The Indianapolis journal., 1902-08-04
Big Buildings Totally Destroyed
Within Half an Hour After Flames
Were First Discovered.
TOTAL LOSS IS OVER $4,000
MEN IN SUNDAY CLOTHES HELPED
SAVE STOCK AND HOMES.
Many Residences Caught Fire, but
the Bucket Brigade Prevented
CONFERENCE.-The Losses.

A spark from a passing Pennsylvania
freight train caused fire at Southport yes
terday morning that completely destroyed
the two principal brick business blocks in
that town and also burned TO the ground
two other frame buildings in the immedi-
ate vicinity. Within twenty-five minutes
after the small blaze was first discovered
the flames had burned everything Of a
cOmbustibe nature, and nothing was left
Of the buildings but hot smoldering ruins.
The estimated loss OF the fire was about
$4,000. and only the prompt action of the
residents of the place prevented a serious
confiagration and much greater loss. The
spark ignited the shingle roof on the two
story double brick building next to the
railroad track owned by DR.. Stoddard and
occupied by McAlpine Bros. who kept a
general store, groceries, dry goods and
hardware. Within a very few minutes the
wind famed the spark and caused the roof
to break out in flames. 1t was after $50
when the fire was first noticed and the cor
ner of the roof was then burning.
c. r. McAlpine on his way to Sun
day-school at the Methodist Church when
his attention called TO the burning
building. The fire gained headway so rap
has no fire fighting apparatus. Mr.. Nc
Alpine opened the store and carried out his
books and accounts. The crowd gathered
quickly, men and women on their way to
church stood by and watched the flames
devour the building. Men in their Sunday
clothes rushed into the store and helped
the McAlpine brothers carr out such arti-
cles as could be easily handled. They were
placed in unoccupied building across the
street owned by III. A. McAlpine. father
of the men who owned the store. The fire
became so hot that the work OF saving
| a contractor, suffered painful injury dur
/ ing the fire, caused by falling brick
/ striking him on the back.
| Burning embers and the intense heat
| caused the two-story brick building owned
/ and occupied by p. b. Bailey to soon take
/ fire and efforts were made to save part of
/ the stock of drugs, hardware and paints.
| The work was slow, however, and only a
| small portion of the stock was carried from
/ the building. The flames spread to a two
story frame building used as wagon shop
in the rear of Bailey's building, and 1t
/ was soon totally destroyed The building
was owned by Mrs. d. NJ. Gardner. A small
| frame structure owned by Mrs. Yeager and
| coupled by l.. K. Badgley the village black
| smith, also burned to the ground.
ROOFS FELL WITH CRASH
The roofs of the brick buildings fell in
with crash in less than half an hour after
the fire first started. The floors fell shortly
afterward. The attention of the entire COM
munity was given to saving other buildings
and residences in the vicinity Men tele-
phoned to Indianapolis for aid, but before
fire apparatus was sent from this city a
| telephone call told the local department
| that the fire was under control and aid was
| not needed. Two chemical engines from
/ ba POl nj nt ar chi
| on a special car to Southport, but they
! arrived too late to render any assistance.
The wind was from the northwest and
this fact probably saved the entire towr
from being wiped out by the flames. South.
/ port men said that had the wind been from
| the southwest nothing could have saved
the other buildings and the residences neaI
/ by. The buildings across the street igniteC
! several times and it required the efforts o1
the bucket brigade to prevent the flames
| from gaining a headway. a score of house:
were scorched and small places burned in
the roofs and they were only saved by the
diligent efforts of the men who carried
/ water and wet bed-clOthing to extinguisf
| the flames.
WALLS TORN DOWN.
The walls of the burned brick building:
were so unsafe after the fire that rope:
and other barricades were stretched acros:
the street during the afternoon and a scor,
of men used ropes and big poles to pull
the walls down.
While the fire was burning briskly ar
old man ran down the railroad track anC
stopped the Pennsylvania fast mail train
but il passed the burning buildings withou
any damage.
The losses were as follows:
McAlpine Bros, $500 on stock, with $50
insurance.
DR. Stoddard. who owned the building oc
cupied by McAlpine Bros, $500; insurance
about $1,000.
p B. Bailey. loss on stock. $1,000. insur
ance, 81, 400; loss on building, 81 600. insur
ance, $1,000 Mr.. Bailey had occupied tn
building for twenty years and had recent,
| purchased a large supply of window-glas s
and white lead, in addition to other stock
Mrs. Yeager, about $500. Mr.. Badgley
small loss.
Mrs. d. NJ. Gardner. about 800; small in
surance.
There were other small losses, but non
OF any consequence. The Odd Fellows oc
| cupied the hall above McAlpine Bros :
store and the Modern Woodmen occupie,
the hall over Bailey's store. Mr. Bailey re
| Gently purchased the building from tn
Masonic Order at Southport. 1t is said tha
new buildings will be built at once