The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-02

carried part OF the water from the several
Giazier nozzles In operation and formed
thick mist, which froze to the faces and
clothes OF the firemen and spectators.
EXPLOSIONS SCARE THE CROWD.
The crowd settled down TO watch with
wonderment the work of the department
and the progress OF the flames, confident
that the adjoining buildings would be
saved and there would no other cause for
alarm or undue excitement. But this de-
fusion was soon dispelled when there was
n report In the rear of the buildings which
resenbIed the distant rumblings of a bat
terry OF artillery. The first report was fol-
lowed by another explosion. and still an
other and another caused the spectators
on Maryland street watching the ire from
the rear TO stand awe-stricken for a mo-
rnent and then to hastily retreat TO pace
OF safety. The several explosions were
caused by the intense heat on the canned
goods on the second and third floors OF the
Stout building. and when they stopped the
crowd gradually worked its way back to
tine fire lines. which were guarded by
squads OF patrOlmen.
new terror soon seized the crowd in
the rear OF the building, and that was the
fear of the rear wall of the Stout building
IL several of the brave firemen who stood
there IL the zee handling the several
streams of water being played on the
flames. The force OF the explosions had
caused the rear wall to bulge out a few
inches, and i'm looking at Ii from certain
direction the perspective showed that IL
would soon tumble. but IL was firm and
withstood the awful pressure placed
against IL.
As the flames rapidly ate their way
through the four floors Of the Stout build
ing and succeeded in completely quitting tnat
large house Mr.. A. Kiefer. or the nrm OF
A Kiefer & Co, stood in Murphy, Hibben
& Co.'S store, on the opposite side OF the
street. and remarked that there was very
strong fire wall between the Stout pulld ling
and the building occupied by his drug frm
and that the wall might Withstand the ter
rible heat. He said IL had been successful
ia FORMER years in holding the flames back
from eating their way into his store, but as
the wind was from the southwest he feared
his place would be Quilted. While ne was
talking the flames were rapidly forcing
their way through the thick fire wall Long
before they succeeded in doing this fresh
fear broke out among the spectators on
Maryland street. Some one asserted that
The rear of the fourth floor of the kiefer
building was stored with whisky and
should that place burn there would be
disastrous explosions. This explanation
startled tine crowd for moment, and when
the spectators realized the full import or
what such thing might mean to those
standing I'm such close proximity there was
a scattering in all directions. and but few
returned to close range OF the building
Luckily the flames did not get near enough
10 the whisky after they gained headway
I'm the Kfefer building to cause an ex-
plosion-
FIRE SPREADS TO THE SOUTH.
While the speculation was going on about
the probability of the fire destroying the
kiefer building but few people realized
that the flames were forcing their way
through the thick wall which separated
the Stout building from the building on
the south, occupied by Brinkmeyer &
Kuhn. A few firemen stood on top of this
building with line of hose from which
they were throwing water into the center
of the Stout store. Suddenly the darkened
front windows on the fourth floor or that
building became bright with the flames on
the inside, which seemed TO break forth as
from a furnace. The efforts of part or the
fire force, with a Glazier stream, were i'm
mediately turned on this section of the con-
fagration. When the windows were broken
a cry Of oh was unconsciously given by
nearly every person viewing the fire from
in front who could see the new terror fac
ing the firemen. The fire was confined to
the top floor. but as the building was
stored with about the same class of goods
that burned so rapidly in the Stout build
ing. but little hope was given out OF saw
ing the place. The Glazier nozzle. however
the heart of the fierce flames and IL only
took a short time to get them under con-
troll
While the force was divided in fighting
the fire in Stouts and the fierce flames
in the Brinkmeyer & Kuhn building, a
little blaze was seen under the corner OF
the cornice of the north side Of the Kiefer
building. Employees of the Kiefer store
who stood in the crowd remarked that this
was the first time that fire had found its
way TO the north side of the building and
Ira zfn hod fHran nod arnl
times before by buildings Immediately ad.
joining on the south burning 10 the ground
One Of the large aerial trucks was hauled
Into place on the north side or the kfefel
building and force of firemen raised the
ladder to the roof where Ii seemed most
threatening for the flames to break
fire had succeeded in forcing its way
through from the Stout building and was
rapidly burning the wooden work in the
roof 1T needed but slight breeze to cause
the flames to shoot into the sky. 1t was
hoped stream of water could be sent tC
the roof in order to check the Roadway OF
the rapidly increasing flames.
FIREMEN IN DANGER.
AS the firemen began to ascend the lad
der, carrying rope with which to hoist
the hose. the spectators looked on with
amazement. They realized at once that the
fremen were undertaking a desperate act
and few believed that some of the brave
fellows would not reach the ground as well
physically as when they started up the lad.
der Just when the hose was carried to the
top of the building and the ladder was lined
with firemen the flames broke through the
roof. and the dense smoke. large pieces OF
fire embers and sparks blew in the faces OF
the firemen. There were cries from thou.
sands of people in the street calling the
men TO come from the building. To ado
to the terror and the fear there would pos