The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-07-21
OPINIONS OF LOSS VARY
THE FIREMEN SAY 500, THE OWN
Err SAYS $1,000.
An Explosion and Fire Partly Destroy
the House Occupied by Meyer
SiIverman.

A fire of a peculiar origin destroyed
one-story frame cottage at S22 Maple street
about 10 o'clock last night, and the esti
mates Of the loss placed on the contents
by Meyer Silverman, the occupant, and the
fire department differ greatly. Silverman
claims his loss to be over $1,000 and the
report made by Assistant Chief Ernst to
fire headquarters gives the loss on the con-
tents at 500. Silverman was greatly ex-
cited when seen after the fire was extin-
guished. and claimed he was not feeling
we'll from the effects of a blow on the head,
struck by man in his yard whom he
believes fired his house. Silverman claims
he was sitting in his front yard with his
wife and eight weeks old baby shortly
before the fire was discovered. He said he
walked down the street, and then claimed
he went into the back yard to get drink
of wa.er. When he passed the kitchen
window he says some one hit him on the
head. He heard his wife call for help and
he picked up the baby and ran 20 a neigh
boris house with it.
1t is said that Silverman received his in
juries by being struck on the head by a
piece of flying debris, resulting from an
explosion. The gasoline stove in the
Kitchen was D6lltNeU 10 nave exploded, out
when examined after the fire il found
not to be injured TO any extent The rear
wall of the kitchen was blown out by the
force of the explosion.
SiIverman claims that fire broke out in
all parts of the four-room cottage imme
diately following the explosion. and he
said he detected the odor of burning coal
oil. He claimed there was no fire in the
kitchen or anywhere in the house except
in a coal oil lamp in the front room very
near TO the place where he and his wife
were sitting.
FIREMEN INVESTIGATE.
When the firemen investigated the condi-
ton of the house after the flames were
extinguished they found that the front
room of the house was burned more than
the other rooms, and in nearly every cor
ner of the four rooms piles of burnt rags
were found The valves of the gasoline
stove were found to be open. The kitchen
and dining room were not damaged as bad
~ as the front room and bedroom
Silverman could not explain how the fire
spread so rapidly, and the fremen would
offer no opinion for publication Of their
views of the matter. Silverman said ne
had been married eighteen months and
claims he bought the best furniture in
the market when he went to housekeeping.
He had lived in the Mapie-street house
about five months. An examination OF the
damaged furniture showed that Il was only
of medium grade. square piano In the
front room was damaged SilVerman was
angry at the hremen for placing a loss OF
only $500 the furniture, and claimed the
loss of the plano was more than that
amount. He claimed his insurance of $500
would not cover the loss.
Silverman was the first man 10 enter the
house after the fire, and later. when he
opened bureau drawer, he exclaimed that
$50 In cash he had in the drawer was miss
ing. He also claimed that part of his
SilverWare WAS gone.