The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-27
Building, Partly Insured, Was Owned
by John C. Wright and Was
Valued at 100000.
THREE MEN HURT IN ACCIDENT
STREET CAR STRIKES TRUCK
WHILE RAPID RUN Is BEING MADE.
Cause Of the Fire Unknown mt Pres
ent Time-Crowd Watches Firemen
BatiIe-The Insurance.

A fierce fire broke out late last night IN
the building occupied by the Model Gar
ment Company and the National Candy
Company at IS, 20 and q West Georgia
street. and for several hours 1t burned vi
eiously. The entire fire department was
called. but before stream of water had
been thrown upon the building it was
seething mass of flames from the top story
10 the street. and it was with great diff
Guilty that the fight with the fire was be-
gun.
Lines OF hose were strung from every
available water plug within two blocks of
the burning building and dozens Of streams
of water were soon playing on the flames.
The building Is owned by John c. Wright
and Is partially covered by insurance. The
fire started in the part OF the building
occupied by the Model Garment Company,
and BY the means of an elevator shaft.
which is lined with light wood. the fire
was rapidly carried to the fifth floor and
it was only a question OF few moments
tom was literally wriggling in the flames.
Long arms Of fire shot out from every win
dow and the tongues of fire leaped many
feet I'm the air from the top Of the build
ing. illuminating the city. The basement
OF the building is occupied by the Occidental
Veterinary Remedy Company and it is said
their loss will be about 5000. fully covered
by insurance
LOSS ALMOST COMPLETE.
The stock Of the Model Garment Com
pany. which occupied the second, third.
fourth and fifth stories OF the building on
the west side. is complete loss and will
run into thousands OF dollars fully insured,
and thu National Candy Company will lose
practically all of its property. The build
ing is valued at about 10000 and is in
sured for $4,000. but on account of the
massive walls and the generally strong con-
struction. the loss win not be complete. 1t
was built for wholesale purposes and was
especially constructed to avoid heavy loss
by fre.
The fire tower was brought into effective
in lighting the flames on the top story
but On account OF the extreme heat 1t was
on the inside of the building. The narrow
alley on the west side OF the building gave
the nremen little chance to do effective
work from that direction and it was neces-
sary for them to do most OF their work
from the roofs OF adjacent buildings. The
stock In the building occupied by Brink
meyer. Kuhn & Co was damaged TO the
extent OF about 1000 by smoke and water
& NJ f0hf
loss from smoke as well as all the other
buildings adjoining the Wright block. The
National Candy Company carried $4,000
insurance on its machinery and stock and
the loss will be heavy although not total
The National Candy Company recently
bought the business OF Daggett & Co., it
now being controlled by the candy trust
with headquarters in St. Louis.
DISCOVERY OF FIRE.
When the fire was first discovered IL was
confined 10 the part OF the building occu-
pied by the Model Garment Company. but
before any stock from the other part OF the
building could be removed IL had spread
over the entire five floors.
Captain Neurnann, with his salvage corps.
was soon on the scene and saved much OF
the stock of the candy company by cover
ing Il With his tarpaulins and he and his
men were kept busy saving property
wherever they could. The fire started at
the rear OF the third floor and it is sup
posed that the cause was spontaneous COM
hustion. although it is not definitely known
what started the blaze.
Truck No :, at the corner OF Meridian and
South streets. collided with Garfield Park
street car 555 and the driver, Albert Reese.
was seriously injured. being thrown to the
pavement with such force that he suffered
a fracture OF the skull. Captain Ernst
suffered number OF bad scalp wounds and
Truckman Charles Householder was badly
bruised and cut, while one OF the horses
was killed outright. The truck was badly
demolished and the entire front OF the
street car was caved IN as result of the
collision
= but the motorman escaped injury. The
ruck was knocked twenty feet and COM
pIetely overturned. Motorman Coatney said
THAT he did not hear the gong OF the fire
wagon and did not see IL approaching until
II was on the tracks In front OF him. He
put on the brakes. but on account OF the
rain making the tracks slippery IL was
Impossible 10 stop HIS car In time 10 avert
the col sion. The injured firems,n were
taken 10 ST Vincents Hospital in the Dis
pensary ambulance attended by Drs
Nackey. Seston, Cunningham and Jeffries
but IL Is not feared that any fatilIties will
result.
EXCITEMENT REIGNED.
At the Gre the greatest excitement regned
Sparks flew in every direction. and the dense
smoke made the scene attractive for the on
CONTINUED on PAGE s. COL. i)