The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-28
Combining the Fire to the building
Where Ii Started Saved n Large
Property Loss.
TANKS OF OIL PROTECTED
SEVERAL STREAMS OF WATER
PLAYED ON THEM FOR HOURS.
Curious Crowds Collected and the
Neighborhood Considerably Ex-
cited-Hard to Estimate Loss.

Many lives and thousands of dollars
worth of property were imperiled last night
by fierce fire that ragged for hours at the
local plant OF the Standard Oil Company.
located at Pine and Lord streets. Such a
determined blaze has seldom before been
handled in the history of the Indianapolis
fire department.
The fire started in the shipping and ware
rooms of the plant and is supposed TO have
originated from sparks from passing loco
motive on the Big Four tracks, which lie
directly back of the property of the OH
company. Lewis Gustin, night watchma
for the Standard Oil Company. first disco
cred the blaze and turned in the alarm. ISc
said last night that he and another employe
of the company were sent to the warehouse
at about s o'clock to get a can of turpentine
which was to be sent out by express. and
when they stepped on the platform outside
of the building they saw the flames break
ing through the roof. They hurried to the
fire box and turned in the alarm. which was
soon followed by second and third call
A QUICK RESPONSE.
Ten wagons. three trucks. three engines
and three chemicals were soon on the scene
and a moment later one hundred gallant
ing 500 gallons of water a minute. were
fighting the flames. The heat was distress
ing, but with imminent probability of an
explosion the brave men who were risking
their lives in an attempt to save property
thought only of their duty. In the ware
room hundreds of barrels of turpentine.
gasoline and lubricating oils were stored,
and outside the flaming building were large
tanks Of 10
waiting for the eager flames. Shortly after
the fire department had commenced the
fight against the blaze several barrels Of
turpentine exploded with a loud report that
was heard blocks away. and for time it
was feared that the buildings all contained
oils of an explosive character.
c. Z. Wilson. manager Of the local plant
of the Standard Oil Company. was on the
ground almost as soon as the fire depart
ment and instructed the heads of the fire
department as to the dangerous localities
on the companys property and said that IL
the fire was kept under control within the
building where 1t started no serious explo-
sions might be expected, as the tanks con-
tanning large quantities of gasoline and
naphtha were located across the street
from the burning building. All the tanks
covered with canvas by Captain Newman
and his men Of the salvage corps and
streams of water were kept playing on the
tanks 70 cool the oil and keep it below the
exploding temperature.
AN UNUSUAL TASK.
The Oldest members Of the fire depart
ment said last night that in all their expert
ence they had never fought such blaze.
A,,;l xxrhf h.,r .,xI
hundreds of barrels of oil. and was verita-
bic furnace. Huge columns of dense black
smoke rolled high in the air as barrel after
barrel of oil burst and ignited by the
ferocious flames which were burning on all
sides. The water seemed to feed the flames
rather than to extinguish them, and for
time the case almost considered
hopeless. Only the determined Efforts and
the untiring energy of the courageous fire.
men saved the other buildings and oil tanks
from being ignited, and prevented what
would have undoubtedly been a most disas-
.rous explosion. For four long hours the
firemen played streams of water on the
raging blaze. and il was long after mid
night when the nre was considered COM
pletely under control. Mr.. c. L. Wilson. OF
the Standard Oil Company. stated last
night that such fire fighting under such un-
favorable circumstances mad never been
excelled by any fire department In the coun-
try.
tracks suspended until the flames were
under control and at midnight the many
lines of hose which were strung over the
railroad tracks. blocking all passage. We're
run under the ties, and traffic was resumed
CURIOUS CROWDS
Crowds of curious people gave the police
trouble. They insisted on standing as close
to the burning buildings as they could get.
and. in spite OF the fire ropes. were at times
almost unmanageable. Captain Kruger.
with three sergeants and about fourteen
patrolmen, finally succeeded in making the
people regard their presence and the
crowds were forced back at least a block
from the fire. and held there for the bai-
ance OF the evening. The efficient work OF
the fire department in lighting the flames
and the excellent work OF the police in
controlling the crowds, as well as the time
ly action OF the salvage corps in covering
all the property that might have otherwise
been damaged, were commended on all sides
last night.
The damage TO the buildings is estimated
at about 5000 but the main loss is I'm the
pumping machinery and the stock which
was destroyed. The machinery loss will
probably be the heaviest. but Manager VIII
son last night said that IL impossible
10 give any figures that would cover tho
damage. The Standard oil Company car
ries it's own insurance on all sts property.
and no estimate from other sources was
possible, as people other than those con-
nected with the company were in Ignorance
OF the amount OF property value.
A FORMER FIRE.
In 1854. IL Is said. the same plant was de-
stroyed by fire under similar circumstances.
but the flames got beyond control OF the
firemen. and oil on top OF the water. which
ran in streams down the railroad tracks.
was burning. and made a solid line OF fame
from the scene Of the tire TO East street