The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-15
Feeding on Combustibles, the Flames
en- Escaped with Dimculty.
TOTAL LOSS WILL REACH $4,000
TWO GIRLS SERIOUSLY BURNED IN
FLEEING FROM THE STORE.
Proprietor, Who Was I'm the Base.
ment, Had q Narrow Escape-Fire-
men worked Under Dimculties.

Fourteen young women narrowly missed
being burned last night in Herman Kinzly's
hair store at AZ North Illinois street, when
an explosion of gasoline wrecked the in
terror of the place. Two girls-Miss Nellie
Monday and Mrs. Escott-were slightly
burned. Nellie Monday was burned about
the hands and face. She also received in
juries by jumping from a second-story
window into the rear alley. Mrs. Escott
received slight burns in trying to extinguish
the flames that threatened Miss Monday.
The explosion wrecked the interior of the
store 1t is estimated that the loss will
reach 5000.
The fire occurred last night at o'clock,
and within ten minutes the room was a
mass Of charred timbers, broken show
cases and ruined furniture The flames
spread rapidly, and not one corner of the
room escaped damage. For long time
the cause of the fire was a mystery, since
neither the proprietor. Mr.. Kinzly. nor the
girls knew what started the blaze. When
the first fire companies drove up to the
place the whole interior blazed like fur
mace. The firemen had to work from the
streets, the flames poured out of the
place so fiercely that no one could get near
ever, to drive back the red tongues, and in
short time several lines of hose were
drawn into the building.
GASOLINE IGNITED.
At the time the fire started Mr.. Kinzly
was in the basement and fourteen of his
young women employees were at work in
the dressing rooms in the rear of the store
1t was said by one of the girls that small
bottle of gasoline was standing on a work
bench near by and the bottle, being left
open, the fumes escaped into the room.
One of the girls, in passing through the
workroom, stepped on a match A volume
of gas in the room ignited causing an ex-
plosion. 1t was evident that the fumes
of the gasoline had escaped in large guam
titles. since every showcase, window glass
and mirror in the building was shattered.
Even the paper on the side walls and CELL
ing was torn and burned.
Mr.. Kinzly had a large amount of cellu-
loid hair combs and pins, and these stood
| In great abundance on the showcases.
When the flames struck them they burned
like so much powder. The floors and tops
of showcases were covered with their
Mrs. Escott said she hardly haG time to
| think from the second the girl stepped on
the match until flames filled the whole in
WAS
standing near the girl when the match
struck and most of the flames centered
around her. In company with the other
| girls she ran for her jacket. In trying
| to escape by way of the rear door they had
| to run through sheets of flame. Miss Nellie
| Monday was on the next floor, about eight
| feet above, which Is also a part of the
| Kinzly establishment. The flames shot up
ward. and Miss Monday. in trying to jump
| to the lower floor, had her face and hands
| badly burned. Finding that she could not
| get out In that direction. she ran to the
| rear window and jumped to the alley be-
| low. She sustained slight bruises in this
| manner.
| Mr.. Kinzly, on hearing the frightened
rush OF girls abovestairs. ran to the top OF
| the cellar opening, but his egress was cut
! off by the flames. He ran back and
| emerged into the street through the store
| on the north. He was totally unable to ac-
/ count for the fire. He had not heard an
| explosion. When he was able to enter the
| building there was hardly anything of his
| former store that he recognized. In the
| interior of the show window and along the
| display shelves back Of the cases il resem-
| bied a morgue. Busts OF female figures or
| which had been hung samples of hair had
| been blackened by the fire, and their
| smooth heads looked like pool balls. The
| shoulders and bodies of the figures were
| burned and charred-
| The fire was mainly In the rear part OF
| the building and this was completely de-
| stroyed. With IL were number. of valu-
| able chairs hair-dressing figures and To-
| tions Mr. Kinzly said he had had the
place recently remodeied. and had installed
| a complete set of new furniture. The loss
on the building will probably reach 5000
| iy's stock and fixtures. 1t is all covered by
/ ipSurancp