The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-02
FIRE BUGS DOWN TOWN
TWO BLAZEs A HALF BLOCK APART
ON EAST WASHINGTON STREET.
One at No. 253 and the Other in the
Brandon BIOck-SuspiciOus
Circumstances

1t is believed by the fire department that
fire bugs were responsible for two fires that
occurred on washington street near the
courthouse about 1886 o'clock last night.
Fortunately both were discovered in time
to prevent any serious loss The damage
in both cases will probably not exceed $780,
The first occurred in portion Of build
ing belonging to the Indiana Trust Conn
pany, at (new) No. 253 East Washington
street The building was vacant The
ground floor was formerly a restaurant.
In the second and third stories families
lived until recently. The upper floors are
reached by a narrow north-and-south stair
way, leading UP from the sidewalk. Mid
way back of the narrow hall on the second
story was stairway, facing east and west,
that led to the third floor. At either side or
the stairway were doors opening into the
second-story rooms. The fire burned in the
second room from the street and under the
stairway. 1t had made such progress be-
fore it was discovered that it burned down
through the floor into the ground-fioor
room.
While the fremen were fighting this fire
Martin M. Hugg who has an Office in the
Brandon block, corner washington and Del
aware streets, happened to go into that
building. His main office fronts on Wash
ington street. He entered without discov-
ering anything suspicious, although he de-
tected an odor or smoke and burning wood
He supposed that this came from the fire
half a block further east. On going into
his private Office, in the rear, however, he
happened to glance through a window that
opens on the broad stairway leading to the
story above. His attention was attracted
by q very bright light. Hurrying out into
that burning
a room used by the janitor of the building
to store old furniture, brooms, mops, etc.
Mr.. Hugg knew that John c. Brough, u
veteran newspaper man, had room on
that floor, next door to the lumber room.
Mr.. Brough is partially helpless with rheu-
matism and has to walk with cane ana
crutch. Mr.. Hugg called to him to warn
him. He then hurried downstairs and has
tened to the other fire. No paid at
tention to his cries that the Brandon block
was on fire for some time Finally, how
ever he was able to find Chief Barrett, who
ordered part of the apparatus to the Bran
don block, where he went himself to look
after the handling of the fire. Lines OF
hose were carried up the stairway IN a
jiffy and the fire was soon quenched.
Meantime Mr.. Brough had been assisted
down to place of safety by two men VINO
were attracted TO the building by his shouts
for help Mr.. Brough says that he was
little excited on account of his inability to
get up and down stairs readily. lie believes
that the place was set on ire by an lncen-
diary. A half hour before the fire broke OUT
he heard some one go into the Janltor's
lumber room, DuJ pdlC no pdI tlculdT dttell-
ton 70 the circumstance. as he supposed il
was the janitor. The latter's assistant ap-l
pared shortly afterward and said that the
janitor left early in the evening. Neither
Of them had been back until the alarm was
sounded.
An immense crowd of people, hundreds
of them on bicycles, rushed TO the court
/ house when Box SO was pulled. The first
fire filled the air with dense sitting
smoke that concealed the firemen going up
! the ladder from the crowds. When MIR.
| Hugg gave the alarm for the Brandon olock
! direction and a number Of people narrowly
| missed being trampled under foot by the
department horses. The Brandon block Is
| owned by Judah and jameson. Most OF the
third floor is vacant, although Messrs. Mes