The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-17
ECHOES FROM THE FIRE
POLICEMEN KEPT WATCH OVER
WRECKED BUILDING ALL DAY.
with Observation-Disclosures OF
a Young Man.

A large canvas sign, on which was
painted Great February Invoicing Sale
stood out prominently yesterday at Nos.
8 and West Washington street over the
remnants of the Brosnan stock. which was
burned early yesterday morning. 1t was
very conspicuous. and many of the curious
people who made special trips down town
to see the damage done by the midnight
fire noted the sign.
Water was thrown into the devastated
building until a late hour yesterday morn
ing. 1t was cold enough TO freeze, and
great icicles hung from all parts of the
structure from which water ran. Police
men were on guard throughout the day
and last night and people were kept back,
in consequence of which they were not
all able TO see how completely the stock
and building were destroyed. The view
from the front was DISTRACTED by the sec
ond floor, which fell at the center and hung
at the front end, thus forming a sort of
curtain. The view from the back was OBJ
structed by boards which had been nailed
across the windows.
No attempt was made yesterday towards
determining the loss. Mr.. Brosnan thinks
the stock amounted TO about $4,000 to $780,
600. with insurance covering about two
thirds of the amount.
Isaac and Henry Kantrowitz. who own
the Arcade clothing store at No. 10 West
Washington street, and adjacent on the
west to the Brosnan store, suffered a loss
of several thousand dollars by smoke and
water. Their loss is fully protected by in
surance. Considerable water got into the
building through the skylight, when was
broken. and through the front door. whlch
was broken open. No effort was made yes
terday TO learn the exact amount OF dam
age done to the stock.
William Haerle, who occupied the store
adjoining the Brosnan store on the east,
said he had suffered a small loss by wa
ter, which seeped through the walls into
his basement. running down the walls on
the inside and soaking goods which hap
pened TO be in the basement and back
az. inst the walls. Mr.. Haerle compll-
mented the fire department upon its work.
He has suffered loss in four previous hres
there and this ume the loss was smallest.
One of the previous fires was in his own
store on an upper floor and the others In
the Brosnan building. The ii. +. WATSON
Company, which was reported in a morn
ing paper as having suffered loss, had no
loss whatever from smoke. The fire walls
and the iron shutters afforded complete
protection and no smoke got into the Was
son building.
STORY OF A YOUNG MAN.
In connection with the fire a good trait in
a young man got him into serious trouble,
from which it is thought the statements of
! his friends will extricate him.
William Burk, of 1914 Hosbrook street,
who was on the street about the time the
alarm was turned in, hurried to the scene
of the fire. When the Arcade clothing
store was broken open and the salvage
corps entered he followed. He has a habit
Of making himself generally useful, and in
this instance took hold and helped the men
spread covers. Chief Newman, of the
corps, noticed he wore a good overcoat, and
as the water was falling through the sky
light of the building, gave him a coat TO put
over the one he wore. Later Newman had
use for the coat he had loaned Burk, and
he was obliged to take it off. The work
was fascinating, and in the excitement
Burk grabbed the first coat he saw and
put II on over his own for protection from
the water. 1t happened the coat was one
that had a tag on ii for some purpose. lie
finished the work there with the member
of the salvage corps and left the building.
After he got on the street a business man,
who had noticed him coming from the
clothing store, saw that the overcoat he
wore had a tag on the sleeve and concluded
it had been stolen. He took hold of Burk
and conducted him to a policeman whose
attention was called TO the overcoat and
the tag. OF course. the evidence was in a
measure conclusive, and he was sent to
police headquarters and charged with petit
larceny. There he gave the name of Will
lam MCGUIRE, which was his real name.
that of Burk having been taken upon his
adoption into a family of that name. No
explanations he could make were sufficient
TO secure his release except on bond, which
was furnished.
Burk is employed in the mechanical de-
partment of the News, and others with
whom he has worked for many years say
he is thoroughly honest and Woodworking,
and that one of his chief characteristics is
making himself generally useful wherever
he may be.