The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-20
And Spread with Great RapidIty to
the Wholesale building and 9th
er Adjoining Structures.
ONE WOMAN FATALLY INJURED
ANOTHER SERIOUSLY AND A WIN
DOW TRIMMER BADLY BURNED.
Lives of Several Firemen ImperiIed-
Panic in the Department stOre-In-
surance About 100000.
speeIaI to the InaIanapoIIs journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
TERRE HAUTE, Ind, Dec 19-Within
three hours after fire started in the
Christmas-tree window of the Havens-
Geddes Co.'s department store. on Wabash
avenue. at o'clock this evening, a loss of
S650OOO had been caused and three firemen
were imprisoned in a store through which
the wall of an adjoining building had
fallen. They were being fed with whisky
and their fellow-firemen were telling them
to keep up courage. Miss Maloney, clerk
in tse cloak department OF the Havens-
Geldes Co, who had jumped from second
story window, was lying at the point of
death. The thousands of people standing in
the rain were saying that it was Terre
Hautes biggest fire. Men who owned valu-
able property in Terre Haute were rejoic-
ing that the flames went no farther, because
for an hour 1t was thought the loss would
be in the millions. When that apprehension
was greatest kilograms were sent for out
side fire assistance. Brazil responded with
a company in fast time. and indianapolis
sent an engine which did good work at a
time when 1t was thought the flames would
go beyond Albrechts dry-goods store. and
IL they had there would be no stop, it was
said by men who knew, for block or two,
taking in the McKeen Bank and the long
time headquarters building of the vandalia
Offices.
At another time the new Fflbeck Hotel,
on the back of the square, was thought to
be on fire. but the department drenched and
saved it. The United States Baking Com
panys factory was in danger. and only es-
saped with the loss incidental to the falling
on its rear walls Of wan of the wholesale
building of the Hsvens-G s-Geddes Co.
STARTED IN A WINDOW.
The fire in the Christmas window of
the Havens-Geddes Co. started so quickly
that even the window trimmer, who was
inside. had barely time to escape. The big
store was five stories high. Us by 75 feet,
and was said to be OF the undertook order.
There was some delay in the fire department
arriving. The most startling feature of the
fire was the great outburst of flames from
the windows of the big building. Clerks
hurried out but some were slower than eth
ers, especially on the second floor, from
which there was no connection to the whole
sale house adjoining. Miss Ferguson and
Miss Maloney were caught in the second
floor. They went to window. Manager
Fred Brown and others prepared to catch
them. Miss Ferguson jumped and was
caught safely. Miss Maloney did not wait
until her woud-be rescuers were ready for
her. and jumped head foremost. striking on
the pavement in that position. She IS still
unconscious and may die Many employees
are slightly burned or crippled by their fight
for liberty from the burning store.
Soon after the big store was aflame the
fve-story wholesale house. of the same
heighth but of less area dimensions, was
burning. 1t too was of the tinder-box order
and went into cinders fast, as did the
wholesale shoe house of the company ad-
joining it. Across Fifth street the Thor
man & Schloss clothing house caught fire.
and was soon destroyed. The little breeze
at the time carried the flames the other
way. however. and 1t was not long until
the buildings occupied by the Breining &
Miller furniture house and next the Pixley
& Co. clothing house We're doomed.
AID FROM OTHER CITIES.
Then there was hope that the fremen, re-
= inforced by indianapolis and Brazil. would
get control. but the fire burned across an
alley to the big store OF w. II. Albrecht &
Co, who were 0urGed out in the Nailor
Opera House fire and only recently started
again. Their new building was burned to
the bottom. While it was burning one of
the walls fell over on the clothing house
of Ford & overstreet. in the next building.
and caught the fremen. John osterIoo.
John weIch and Mike Shea were in the
Tuins and for three hours their comrades
strove to rescue them, when finally oster-
loo and WEIGH were taken out and sent to
the hospital. Shea was still alive and pa
tiently waiting for rescue in hearing of his
friends. Several other fremen were in
iured at the time. but were taken away for
treatment.
No one can furnish list of losses and
Insurance. tonight. but the best judgment
IS that the loss Is as stated, ss5ooOO, with
$4,000 insurance. The Hayens-Geddes build