The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-17

Ing almost totally destroyed the Occldental
Hotel. and 15o persons narrowly escaped
death. when the building. itself city land
mark. suddenly broke into flames.
Before the first alarm had been answered
the entire third floor of the building. sit
mated at Washington and Illinois streets.
was ablaze and hled with smoke. BY the
and men who hurried to the scene, all
guests OF the hotel were awakened and
carried from the building before the fire
got beyond the control OF the firemen-
The hotel building the property of Henry
schnulI. valued at 100000. is gutted.
Further than that the fire started in the
laundry of the hotel on the third floor, it's
origin is unknown Employees of the hotel
Immediately below the laundry were the
first to discover the flames They said that
the only way fire could have started in
the Laundry was from the stove used there.
in which low fire is almost always
burning
The spread OF flames and the outpouring
of smoke were so fierce that guests had no
time in which to even dress. They were
forced to flee from the burning building,
scantiy attired.
There were many women in the hotel and
their cries sounded shrily above the noises
OF the firemen battering down doors and
dragging people from their beds.
Many women tainted and had to be car
ried out. Once out, a number, in their
excitement. broke away from their rescu-
ers and rushed madly back into the burn
ing hotel. crying that they had left
friends and valuables' behind. However. it
was only a few minutes before all occu-
lpants mad been awakened and taken from
The hotel.
LOSS is VERY HEAVY.
1t was impossible during the confusion
attending the confagration to get an ac-
curate estimate of the losses of the various
establishments located on the ground floor
of the ruined building. In each case the
damage resulted from smoke and water.
the fire not reaching this portion of the
building. Water poured through all of the
floors. and as the flames were extinguished
and controlled the damage in the ground
floor rooms became greater Ferger's
Iliners and Washington streets. was dam
aged by smoke and water. the entire stock
being flooded.
AT $3.50 o'clock this morning Mr.. Edward
Ferger said TO the Journal after a hasty
exs smination of his store. that his loss
would be not less than $500 and probably
more His stock is valued at over $4,000.
and consists largely of fine druggist sun
dries and cigars. Over $1,000 cigars We're
stored in the basement. which is deep in
water. and the loss on the cigars will be
total His drug supply room and prescrip-
tion department also in the basement.
In the main room much damage was done
by water and smoke Mr. Ferger carries
between 10000 and sl1 900 insurance. He
says all his summer supply of soda water
Preparations, just laid in,A is valueless, as
they were stored in the basement
The F1oros Candy Kitchen was in the
center of the flood, and the entire stock.
valued at $500. a total loss. Insur-
ance to the amount of 81 500 was carried.
Joining, was not greatly damaged, the
stock. valued at $1,000 being fully covered
by insurance. The Raphs ell Millinery store
was badly damaged by smoke and water.
but no estimate of the loss could be placed
BY the proprietors. The loss is covered by
Insurance. The jewelry store of Henry
Bergheim. valued at $4,000. was consider
ably damaged. and was protected by insur-
ance in the sum OF $1,000 +. J. Ryan
stock of clothing and furnishings was dam
aged greatly by smoke and water. Mr..
Ryan could not be seen this morning. but
II is understood that he was fully pro-
tected by insurance. The furnishing estab-
lishment OF Reinie A. Miller was heavily
damaged by water Schomberg. cigarist,
stocS 70 his second store on North illinois
street but sustained considerable damage
The Occidental bar was completely ruined
The fixtures and the mirrors were damaged
but no statement could be obtained as tc
the amount of loss. l. 5. Ayers & Co. oc-
cupy one room in the Occidental block, di-
rectiy over Rubenss clothing house The
room contained stock OF shoes, infants
supplies and was used for storage pur-
poses. Mr. Fred Ayers stated that the
room was shut of from the rest of the store
by Are doors and that he could place nc
estimate the damage He said that full
Insurance was carried. IL VIII take day
or so TO ascertain correctly the amounts
OF damage since none of the stocks were
actually consumed. but were ruined by the
water and smoke
building will reach $1,000 Mr.. Schnul
could not make correct estimate TINS
morning. The building Is enufeiy gutted
TOWER FALLS WITH CRASH
The fire alarm was turned I'm at La
oci4ck and within three minutes the fire
department was upon the scene Some
little time was lost in getting the water
lines set because OF the location OF the seal
OF the fire. which was in the rear and or
the top floor. The entire fire department
summoned by "A Joker alarm. was soor
At the scene. An accident. soon after ths
hremen had the water playing freely, hin
ocred the fire-lghters. The water tower
which the department had raised, suddenly
swayed and fell with -rash upon the
pavement OF Illinois street.
BY ? clock IL seen that the hote
could not be saved. and the firemen directed
their efforts 10 saving the adjoining build
fngs- An attempt made TO save some
OF the property In the hotel rooms. but the
IRE gained such rapid Roadway that by tbs
time all occupants had been rescued. mer
ventu{ec on the upper noors In danger o
tnelr lives As the water filled the shak,
walls jthey cracked and collapsed.
TheBe were many narrow escapes durine
the rapid OF the fire.
Menl standing I'm the lower Office of thu
hotel tsere suddenly forced to make "A dash
for their lives, the rear of the upper
qoor slowly sank below the weight OF
Siling WALL above moment later the
fwo nooI& crushed upon the tile floor Of