The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-02-12
FIRE LOSS OVER $4,000
INDIANAPOLIS BOLT AND MACHINE
WORKS PLANT DAMAGED.
Mystery to the Manner in Which
the Fire Observation-Disclosures
Patterns Ruined.

Fire in the establishment of the Indian
apolis bolt and machine works, located at
10 to l26 Kentucky avenue, and at Ia West
Georgia street yesterday afternoon caused
a loss of from GOO to $4,000 on the stock
and plant and about $1,000 or $1,000 on the
building. The plant is owned by j. W., j.
III. and j. NJ. Parkhurst and NJ. II. McAlpin,
who carry on the business under the firm
name of Parkhurst Bros. e. Co. They sue
ceeded o. X. Olsen & Co. on the death of
MIR. Olsen about two years ago. The build
ing is still owned by the Olsen heirs.
The fire yesterday discovered about
the same time by an employee of the Nelson
Morris Company across the street and by
the night Waterman The works had closed
for the night at 4:4O o'clock, and no one
was in the building at $50 except the book
keeper and the night Waterman. When
the night Waterman discovered the fire it
was not until the whole northwest corner
of the building was in flames. He then ran
to the telephone and, instead of calling the
fire department, telephoned to the police
station, asking that an alarm be sounded.
In the meantime the tower Waterman had
discovered the flames and turned in an
alarm. Thus a good deal of delay was
caused and the fire had a good Roadway
when the department arrived. But several
streams were set playing upon the fire in
very short order and in few minutes the
flames were under control, and in a short
time extinguished.
The fire is supposed to have started on
the second floor in the pattern room, but
how it could have originated there is
mystery to Messrs. Parkhurst and those
who are familiar with the place. No fire
was ever kept in this department, or in fact
on the second floor. There was not even
a gas jet on the floor. A single gas jet was
burning on the lower floor, but it is claimed
that this was safe distance from the wall
and was at least eight feet from the ceiling.
The pattern room Is not near the boiler or
engine rooms.
The Indianapolis bolt and machine works
manufactured bolts of all kinds, elevators
and special machinery, such as patent mod
els one member OF the hrm said that
there were. nearly always three or four
people at work in the shop on models for
patents and they generally had valuable
material on hand. The patterns belonging
to the company were estimated SO, 900
in value. The machinery was worth about
$50 900, and the entire plant, exclusive of
building, was worth in the neighborhood
OF $4,000 1t is difficult TO estimate the loss.
Members of the company think the entire
stock of patterns is rendered worthless,
and that the machinery Is nearly all prac-
tically ruined. What was not damaged by
the fire was soaked with water and will be
seriously affected. 1t is estimated that
the loss to the Indianapolis Bolt and Ma
chine Works will be from $4,000 to $25. 600.
This Is covered by only $4,000 or Sl2 0O0 of
insurance, placed through the Coe &
Roach agency. The loss the building
will be from $1,000 to $4,000. fully covered
by insurance.
Yesterday morning a steam pipe in the
engine room exploded and Samuel Rckerts
was painfully burned. He is a plasterer,
employed on the new part of the building.
With several other workmen he was i'm the
engine room at the time of the explosion.
The pipe was in the ground under the ce-
ment floor and the explosion tore up the
floor and sent missiles flying in every direc-
ton. Fortunately no one was struck, and
the only damage done to the men was the
burning of Rickerts. He stood close to the
place where the pipe burst and the steam
poured out upon him, burning the calves of
his legs and the back of his neck. His
wounds were dressed at the hospital and
he was sent home, 90 Southeastern ave-
nue.. He is forty-four years old and mar
ried.