The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-08-01
ACTON PARK AROUSED
FIRE DISTURBED THE COTTAGERS
AT AN EARLY HOUR YESTERDAY.
Blaze Started from n Gasoline Stove
No Insurance and Considerable
Loss-The Day at Bethany.

In less time than II takes to tell the story
men, women and children were hurrying TO
the square. the scene of the fire, some In
their nightclothes, while others took the
time to slip on wrapper and shoes or rub
bers. For a short space Of time the ex-
element was intense and the cottagers
formed bucket brigade, but were not able
to extinguish the flames until eight cottages
had been totally destroyed. One or the
most energetic workers was Mr.. Friedman.
who is a veteran fireman. He wrapped
himself in wet blankets and brought buckets
of water and went into the burning cot
tages saving all that he could as well as
keeping the cottages Immediately back CT
the front row on the square from burning.
Another worker who deserves credit was
Mr. Brenton, who occupies the farmhouse
at the south entrance to the park. The
women portion of the camp worked nobly,
pumping and carrying water to the men and
putting wet blankets on the houses close
by. After the first excitement. however.
many Of the women began to think OF their
own cottages, and nearly every one had
some valuables that they wanted to save
should the whole camp catch fire, as 1t was
at first feared. One woman, who lives on
Railroad avenue. ran home and packed all
her clothes in trunk, along with the
silver and other things, and left her hus-
bands clothes hanging on the wall in their
room. Another woman ran home. and, put
ting on her watch, rings and stickpins and
bracelets, ran back to the scene of the
fire, carrying her water bucket to assist the
brigade.
The fire originated on the west side Of the
square in a cottage owned by Mrs. N. H.
Ford and daughter, of this city, and occu-
pied by Mrs. Ford's parents, Mr.. and Mrs.
Brison, of Greensburg, an old couple, in
their eightieth year. AS the story is told,
Mr.. Brison arose early, intending to go
the morning train to his home, in Green's
burg, and while his wife was dressing he
lit the gasoline stove so as to have an early
breakfast. The stove had been leaking,
and a blaze started. which spread rapidly
and caught the muslin wall covering. The
fire shot through the cottage and into the
next cottage almost before the daZed couple
was aware of it. The adjoining cottage
was occupied by Mrs. T. J. Bosley, and the
family was asleep when the fire broke out.
AS soon as the alarm was given Mrs. Bos-
ley and her daughters Hettie, Sally and
Anna, and niece of Mrs. Bosley, Miss
Van Arsdal, rushed out with what clothing
We're already through the house and not a
thing in the cottage could be saved. The
silver was ruined ard ell the bedding and
family clothing was consumed. The fire
quickly spread to the next cottage east of
the Ford cottage. owned by Mrs. s. A.
Bookwalter, but it was not occupied at the
time. Mrs. Bookwalter visited the house
Sunday and left with the intention of re-
turning this week and staying throughout
the rest of the camp-meetlng season. The
house Is said to have been nicely furnished
throughout No: 7S. the next cottage. was
pied by Mr. Mccain and family. Of Indian.
apolis. and g,est, Miss Hatfield, OF
Grcensburg. The cottage was burned to the
ground, but nearly everything of any con-
sequence was saved, as was also the fur
nishings of Rev. j.. w. Dashielrs cottage.
VIII. lived ne next door, in No 5s Mrs s; J..
No. so, and 1t was not occupied. The cot
tage next to il had to be torn down in order
TO of the Tow OF cn ans
by Mrs. Wright and occupied by her daugh-
ter. Mrs. Yount 1t is said that in the
est on the grounds, and the management
has long thought of having them torn down
and others built in their stead. Two Of
them have been standing since the civil
var. There is a newer row Of cottages i'm
mediately back of those burned. on what
is called Maple avenue, and the owners had
|
aid Of wet blankets and carpets there was
no serious damage done to them, except
| some scorching.
SOME OF THE INCIDENTS.
| Incidents occurred during the fire which
were at once ludricous and pathetic. The
| unfortunate ones who were burned out,
without warning and without clothes, ex-
/ cept the few they wore, were taken care
| of by kind friends. Mr.. and Mrs. Brison,
in whose cottage the fire originated. were
| most to be pitied, because they felt that
they were to blame for the fire, although
1t might have happened in any other cot
tage. They told the story Of how it hap
pened, with tears In their eyes. to all who
| heart-broken over the occurrence One wom-
an came running out of her cottage with
a coffee pot in one hand ana her false e
lost her teeth in the fire and never thought
of them until a friend asked her If she
had lost anything valuable. N. More property t
| CURED at such an early hour. The f1rsl
| thing DR.. Dashiell did when he saw the fire
to gng ine F fe bonp
| the first bell for the morning prayer meet
ing and few people understood the signif
canoe of the bell ringing so violently. The
| cottagers who were burned out were al
| comfortably settled before evening. Mrs
| Ford and her daughter, in whose cottage
| the IRE started, were not OH the STOuLu'
at the time, but went down on the earl,
| train with a large basket of provisions
| which came in handy, and Mr.. and Mrs
| Brison and Mrs. Ford and her daughter
eat dinner and supper In the woman {
Home Missionary cottage, where they viii
stay until they can get a cottage. Mrs
Bosley has taken Cottage IS. on Railroad
| avenue, and Rev. Mr.. Dashiell has settled
| in the Jones cottage, on the square Mr.
| Mccain and family returned to their hom
| in the city yesterday evening, but II i
their intention to return TO the camp ground
the remainder Of the season. There was ne
| Insurance on the burned cottages and the
loss is estimated at between $500 and 81 600
| In spite of the excitement of the fire or
| the grounds, children's day and Junior Ep
worth League day was observed by every
| one. The little ones came in large numbers
| and the mornings programme at the pa
| vilion was well attended. The programm,
| was arranged by Mrs. j. l.. Z. Steeg anC
| was an entertaining one. Mr.. o. III. Palm
| er, president of the State Epworth League
said a few pleasant words OF greeting Z
the young people. The others who partici
| pated in the programme, which consisted o
| songs and recitations, were Hugh Simpson
Gertrude Grassland, Susie McCrea, Clars
Killtts, Earl Crooks, Violet Ferrens. Mel
Wheeler was pianist The social feature o
the day was the watermelon feast in thu
| afternoon. The little folks assembled from
| every corner of the camp grounds anC
many came especially for the occasion from
| Acton. In the front of the park benches
had been arranged in square and TIL
watermelons were cut and served by thu
women in charge. great many of the olde
cottagers also partook OF the feast ant
seemed TO enjoy IL quite as much as tn
little folks. The organ was temperate.
placed on what was formerly a band stan'
off0rnnnn