The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-20
GALVESTON'S FIRE LOSS
DAMAGE ESTIMATED At $4,000,
WITH BUT $I5,7OO INSURANCE..
Town Absolutely without Fire Protec-
tion-Help from KokOmO Was Tn
availing-The Losers.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

Special TO the Indianapolis Journal.
LOGANSPORT, Ind. Oct. 19.-For the
second time within the past few months
Galveston. prosperous county town four
teen miles southeast of Logansport on the
Indianapolis division of the Pennsylvania
was visited last night by fire which prac-
tically wiped out the business portion. In
addition to the financial loss. estimated at
$55. 000 less than half OF which was covered
by insurance, personal injuries were suf-
fered by c. z. Thomas. one OF the merchants
who lost heavily. and +. ~. Hamilton. a
carpenter The disaster has so discouraged
the business men who were losers that
some fear is expressed as TO their ability Of
ever getting on their feet again.
Nearly two entire business blocks were
wiped out. the following being list of the
losers: c. F. Thomas & Co., dry goods, loss
$1,000. insurance $1,000; s. p. Bevington,
hardware. loss $1,000. insurance $500: II. u.
Loop, drugs. loss $4,000, insurance 5000:
George W. Davis. residence. loss 81 900. in
surance $500; ID. e. Shewmon & Co., shoes.
loss $500 insurance $1,000; Knights of
Pythias Hall, loss $1,000. insurance 81. 400;
Masonic Temple loss $1,000 insurance 81, 200;
Harry 8. Tickle restaurant and bakery.
loss $780, no insurance; Willard Lawrence,
barber shop. loss $780, no insurance; John
Thomas. residence. damaged about $50.
10 o'clock in the bakery at the rear of
Pickles restaurant and is supposed TO have
snd s had left the
not more than fifteen minutes before the
fire was discovered On account of the
building and the adjoining structures were
at the mercy of the flames, and by the aid
of strong wind blowing from the south
rapidity. Most of the buildings were frame,
excepting the Thomas and Loop buildings.
which were of brick. and soon nearly every
building in two blocks was enveloped in
flames.
Owing to the fire in the Loop building,
where the long distance telephones were
located, some confusion was caused and no
| outside aid had been summoned until the
operator at the railway station sent TO
Kokomo for assistance The Kokomo fire
department sent an engine. on special
train. together with experienced firemen
and a thousand feet of hose, and record
breaking run was made. The distance from
Kokomo is six and one-half miles. and the
| their arrival, however. the Kokomo firemen
| could do little, as their hose would not fit
| the small hydrant at the corner of the Loop
| building. and ii was too far from the creek
| to secure water. The only salvation was
! in the bucket brigade, which had been
formed by the citizens.
While fighting the fire in his store build
| ing C. +. Thomas endeavored to rescue
! mis- account books. He succeeded in carry
| ing out one armful of them. but when he
made his second trip he was overcome by
1 the heat and smoke and was dragged out OF
the burning building by his son, Harry
| Thomas. who found him in a semi-con-
scous condition. Upon being brought into
| the open he revived only to fall into anoth.
! err faint. His hands were almost charred
I beyond any hope of saving them and one
| thought he will recover. He is bedfast Al
| his home.
r. n. Hamilton, the carpenter, who was
working to save the John Thomas resi-
| dence was struck in the eye by falling
| piece of timber and may lose his vision.
ID. K. Shewmon succeeded In getting the
4 largest share of his stock out of the store
but vandals who were attracted to the
| fire stole large amount of it after it had
| been saved.
The blame for the disaster is placed by
| the contract to build the Galveston water
| works tank. Several months ago the con.
| fiagrntion which visited Galveston took
| also the water works building and new
| tank was necessary. Loop had the contra Ct
\ for about six weeks. but never did any.
1 thing towards building ii and only few
| DAYS ago threw it up The contract was
| then awarded to the Star Windmill Com
| pany. but 1t has not had time to build il
! IL the tank had been built the citizens
| would have had sixteen hydrants and 200
/ pared to do as soon as the tank wa:
| erected.
| There Is much doubt as to whether some
| OF the merchants will rebuild in Galveston
/ At any rate the town will not recover from
\ it's loss for n year more.