The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-15
Frank Manl<in, the Only One Seriously
Hurt, IL Taken to the
City Hospital.
THE FIRE BURNED FIERCELT
AND THE MEN WORKED vALIANTLY
TO SAVE OTHER BUILDINGS.
Factory Building Was Formerly GILL;
more's Variety Theater--De-
tails of the Fire.


Last night at s:o4 o'clock the fire de-
partment was called by an alarm from box
Az to a fire which proved most destruct-
i've and for time threatened ~ consume
the entire block between Washington
street, West Court street. Senate avenue
and Missouri street. The square Is the
one in which the Star store. which
was burned Sunday night. was situated.
The fire was in the overall factory of c.
B. Cones. Son & Co.. who occupy the re-
built and remodeled building made famous
in city history Gilmores Zoo and a va
riety theater. The entire building and con-
tents We're destroyed and the loss Is esti-
mated at 100000. So fiercely did the fire
burn that Ii was only by hardest work
that the flames were confined TO the one
building. The night watchman turned In
the alarm from the call box In the place.
and before the fire department arrived the
building was a mass of flames. and IL was
at once seen that no amount Of work could
save it. The first line of hose was therefore
laid with the intention OF protecting the
other buildings. Engine company No. I.
Captain ]. o. George. was one of the first
d
north of the building The efforts OF the
men were directed toward the seat o. the
fire. the boiler room in the rear. The COM
pany was composed of Frank Mankin, a56
Massachusetts avenue; Edward Hartnett
SIS Blake street; Leonard Wesley. 200 West
Sixteenth street and Patrick McMahon, 30
South Missouri street.
BURIED UNDER DEBRIS.
The fire came near being their last, for.
while working alongside Of the rear por-
ton, the walls gave way and all four OF
the men were buried beneath the debris.
Sergeant Lowe, who hurried to the hre.
was walking in Usage street, and narrow
ly escaped being caught by the falling
timbers and walls. He saw the firemen fall
beneath and gave the alarm
The men had the only line Of hose In serv-
ice on that portion of the fire and for q
few moments II seemed as II they were
destined to be consumed The heat was In
tense and but few Of the crowd which took
such an active interest In their salvation
yentured close enough to the building to
see what was necessary. Their groans and
cries could be heard by the spectators on
West Court street. Sergeant Lowe. sergt.
Wallace and Detective Holtz were most
active and Wallace and Holtz secured the
hose which had been thrown aside by the
men. They were unable TO handle II and
Wallace was almost Knocked down by the
stream which struck him In the face when
the nozzle was wrenched from their grasp.
Several men began pulling at the boaa ds
and sheet iron roofing and soon the men
were seen pinned and held by timbers and
iron bars a few feet away.
The flames were fast nearing them and
all were badly scorched. though not serf-
ously. After few OF the barriers had been
taken out the men were able to help them
selves, with the exception Of Mankin. who
was pulled out and carried into a resort on
Court street, where he was cared for until
the arrival OF the ambulance. He was TAX
en- to the City Hospital He was badly
burned about the limbs and suffered from
a bruised head and ankle. His injuries will
not prove serious.
The other members OF the company
quickly disappeared. after satisfying the
police and others that no more men had
fallen in the ruins. 1t was rumorod after
ward that another man was still In the
burning debris and many thought they
could hear his groans, but the firemen said
they saw the danger and the walls bulging
and tried to get out of the way. but were
not quick enough. They were also hindered
by their hose, which they tried 10 pull out
with them.
BURNED LIKE PAPER.
The building was nothing but a shell and
burned like paper. A brisk breeze from
the north assisted the fire in its progress
and work OF destruction and carried the
flames high in the air and over the store
tundings fronting on Washington street.
These were in great danger and one COM
pany went into the alley between them and
the burning building. Three minutes after
they entered the alley the walls began Civ
ing way and they were obliged to retreat
from the flames and because OF the i'm
minent danger OF callapse OF the building.
Upon the arrival OF the companies called
by the second alarm several lines OF hose
were carried over the buildings from the
Washington-street side and from there
played on the fire in the overall factory.
The water tower. which was brought out
at the second alarm. was placed I'm position
on Washington street for use In emergency
and was finally put into use when fire
made it's way into the rear OF the drug
store OF Louis III. Renkert The Glazier
rozzles were also put into service.
The whole building collapsed about thir-
ty minutes after the fire broke out ana
thus iessened the danger TO the washinE-
ton-street buildings.
BUILDINGS IN DANGER
The buildings on Washington street
which were I'm danger OF burning were CO
cupied by James Moxley. saloon. No. so2:
Frank Gisler. saloon. No. so4; s. Benzer.
dry goods. No. sos; Aurora tea store. Ne.