The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-18
BURNED RUINS ANDSOAKED
DEBRIS REMAIN WHERE
THE OCCIDENTAL STOOD
Damage Throughout the Building
Is General, Nothing Remain
ing Unsaved.
BUSINESS FIRMS LOSE
Stocks Are Drenched and Shaky
Floors Threaten to Fall at
Any Moment
BUSINESS FIRMS LOSE

A scene of complete devastation is that
now presented at the ruins of the old Occi-
dental Hotel, almost completely gutted by
fire early yesterday morning. While such
may not appear to be the case from with
out, view within confirms that fact only
too truly. 1t is not the scene presented by
smoky walls, but by fallen floors and walls
and heavily bedrenched furniture and wear
ing apparel left in the rooms by the fleeing
guests From the lower to the top floor a
desolate condition exists.
A liberal estimate of the loss TO the own
ers of the hotel building and the many
tenants as the result of the fire follows:
Henry Schnull, owner hotel building:
Loss (estimated), $4,000; insurance, $4,000.
p II. McNelis, proprietor Occidental Ho-
tel: Loss (estimated), $4,000; insurance,
$500.
Edward Ferger. drugs: Loss (estimated).
$1,000; insurance, $1,000
Frank NJ. Ryan, haberdasher: Loss (esti-
mated), $4,000 insurance, $4,000.
Schomberg Cigar Company: Loss (esti-
mated) $4,000; insurance, fully covered.
Samuel RubeEs. clothing: No estimate:
stock value, $5o,oco; Insurance, fully COW
Floros Candy Kitchen: Loss ESTIMATED,
5000; insurance, 81, 500.
Relne Miller, gents furnishings. Heavy
loss to stock; no estimate.
Henry Burgheim, jewelry: Loss (esti-
mated, $1,Oo0; insurance, fully covered
Harry Raphael, millinery: Heavy loss
to stock; no estimate.
The damage wrought by the fire was al
most entirely limited to the upper floors
where the flames were confined, but the
heavy stream of water thrown the
flames soaked through, weakening the sills
which in many instances gave way under
the strain of their heavy load, crashing
through to the ground.
In many places the floors that have not
already fallen in, are in a very. dilapidated
condition The property belonging TO the
guests of the hotel is practically a total
loss. and it is impossible at this time to
make an estimate on the damage done to
such property by falling timber and debris.
CRASH OF FLOORS.
Especially is this true in the office of the
hotel, where the kitchen equipment, located
on the top floor, fell through with a crash
to the office-room below. The sills of the
kitchen wall burned out and the floors
under it, weakened by the heavy flow of
water, were carried down in the path OF the
deluge.
Perhaps the greatest damage done by the
waters was. to the business rooms located
on the first floor. Into these departments
FOR several hours the water poured through
in. torrents, so weakening the ceilings that
d
time would have been perilous.
The Ferger drug store and the Ryan
clothing store suffered most in this partic-
ular. In the former place the stock was
thoroughly soaked. The same condition, it
is thought now exists at the latter place.
The shoe and the infants department over
the Ruben clothing store was greatly dam
aged by water, as was also the stock of
clothing in the Ruben store, though not
extensively. The New York candy kitchen
is a total loss.
A hasty but brief examination was made
of the damaged stock yesterday morning
by the different proprietors of the stores,
and estimators have placed the total loss
at $4,000. exclusive OF damage to the
building itself
Edward Ferger values his stock at S14, 900
and at the. same time is unable to place an
estimate on the loss, although he says it
will amount TO not less than $1,000. A COM
plete new line of spring goods had just been
laid in by this firm, including $4,000 cigars,
besides large supply of soda water fixtures
CONTINUED ON PAGE 10, COL. A.