The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-26
ITS BUILDING Quilted
MEDICAL COLLEGE OF INDIANA
LOSES OVER $4,000 BY FIRE.
DR.. Norman r. shObe Terribly Burned.
but VIII Recoverable. MOrgan's
Narrow Escape.

1t was believed last night that DR.. Nor
man 7. Shobe, who was so terribly burned
10 the Indiana Medical College fire early yes
terday morning, viii recover, although he
VIII always bear the marks of the expert
ence which he has passed through DR.. r.
q. Morgan who was slightly burned was
able to attend TO his usual work Yesterday
afternoon. He will escape from the scars
whicn his companion can never expect to be
without 1t was very difficult yesterday to
make any accurate estimate of the losses.
Or. John Fl. Oliver, treasurer of the col
lege, met with the insurance men yesterday
afternoon, and appraisers will be appointed
this morning to estimate the amount of in
surance the college should receive for the
building The building was insured for SIS,
900 OF this Robert Zener & Co. has $2O, 600
and the Union Trust Company 5000, placed
In American and English companies. OF the
insurance upon the contents l. c. HAYES
has $500 in the Pennsylvania Fire Insur-
ance Company. at Philadelphia, and John
Wocher has $780, with the Aetna Insurance
company, at Hartford. The agents of the
college will make an inventory of the con-
tents destroyed and will report next Friday
or previously. The following are the names
OF the companies in which the college build
ing was insured: Royal Insurance Company,
of England, $1,000 Springfield Insurance
Company, Of Massachusetts,, 5000; Imperial
Insurance Company, of England, 5000:
Connecticut and Hartford Company, 5000;
St Paul Company, Minnesota, 5000; New
Hampshire Insurance Company 1850;
North British and Mercantile, 81, 500
About half dozen persons discovered the
fire at almost the same minute near 4:3O
O'Clock yesterday morning. Miss Ella
Barkes, who lives just north of the college,
was awakened by the noise and the light
shining through her window. She rushed out
and tried to ring the alarm bell, which is
connected with the button at the entrance
to the college. The bell was in the room
of the internes, DR.. Shobe and Or. Morgan,
on the north side of the building the
third floor. Very soon she saw the two ply
sicians come tumbling down the fire escape
the fire had already destroyed the wire con-
nection, and the woman's good intentions
were too late in execution to be of service.
Almost at the same time Arthur Navin,
sergeant in the Twenty-seventh Battery,
was passing and saw the flames. He is a
particular friend of DR.. Shobe and made an
attempt to help him. He broke the glass in
the front door and started upstairs, but the
flames drove him back.
THE TWO DOCTORS ESCAPE.
About the time Navin was trying TO reach
his friends by the front stairs the two ply
sicians were coming down the fire escape.
In speaking of the experience last night DR..
Morgan said "I think the light and the
roaring disturbed me. 1 Immediately aroused
Shobe and we hurried out in our night
gowns l awoke the coored boy, George
Hilyard, and he escaped without being
burned. was going to the fire escape and
called to Shobe to do the same, but believe
he was hardly awake yet. He ran down one
flight of stairs and then ran up again ter
ribIy burned. When we finally got down and
had secured a cab l could see the flesh drop
off while he held up. his hands In agony;
1t was also true that he left tracks OF blood
when crossing the street to the cab" Or.
Shobe was unable to say much yesterday,
but he talked a little of the experience to
one of his friends yesterday afternoon. he
said that as he ran out of his room ne
glanced toward the fire escape, but could
zee only dense masses OF smoke, so ne
started down stairs. When hair way down
one flight the flames seemed to burst sud
denly out all around him, ana ne
leaped to the landing below. Finding his
turned and received his terrible burns in go
ing upstairs. He had only the strength TO
climb down the fire escape ladder ana 1ell
when he reached the ground
The first alarm to fire headquarters was
turned in by Patrolman Stoddard. Inc nre
department was upon the scene IN rev
minutes. 1t was about o'clock when tne
streams of water stopped. AT that tune the
building and its contents with the exception
Of the walls, were practcaiiy aeSStr oIyto
ing of the two physicians were saved. IL Is
possible that an appreciate part or the
property of the college will be saved, Dut II
was impossible to make an estimate lasl
night The sight of the interior or the
building was disheartening. Timbers
charred and twisted, strewed the floor. ano
from the black walls and rafters which had
not yet fallen the dirty water dripped sui
lenly all day.
MYSTERY AS TO THE ORIGIN.
It is a mystery how the fire started. In
vestigation was largely futile. 1t is posi-
BILE that 1t started in the basement from an
overheated furnace. 1t followed the stair
way on the north side of the building in as
cending and in q short time burst through
the roof. When the fire department ar
rived the flames were already shooting from
the windows of the third and fourth stories
Extension ladders were brought into service
and the water tower was placed on the Mar
ket-street side Three streams of water
were almost Immediately in service, and IN
a short time the efforts of the firemen had
q noticeable effect in subduing the names
Some of the front upper rooms were saved
by their efforts. The cadaVers in the base
ment were found yesterday afternoon to be
all right, but those in the dissecting rooms
DIR. John oliver, after the Investigations
of yesterday afternoon, said that ne thouShl
the total loss Will De between @lo,VVV dnS
$50 OO0 With the exception of the on the
north side, the walls are in good condition
Building Inspector Robinson said that a
portion of the north wall will have to be
torn away and replaced. Architect Daggetl
reported, after an investigation, that ne be-
lieved complete repairs could be made in
six weeks. OF course, some of the equip
ment is a loss which years alone can totally
replace.
partially yesterday, but 1t will continue as
usual to-day. The old Surgical Institute
property was leased for additional room
At Plymouth Church meetings were held by
both faculty and students yesterday to con-
suit about the best methods for continuing
the Rotations Numerous offers of space
came in from other institutions of the city
and there will not need to be any especial
cramping The loss of instruments vii
cause the principal delay.
This is the third time that the. Indiana
Medical College has been destroyed by fire
About twenty years ago its building or
North Pennsylvania street was burned out
Immediately preceding the election of 1S9!
the building at Maryland and South Penn
sylvania streets was destroyed by nre.
THF POLITICAL. OUTL 00K.