The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-27
BIG PLANTS CLOSE CALL
A PART OF PARRY COMPANY's CART
WORKS DESTROYED BY FIRE.
Total Loss VIII Exceed S2O,OOO-A Fa-
VOrabIe Wind Prevented
Much Heavier Loss.

The two-story frame building at the
southwest corner of Gordon and Eddy
streets which was a part Of the plant of
the Parry Manufacturing Company, was
totally destroyed by fire. with all its con-
tents, yesterday afternoon. The building
was used as a paint shop, where the run
ming gear and shafts of buggies and carts
were painted. 1t contained close to $4,000
worth Of stock and 81 600 worth of machin-
cry About forty men were employed in
the building and they are temporarily
thrown out of work. Most of them will be
put to work in a day or two in other build
ings pending the erection of a new paint
shop. The building was the property of the
Manufacturers Building and Power Com
pany, and was leased by the Parry Manu-
featuring Company. There were several
smaller buildings destroyed. but a confla-
grafton was prevented by favorable wind.
The fire was discovered about 5 o'clock
by of the employees. 1t started in a
room known as the asphalting department,
where certain parts of carts are treated
to a coating of asphaItum by a dipping
process. Asphaltum had in the course of
years, spread over the floor and other wood
work and rendered it very infammabe.
The superstition is that a match was
dropped on the floor and that some one ig-
nited it by stepping on it. When discov-
cred, the fire was raging so fiercey that
the employees were helpless in their efforts
to fight it. An alarm was sounded at once
and when the chief arrived he turned in a
second for hose and subsequently for en-
gines.
Tna xx-Oyl ,Y,Io fT IN he
were thrown into the widest confusion by
the fire. They barely found time to escape
from, the burning building. Some of them
carried out their tools, while others did not
realize their danger until too late to save
even their clothing, which had been
changed for work clothes. Across Eddy
street from the burning building is a three
story frame structure which contains
hundred thousand dollars worth of buggfes
and parts and material in the course of
manufacture. Many men work here. They
were all driven out, and it looked at first as
if this building must surely take fire. If it
had, no amount of water and no force of
firemen could have prevented the Parry
Manufacturing Company's plant being
wiped out. On the west side of the third
floor of this building is the vanishing de-
partment If the timber had become ig-
nited the whole buildine would probably
have gone up in q flash.
HEAT DROVE FIREMEN BACK.
The heat from the burning building was
intense and kept the firemen at distance,
necesstating changes of men who were
working at the front, for man could not
endure it long at fighting range. Lines of
hose were soon playing upon the fire from
all the streets and from the roofs of the
stock are total losses, the walls still stand.
The wind was blowing strongly from the
south-southeast. This was fortunate, for
the sparks and fire were blown away from
the main buildings In the northeast corner
of the destroyed building there was stored
q large quantity of turpentine, benzine etc.
Upon this corner the fremen kept several
lines of hose for it was certain that If
these inflammabes should explode the fire
would be communicated to the main build
not explode nor burn, although timbers all
around the StorerOom were burned and the
room itself was practically destroyed.
The Parry Manufacturing Company was
working a full force at full time in order
to meet the rush of business. President d.
NJ. Parry said the company would be de-
layed about two days in filling orders on ac-
count of the fire. I'VE are enjoying a bet
ter trade than during the spring, and the
ness has been improving rapidly. The stock
destroyed is only that which was being
worked on in the paint shop where running
gears are painted. 1t was valued at be
tween $4,000 and 10000 and the machinery
was worth about 81 000"
The insurance carried on all the buildings
and contents was low for the amount of
stock on hand. There are half a dozen
separate buildings and the insurance is
placed separately upon the contents of
each. The amounts on the various buildings
are changed each week or two to keep
the insurance properly distributed. Owing
to the marked Improvement in business,
more stock has been made up than the in
suranCe fairly covers. On the contents of
the building destroyed there was only $40,
600 insurance and on the machinery $500,
Sseguin. The building Vas ESQ by 90 feet in
dimensions and was partly one story and
partly two stories. 1t was fully insured
SMALL BUILDINGS DAMAGED.
Several dwelling houses and small build
ing adjacent to the Parry Manufacturing
Company were more or less damaged. They
are as follows:
The house at 5O7 South Capitol avenue,
owned by j. Perry; damage, $50.
The house at sol South Capitol avenue,
owned by John Sullivan; damage. $50.
The one-story frame dwelling house at
SIS South Capitol avenue, owned by Mrs.
Levi; damage, $500.
The one-story frame dwelling at 513 South
Capitol avenue, owned by Patrick Hagerty;
damage, 50.
The two-story frame building at 500, oc-
cupied by Charles Perry's grocery and feed
store; damage 81.
The two-story brick dwelling at 519 South
Capitol avenue, owned by j. Perry; dam
The one-story frame dwelling at 521 South
Capitol avenue, owned by Dennis Phelan;
damage, $125.
The two-story brick residence at 207 West
South street, owned by Nj. NJ. Cullen;
sparks set fire to the roof and damaged
it S75
THE APPARATUS BROKE DOWN.