The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-08
LOSS WAS OVER 100000
SEVEN BUILDINGS BURNED AT DE-
TROIT YESTERDAY MORNING.
Damage Well Protected by Insurance
Fires-SeveraI Lives Lost.

DETROIT, Oct Five large buildings
and two smaller ones, with all their con-
tents were destroyed this morning by
fire which swept through a block situated
In the center of the business portion of De-
troit and surrounded by the Campus Mar
thus, Woodward, Gratiot and Monroe ave-
nues. Careful estimates of the losses place
the total figures at $780, 900 with $3.50, 900 in
surance. Added to the main losses are
those of the people who had household
goods etc, stored in the Central storage
building and of the contents of the offices
Of professional people and others in the
various buildings which were ruined. The
injuries to the fremen who were hurt viii
not be permanent. Most of the burned
structures will be rebuilt.
AS stated in bulletins this morning, the
blaze started shortly before i o'clock on
the stage of the Detroit Opera House. The
origin Of the fire is not determined. 1t was
not noticed until the flames eaped out at the
rear of the theater following blowing out
of a rear wall by the explosion of a calcium
tank. The opera house faced the Campus
Martius and was obquely across from the
City Hall. Its rear was closely surrounded
by the rear of other buildings fronting, re-
spectively, on Woodward, Gratiot and Mon
ASNN~NA~AA - 49,
fire was inaccessible when the fremen first
arrived. The opera house burned at ter
rifle rate, the interior being a solid mass of
flames. Meanwhile the ten-story fre-proof
structure so-called, occupied by the Henry
X. Leonard furniture store got atire in the
upper stories. The flames swept through its
inhammable contents from rear to the
Gratiot-avenue front, and within two hours
nothing remained but the steel framework
of the building. The buildings next adjoin-
ing the opera house v re the large Jewelry
establishment of Wright, Kay q Co. and the
four-story building, fronting on the Campus
Mdrtius and Monroe avenue, occupied by
the c. H. Michel Table Supply Company
BY strenuous efforts the jewelry house was
saved although the building caught fire re-
peatedly, but the Michel building was
Quilted and all its contents burned.
At o'clock it was supposed that the fire
would probably be controlled within its then
limits but aided by an Increasing north
west wind it swept along both on the Mon
roe-avenue and Gratiot-avenue sides OF the
block. From Alichells it communicated
with the large six-story building adjoining
occupied by e. H. Werner'S crockery house
and by the Grand Union Tea Company
causing perhaps the hottest blaze OF the
fire and leaving nothing remaining at
the Cfratiot-avenue side, the names spread
east from the Leonard building 10 a build
ing occupied by the Central storage Com
pany and Vaughan q Tanner, Wnlcn was
also destroyed with its contents. A SIDE
wall of the latter building fell upon the roof
of a two-story structure occupied py the
Partisan laundry, which was badly wrecked
and partly burned. On the MOnfoe-aVenue
side small shoe store was crushed 10 rag
ments by the fall of the east wall Oh the
Werner building. At both these points was
where the progress of the flames was
The early morning hour and the rapid
sweep of the fire prevented the saving of
any of the contents to speak OF. Among
the losses was that of the Julia Arthur
Dramatic Company, which was playing us
first engagement in a Lady of quality.
All it's handsome costumes and stage set
tngs We're destroyed. Miss arthur IN was vas
terprise. The front portion OF the theatCr
building was occupied by the Central say
ingS Bank and KinnucanS tailoring eStab-
lishment and the upper stories front by
various offices. The Grand Trunk repair
shops located on the dock at the foot of
Dequindre street nearly three-quarters of
a mile distant, caught fire from blazing
brand and were destroyed, with quantity
started in addition to numerous small ones
near the scene Of the big fire. but none re-
William Moore jantor of the opera house
building, and his wife, who We're sleeping
on the fifth floor, narrowly escaped with
their lives. Lieutenant John W. Hopkins
and Pipemen Archibald Bennett and John
H. Welch suffered serious fall, caused
by the Jerking down of ladder on which
they were ascending the front of
the Michel building. Benefits spine is
seriously injured. 1t was $50 before the fire
was fully under control
The Detroit Opera House was owned by
the Clarke estate. It's value was estimated
at $4,000, fully insured. c. ]. Whitney,
lessee Of the building and manager loses
about $50 600, partly insured The Julia Ar
thur Companys loss is 800 600, with
$4,000 insurance. The Michel building was
owned by George H. Barbour. It's value was
$40 600; fully insured. The Michel stock was
worth $4,000 and 80 per cent. insured.
The Leonard building and stock was esti-
mated 100000, fully insured. The principal
other losses most of which are fairly in
sured, are as follows: Central Savings
Bank, $40, 900; Hugh Connolly, jeweler, $780,
900; Vaughn q Tanner, 10000; G. II. Wer-
ner, $4,000; Traugott, Schmidt & Tate
owner of Werner building, $50. 000 Grand
Union Tea Company, SIS. 600; Partisan Laun-
dry $1,000; Central Storage Company $20-
600; Grand Trunk repair shops. $1,000;
Brossys dye shop, $780, opera house
musicians, $1,000; p. ]. Kinnucan, tailor, So
600; DR.. w. II. Kessler, 81 900: Boston Shoe
Store, building and stock, s., 500; j. q T.
Hurley, coal dealers, $4,000; G. Hope & Sons,
wagon works, $500, and other minor losses
by smoke, water etc, $4,000