The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-04-12
DIR. JOSEPH HAAS In LIMA
OTHER MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY
WERE SLEEPING IN THE HOUSE.
Suffering Persons TenderIy Cared
For by Grief.Stricken Neigh.
bors-DetaiIS Of the Horror.

The Dead
NATHAN MORRIS, about fifty years old,
suffocated in his room and found lying at
the head of the stairway by firemen after
they had fought their way through flames
and smoke and stumbled over the body.
FRANK HAAS, age twelve, found burned
to death at the side of his bed and taken
from the burning building with difficulty.
The Injured
MISS BELLE HAAS, age twenty-one.
taken from the porch roof of the burning
building half suffocated and thought to be
suffering severe injuries from inhalation Of
smoke.
MISS ROSE HAAS. age seventeen. pros
trated by the shock of the fire and driven
hysterical by it's appalling effect.
LOUIS MORRIS. age fourteen. right
ankle broken by jumping from the porch
TO safety.
GRACE LEMON. servant. severely burned
about the face and head and suffocated by
smoke.
MRS. JOSEPH HAAS, burned about face
and hands and suffering from smoke in
halation and nervous prostration.
The beautiful sixteen-room residence Of
DIR. Joseph Haas, at 52s North Alabama
street, was gutted by fire originating from
an overheated furnace at o'clock this
morning, and two of it's sleeping inmates
Nathan Norris OF the firm of Morris. New
berger and Curtis. and Frank Haas, the
twelve-year-old son of DR.. Joseph Haas
burned to death. while the rest of the oc-
cupants of the house. the wife and two
daughters OF DR.. Haas. his fourteen-year-
old son Louis, and the servant, Grace Lem
ing building.
The fire In the Haas residence was discov-
cred by John Edmonds. who lives at 525
North Alabama street. shortly before 8
o'clock, and he quickly made an attempt to
turn in an alarm With his family he was
aroused by the cracking of. flames and
the breaking of glass. and rushing to the
front door to learn its cause he was horri-
fed to find the entire front of the Haas
residence toward the south side covered
with flames
NEIGHBoRHooD AROUSED.
BY that time the entire neighborhood had
been aroused and telephones to the fire de-
partment were attempted from several diff
ferent houses From the house of Robert
Keller, at 52l North Alabama street, the
alarm was sent by II. NJ. Foltz. and Box
5 was struck. The engines and two hose
reels, with the chemical from Engine Com
pany No. s. made the run to the box at
Massachusetts avenue and New Jersey
street, and In the confusion following the
inability to locate the fire much time was
lost. Finally the engines were directed to
the house on Alabama street. to which
Assistant Chief Glazier had driven.
When the fire department reached the
scene the entire house was in flames, and
after the connections had been made and
streams OF water turned on the building it
was several minutes before clear view Of
the house could be obtained. Then Fire
Chief Glazier discovered the form of a
woman on the roof of the porch and call
ing George Newlin. his driver, he ordered
him to climb to the roof and save the
woman.
FOUND MISS ROSE HAAS.
Newlin. with the aid of swinging emer-
gency ladder. climbed on to the roof. and,
grasping the frightened woman, who
proved to be Miss Rose Haas. he quieted
her screams sufficiently to learn from her
of the location OK the other inmates of the
house. Jumping through the front window.
which had been broken by Miss Rose. he
rushed into the smoke and flames and
stumbled over Mrs. Joseph Haas. who was
struggling to get 10 the window. He half
carried and half dragged her through the
window. and. holding her. he quieted Miss
{ Rose and held them until the ladders were
drought and they were lowered to safety.