The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-12
Complaint that the Fire Department
Was Slow i'm Moving Its
Apparatus.
WORK OF THE SALVAGE CORPS
SOME OF H GOODs SAVED FROM
DAMAGE BY WATER.
For a Time 1t Was Thought the Fire
Would Spreud-The Losses
Not Large.

A fire which started on the third floor
of the building occupied by Iske Brothers,
at 205 and 2U7 East Washington street as a
furniture store, at $40 p. m. yesterday,
assumed within a few moments such a
threatening aspect that for a time ii was
thought ali of the buildings on Wash
ington street between Delaware and the
first alley east would be destroyed. TIL
first alarm was turned in at SIP o'clock,
and eight minutes later the second alarm
was sounded.
The fire department was somewhat slow
in getting at the seat of the blaze. Most
of the equipment was taken to the front
of the building, where the men waited
for orders. One of the chemicals went 10
the rear. and. after some delay in getting
into the yard, got the engine ready for
work. when it was found that there was no
way to get to the fire, all of the ladder
equipment being at the front. 1t was
claimed by some of those in the building
that fifteen minutes elapsed after the ar
rival of the first department wagon be-
fore q stream of water was turned on to
the flames, there being also some diff
ficulty I'm getting to the fire from the front.
BY the time the water was in action the
flames had burned through the ceiling and
made their way through the attic. and in
some places had burned through the roof.
The fire burned fast and the flames shot
high above the building from the holes in
the roof. The police drew the fire lines
and prepared for uninterrupted work on
the part OF the fremen. it being the gen.
eral opinion hat the whole quarter square
was doomed.
A HARD FIGHT.
Water was turned on to the fire in the
rear. but without any noticeable effect,
at least to most OF the spectators. for the
whole upper portion of the building above
the ceiling OF the top story was ablaze,
and 1t was not until the truck extension
ladder was raised and about a dozen men
pulled a line of hose from the front ON to
the roof and worked upon the fire through
the holes in the roof that the progress of
the fire was stopped. The water tower was
brought into service and did good work
after some delay in adjusting 1t. 1t was
necessary, however, after a few minutes,
to stop il on account of interference with
the work of men on the roof. who had sue
ceeded in getting at the flames from sew
eral points. Flames broke out in unex-
pected places and il was not until 6 O'Clock
that there was any certainty that the fire
was under control. The work after that
was fast, and about an hour later the
fire was declared TO be out and the equip
ment returned to quarters.
The large crowd which gathered inter-
fered with the work of the firemen before
the arrival of the police.
The fire started in the "tow" room at the
rear of the third floor. The exact cause
was said to be unknown. There were six
workmen in the room at the time. The
alarm WQC ciVan hN GoArUa Crvfpr and
George Miller, who were working In the
part where the fire started. Cryter ran
down the stairs crying fire and the other
men hurried out as fast as possible. The
room is in the upholstering department and
was filed with cotton. in which the flames
originated, and excelsior and packing of
various kinds, used in the making of up
holstered furniture. All of the material
was of an infammable character and was
ablaze almost before the men cou.4 get
out.
The firm of Iske Bros. is composed of
Frank, George and Charles Iske. They
have been in their present location for
about five years, removing from Virginia
avenue, and have had one other fire. This
was about one year ago; when a loss OF
about $1,000 was sustained. the fire at that
time starting in the basement. The firm
yesterday had in stock about $4,000 worth
of goods, few of which We're burned.
though there were but few pieces which
were not damaged by water and smoke.
THE SALVAGE CORPS.
The salvage corps, which the underwriters
have refused to support. was early in the
place. and with the few tarpaulins at hand
succeeded in saving a quantity of costly
furniture on tho second floor from great
damage. The Messrs. Iske were loud in
their praise of the work of the corps. the
chief of which said the underwriters would
have suffered less than one-half their pres
ont lncS had fhay Cfvpn him anV aDcot1r-
agement and assisted in providing addi-
tional tarpaulins for use in such cases.
Wher the corps entered the building there
was no water on either OF the stock floors,
and there was ample time to cover all of
the stock. The fire did not reach below the
third floor, where none of the finished
stock was kept.
The firm of Iske Bros. was not alone I'm
its loss. The building is owned by the
Stephenson heirs, Mr.. Noble and Albert
Gail. The damage to the building will
necessitate a new floor and roof and gen.
eral repairs to the floors and ceilings.
The Stephenson heirs and Mr.. Noble own
the part occupied 10y Iske Brothers, while
Albert Gall owns the portion known as I'll,
PIC and 2l7 occupied by himself with an up
holstering room, the c. r. Miles restaurant
and lodging house, G. "A. Edwards and
Jack Fiscus. cigars, tobacco and barber
shop, and keller's saloon. The water dam
aged all OF these to an extent not known.
No one connected with the upholstefing
establishment appeared and il was not
learned how much damage was done there.
The water soaked through into all Of the
rooms of the lodging house. making them
uninhabitable last night. The barber shop
and cigar store was flooded and little was
saved in that portion. Iske Brothers made
no attempt TO estimate their loss last night.
They carry insurance OF about SLl,00. Most
OF the other losses are covered by insur-
ance.
The tendency of the fire was toward the
east. but the buildings occupied by w. III.
Rolls Sons, with offices above the ground
floor and the furniture store of w. II.
Messenger were all we'll filed with smoke
though there was but slight CSmage, IL