The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-07
FIRE LOSS OF OVER $4,000.
Second Time in Two Years CIarIx's
Gallery Has Been Destroyed.

Much excitement was caused by fire in
the center of the Washington-street bust
ness district last night, especially when it
was rumored that the New York store was
burning. Instead of the New York store, it
was the photograph gallery of James II.
Clark, 81 East Washington street, in the
building owned by the Dalzelle estate and
Becker, tailor. Mrs Minta Brace milliner,
occupied part OF the store, the entire con-
tents of which were destroyed. Mr.. Clark
estimated that his stock in the Photographic
department was worth $500, and in the
picture charging department. 81 600 Mrs.
Brace was unable to say what her loss
would be on the 81 900 stock, although she
old not think it was well covered by the
insurance. Mr.. Clark said that he did not
have half enough insurance" The stock
in the store of Besten & Langen is
damaged mostly by smoke, although there
was some damage by water. Gramling's
merchant tailoring establishment is next
door west of Clark's, and there is some
damage by water. Ten thousand to $4,000
will probably cover all the loss, including
that on stocks and the building Frank c.
DuSham, an attorney on the second floor of
the building, will lose from the water dam
age, his law library being deluged Two
sleeping apartments, suffer loss to clothing
and furniture.
This is the second time in two years that
Clark's gallery has been burned out Every
one was at a loss to tell how the fire
started last night. e. w. Anderson, a dem
fist, was at work in the rear of his rooms
on the second floor at sis o'clock, when he
heard muffied sound. like some heavy
weight falling. He thought it was the
young men above stairs scuffiing. but a
moment later he smelled burning wood, and
looking out OF the rear window. saw the rear
structure OF the building, which is but one
story high, burst in flames. AT the moment
of the explosion a pedestrian, who after
ward spoke to the Merchant policeman was
passing the gallery. He heard a loud ex-
plosion toward the center of the store
which was followed by a red glare 1t is
supposed that chemicals used in the photo
graphic process exploded. although Mr.
Clark did not believe this a satisfactory ex-
plantation He said he had detected the
odor Of gas several days recently and
thought the explosion might have resulted
from that cause. 1t might also have been
occasioned by electric wires, of which there
are a large number in the building.
Immediately after the flames burst up the
tower Waterman observed the fire and
turned in an alarm, which was afterward
followed by another. There were several
incidents at the fire. When the firemen ar
rived they saw a Mrs. Snow at the third
story window in the building occupied by
Cravings store, and, not knowing that this
building reached by a separate stair
way, hoisted an extension ladder, intending
to rescue her in that way. Mrs Snow re-
fused to go down the ladder, and re-
luctant to leave the building, not believing
there was any danger Mrs. Brace and
down town The niece was in advance, and
it was all the police could do to keep her
from rushing into the burning picture gall
lery, in the rear of which was the millinery
store. She wrung her hands and explained
that it would be an almost irreparable loss
to her aunt if her books were not rescued
The day book alone, she said, was worth
$500. Scarcely had the policemen convinced
her that it was unsafe to enter the store
when Mr.. Clark rushed up in great excite
ment. He had been bowling with some
friends and had left the alley for drug
store to get something for mashed finger.
could hardly restrain himself, deploring the
i'll luck which follows him, exclaimtng that
this was the second time ne mad been burned
out In the same room In two years; Night
Waterman Arnold, at the New York store
as soon as ne learned of the fire, turned on
the automatic water sprinklers on the
he dispatched one of the employees
who happened to be passing, for Man
ager Gay, who was at Englishs Opera
House. Mr.. Gay could not be reached until
the curtain was down on the first act, when
he FASTENED to the store, but, to his relief
found everything in good shape, the outside
sprinkers working admirably. In short
time the east and south walls were Sheeted
with ice and the water was turned off.
The fire was comparatively easy to handle,
although it burned long and persistently.
The worst of il was in a one-story structure
in the rear of the new three-story brick,
which extends halfway back from Wash
ington to Pearl street. This was stored
with picture frames and other combustible
material and ii was not until several lines
of hose were taken up through the other
buildings and flood of water turned down
upon the blaze that II was extinguished. 1t
was a bad night for the tiremen whose
rubber coats were soon covered with ice
from the splattering streams at the hose
joints.
Mr. Clark was for few moments afraid
that a young woman employed by him as a
retoucher might be IN the fire, but care
full search was made by the firemen, who
concluded that she had left before the eX-
plOsion.
Later in the evening Mr.. Clark learned
that the young woman, Miss Lulu Petticord,
had been seen to leave the store and board
CentTal-avenae car shortly before the ex-
posion. After the smoke cleared away and
Mr. Clark got into the store an oil stove was
found in the rooms of the milliners. He
remembered that IL was left burning one
night three weeks ago and concluded this oc-
Cured again last night with the disastrous
results above recorded.
HomeH Acquired in the state.
State Statistician Conner has received re-