The Indianapolis journal., 1903-12-14
NORTH SIDERS WITHOUT
HEAT ARE COMPLETELY
At MERCY OF THE COLD
Breakdown of Heating System
Throws Suffering Into Scores
of Homes.
MOVE OUT TO HOTELS
Churchgoers Huddle Together
with Wraps on and Brave
Out Services.
OFFICIALS WORK IN COLD
Many Appeals for Help-No
Danger of Coal
Famine.
OFFICIALS WORK IN COLD

Scores of North Side families. patrons
of the Home Heating and Lighting Com
pany. are completely at the mercy OF the
blizzard and the cold wave which struck In
dianapolis Saturday night.
The breaking a one OF the large mains OF
the hot water heating system on Sixteenth
street between Delaware and Alabama
streets, cut off all houses west Of Alabama
street and north of Sixteenth without a par
ticle OF heat. Last night II was announced
from the heating company's plant on North
Alabama street where extra force OF
men were working with all their might 10
repair the breaks that the pipes would be
in good order by O'Clock this morning.
Suffering was not alone confined to the
North Side. but in all sections OF the city
people suffered from lack of fuel. Every
effort was put forth 20 keep warm during
the zero weather and last night the entire
city heralGed with joy the prediction that
to-day will bring warmer weather. Cloudy
and warmer is the prediction.
The sudden announcement that heat was
cut off entirely, 'phoned all the patrons
of the Home Company in the above
district by the company's employees i'm
mediately after the break discov--
cred, late Saturday, set all In con-
/ sternation. Houses were still comfortable
when the terrible ncws was announced, but
inspection of the house systems revealed
the awful truth. What shall we Go? What
shall We do?" was the general exclama-
ton.
Telephone calls to coal companies brought
the fearful tidinss that coal and wood could
not be delivered even on Sunday morning.
and procession after procession wended
their ways to the nearest coal yards
GUESTS SHARE SUFFERING.
Saturday night found many home full Of
visitors, and in several residences parties
and dinners were in progress. At the home
of w s. wickard. in the iIl-fated territory.
there were a score of people. Mr.. Wickard
tells the story best
..OiI stoves and footwarmers were brought
into play to keep our guests warm. We
have decided that the next time we plan
function In the winter time to have a
supply of earnuffs and Indian blankets"
he said.
CHURCHES ALL COLD.
The greatest discontinue was caused to
the churches in the cold-stricken district.
Janitors. summoned early TO their churches
by those in charge. did every possible thing
to make the large buildings comfortable for
the morning services.
Reserve supplies of coal and wood were
opened and furnaces were roaring. But all
efforts were in vain.
At the new First Presbyterian Church at
Sixteenth and Delaware streets. members OF
the congregation who braved the cold were
met at the vestibule and Informed that the
services would be held In the Sabbath school
room at the rear.
There was a funny sight; Women with
about their shoulders and men with over
coat collars turned up. both stamping their
htes sss az th orn,nS wns ssrvce 5c
Quoted BY the Rev. NJ. l.. Haines.
1t was the general sense TO accept the
matter as joke. The company was not
blamed in the least. and the officials of the
company, s. z. Rauh. John F. Wild and
others, were praised for their actions. all
standing out in the cold the greater part
of the day directing the work OF the men
who were bending forth every effort TO re-
pair the broken pipes.
porary repair was effected. one which IL
was thought would last until permanent
patrons arose when the gladsome tidings
came over the phone that heat was on it's
way.
BUT the joyful prediction was made too
soon. Hardly one hour had elapsed after
the repair was made until boom, anotner
break occurred In the same place.
SECOND BREAK OCCURS.
The gang of men which had worked the
greater part of the night and all day and
who had dropped their picks and shovels
with a sigh of relief and had gone TO take
a much-needed rest were again summoned
and work renewed.
| The work at repair proceeded the
mainder Of the afternoon and all night. At
lhe plant telephone query after telephone
$uery came in and each was answered TO
| the effect that the company was putting
forth every. effort to relieve it's patrons OF
At night SO often were the men in the
plant disturbed by people grown impatient
| at the delay. knocking at the door and
! bothering them at their work that few
/ knocks were answered. A Journal repre-
/ sentative who called ct the plant was al-
lowed to look through crack an inch wide
/ and answer the query. Have you come to
/ complain? We are doing the best we can"
/ Told that a statement only was wanted
/ from the company, he was allowed tn enter.
Not only at the First Presbyterian, but
/ at both the Mayfower Congregational and
| the Unitarian churches. were the services
cut short by the intense cold AZ the May
1 flower Church the congregation hovered to-
/ gether in the Sabbath-school rooms and
| short services were conducted. The men,
DersibIe Ders 81. '' the cold blasts from the north
/ seeming TO pierce the board walls OF the
temporary edifice.
! comedy enacted in almost every
| household which suffered from the break.
| although In some homes IL found members
! of the family Ill. In q. ;lurnber OF residences
! furnaces used before the inauguration OF
/ the heating system were put into order
| hastily and blazing fire soon stopped all
complaints
Those whose houses were equipped with
/ furnaces but where there was no reserve
i supply OF coal or wood. were at the mercy
/ OF the cold the same as their more un-
i fortunate neighbors who depended entirely
upon the heating company for their heat.
| The officials of the Home Company worked
untiringly to hurry the repair OF their sys-
| tenn. John r. Wild and $. +. Rauh and
those directly in charge OF the affairs Of the
company were hand at all times. The
| officials were also the sufferers
Journal representative sent 20 the
| Wild home on North Meridian street at
| 10 o'clock last night 10 secure a statement
as TO the time II was thought the repair
would be made found Mr.. Wild struggling
| up the stairs of his cellar his long oVercoat
| covered with cobwebs and his face wearing
| anything but a pleased expression.
I'm one Of the sufferers he said. II
| have just been down cellar trying 10 make
/ our old furnace work in hopes OF keeping
| warm until morning. We are doing the best
| we can to hurry on the repairs"
There was suffering I'm every family In the
| district rendered cold by the break and
during the day number OF families moved