which
IS in the next building south. The entire
front Of whitsetts building was enveloped
with the dense volume OF smoke that poured
out Of the upper windows of the store of
Boicourt e. Tyner, manufacturers OF mon-
uments and grave stones. All the stablemen
at Birds went TO work getting out the
horses. and soon fifty head Of frightened
animals were running loose on the street.
The building occupied by Whitsett and
Boicourt & Tyner extends from Delaware
street back to Hudson. In front it is four
stories high. while the rear structure. which
Is used for the stable. is but two stories in
height. Whitsett's stable is In the north
half Of the part of the building facing on
Hudson street. and the south half Is cccu-
pied by Mr.. James. On the ground floor
James had several head OF horses and two
mules. In his loft was stored about twenty
bales OF straw. a lot of empty pine cases
and -four barrels. The straw was piled up
against the windows in the rear end OF the
building, looking out on Hudson streel,
which were securely fastened. II was several
minutes before patrolmen Milan and Wheel
er could get the doors opened, and they had
considerable difficulty in leading out the
frantic horses, which were plunging and
neighing in their stalls. The smoke was
sitting. and the animals were hard TO man
age, but after several minutes they were
all backed from their stalls and led away.
By the time the hremen got several
streams of water playing the entire upper
floor was in flames. and 1t seemed almost
certain that the nre would spread into
Whitsett's stable. which is separated from
Janes's by only a partition wall. Firemen
broke open the windows on Delaware street,
but did not turn on the water, as IL was
clear that the fire was In the rear. fully a
hundred feet back. Men in charge OF No.
2 chemical wagon broke open the door in
Boicourt & Tyner's place and dragged a
line OF hose back through the store and up
stairs into the stable. and did effective
work. 1t was an hour before the fire was out,
men worked tossing the smoldering bales
OF straw and half-consumed pine lumber
through the windows
Frank z. Janes's hay and feed store Is
several doors south of the stable. and was
not damaged. Mr.. James said that his loss
from the fire was nominal. as the few bales
~ .a@ MP 80 aANa R~@ 80 -
worth almost nothing. Charles e kregeio,
owner of the building. Is the principal loser.
1t Is probable that the loss on the building
will not exceed $1,000. c. 4. whfsett viii
doubtless sustain considerable loss on the
hay and feed stored In the loft OF his sta
bic. as II Is probably rendered worthless by
the smoke. The smoke has probably dam
aged the feed in Birds stable also. Boicourt
d Tyner say that their loss will be consider
able. as they had a lot OF fine vases stored
on the second story OF the building In front
OF Janes's stable. They think the vases will
be stained and damaged by the smoke. The
water has also caused them no little dam
age. as 1t stood half a foot deep in their
s~tone-cutting room.
When the fire was finally extinguished
most OF Frank Birds horses were caught
and led back to the stalls, but four or five
OF them broke lose and could not be caught
A great many bicycle riders nave contract
ed the fire habit" and when they hear ar
alarm turned In they ride to the scene oil
the fire. A large number OF wheelmen who
were riding last night, in spite OF the chilly
atmosphere, circled about on their wheels
and impeded the fremen. The fremen say
that some measure should be adopted Il
keep wheelmen way from the fires.
The cause OF the fire Is unknown. Mr.
James says that his drivers had their horse.
STABBED and fed early last night. and no one
was in the stable after Z o'clock. There
were no fires nor lights burning in the build
Ing Some months ago a fire occurred or
the ground floor, but that was caused b,
some boys. who had carelessly left a candi,
burning.