The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-10

other, ard, gaining vigor as 1t went, burned
unchecked down into the business district
Every piece of fire mechanism i'm the
city was called out, but fire and gale were
masters y great torch of flame rose high
in the air, lighting up the country for
many miles and carrying a threat and
warning to the people and property in its
path. There were efforts TO rescue furni-
ture and stock. but the speed with which
the fire moved gave the rescuers little time
Property was often moved TO a place Of
presumed safety. only to be eventually
reached and destroyed. The warning to
many was brief. and they were forced to
flee, scantily clad, into streets glazed over
with ice and swept by the keen wind.
Main street was soon arched over with
a canopy of fire for block. and then for
two blocks, the flames fastened them
selves upcn building after building. The
fremen fought with every resource of
their craft and the impulse of desperation,
but the flames found new avenues in FL
lison and Market streets and got beyond
all control.
CALLS FOR RELIEF.
Calls for relief went out to every city In
this portion of the State and the jaded fire.
men labored on through the hopeless hours
of the morning. The city hall. magnih-
cent structure, surmounted by a great
clock tower. situated on Washington, E;-
lison and Market streets finally caught
and with it went all OF the splendid busi-
ness structures that surrounded IT. They
made a great furnace Of fire that burned
with fierce roar.
There was a series OF explosions and
scores OF walls fell when the fire left them
strengthless. Flying fire brands carried
the confiagration over some buildings and
around others and IL therefore burned I'm
an irregular course. These brands finally
cleared the tracks OF the Erie Railroad
and Ramapo avenue. and alighting on
Straight street, started another great area
of fire, i'm which the destruction and desc
lation wrought nearly as great as In
the other
This second great fire started at the
angle Of Park avenue and WASHINGTON
street and swept almost unchecked until.
these two thoroughfares. there was no
more fuel. On the righthand side of Mar
ket street 1t encountered Sandy Hill Gene
terry as a barrier TO check il, but on the
lefthand side, at Carroll street, IL claimed
St Joseph Church. a great classic stone
building IL was on this second great fire
that the volunteer firemen from outside
cities did their most heroic and effective
work. They fell back only when they had
TO and when the natural obstacle inter
posed they seized the chance and stopped
the fire.
The final and one Of the most desperate
fights Of the day occurred I'm midafternoon.
back in the first fire area. at the Hamilton
| Club. situated at the corner OF Church and
| Ellison streets. The handsome clubhouse
| caught and the exhausted firemen were
rallied around IL. They were anxious To
| save the structure and. besides failure
meant that the fire might take new head
way among the properties adjoining the
! clubhouse. The building was doomed.
however. but a torrent Of water kept the
| fire 70 the premises. The four walls OF
| the clubhouse Stood but the roof collapsed
and the interior was completely burned
| out
AN IMPOSING SPECTACLE.
Paterson rests in a valley. and the con-
| hagration was an imposing spectacle from
the rim of hills that wall # In. Columns
of fame climbed high in the air and shed
their light for miles. Hundreds OF persons
hurried into the city before daylight 20
watch the work OF destruction at close
range. and when the day came thousands
more joined them. The fire became a great
popular spectacle. that claimed patrons
from New York and every outlying town I'm
| New Jersey. They crowded the regular
/ trains OF the railways operating through
here. ant compelled the dispatching OF ex-
| ira trains. once in the city they crowded
around the firemen and AT times hampered
| them i'm their work. Police lines were i'm
| possible. and through the day they poured
in an endless stream through the desolate
streets. Great pinnacles Of ruined brick
/ stood in every street, but the crowds
passed under them unmindful OF the warn
ing OF police and iremen. With the crowd
! came thieves and lOoters. but there was
not much pillaging. Under orders from
! Governor Murphy. who hurried here from
/ Jersey city. Companies a. e. X and NJ.
or the Fifth Infantry. National Guard. as
sembled at their armories and were held
I as a reserve for protection.
The police. deputy sheriffs. hundreds OF
special watchmen and hremen united IN