The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-08
SECOND In THREE YEARS
JOSEPH HORNE e. CO., PITvrsBURG,
SUFFER BY FIRE AGAIN.
Big Department store in Ruins
known Loss Over a Million, ard
May Reach Double that Amount.

PITTSBURG, Pa, April S-For the Sec
ond time in three years the extensive de-
partment store of Joseph Horne & Co..
at the corner of Fifth street and Penn
sylvania avenue is in ruins. Shortly after
midnight Policeman Sylvester Doyle dis
covered flames issuing from the windows
of the eighth floor and inside of an hour
the big eight-story structure COM
pletely quilted. entailing a loss of over
million dollars. If the building, which
was supposed to be fire-proof. proves to
be so badly warped as to necessitate a
new structure. the loss will be nearly
100000. member of the firm says the
sured for Si5O000. The stock was valued
at 81. 000. 600 with insurance in the neighbor-
hood OF $4,000. A meeting of the firm
was held during the progress of the fire
and ii was decided to resume business as
soon as suitable quarter can be secured and
rebuild their old stand. The fire three
years ago caused a loss nearly equal to
that of this morning.
The fire was discovered by Policeman
Doyle shortly after midnight, when flames
were seen issuing from the windows of the
restaurant department on the eighth floor.
In five minutes the entire floor was ablaze
and the flames had burst through the roof.
A general alarm brought all the engines of
the lower-town district. but the flames ate
their way so rapidly down that the efforts
of the 6rprnan a To ctor
their progress. The building was supposed
TO be fireproof. but not until the fire
reached the first floor was there any possi-
bility of getting it under control Probably
every article in the store was either burned
or ruined by water.
When the flames had eaten through the
seventh and sixth floors and came to the
fifth the vast stock of inflammable ma
terial, such as mating, rugs and travelling
bags. added new fuel and the blaze made
its way with almost lightning-like rapidity
to the floors below, consuming like kindling
wood in a furnace everything in its way
Following in quick succession, the fourth
floor. filled with touches, bedding and
tapestry, the third floor. with an enormous
stock of millinery and mems clothing, and
the second floor, with its hundreds of ia
bles covered with shirt waists and tailor
made suits. were licked up by the flames
The perfect deluge of water poured into
the building by the many lines of hose
finally began to make some impression,
and when the first floor was reached the
fire was being conquered.
The fire damage on the first floor Is not
great. but the valuable stocks of silk lace
and imported dress goods, well nov
elites of every description, are probably
ruined beyond reclaim.
The steel frame of the building and its
partially fireproof qualities kept the flames
within itself and no damage resulted to
property adjoining, though every prepara-
ton was made by those near by to profit
by their experience of three years ago,
when the Horne fire took with it half a
dozen other buildings.
During the fire. when eleven firemen were
on one of the fire escapes. a pair of iron
shutters fell from above right among Them
but all escaped with injuries no more
serious than bruises. The origin of the fire
is still mystery.