The San Francisco call., 1905-02-20
EIGHT BIG
BUILDINGS
DESTROYED
Fire in Indianapolis
Causes Loss OF
S1,5OO,OOO.
Three Hotels Included In
Structures RaZed by
the Flames.
Brands Carried by Wind Threaten the
Entire Business District of
the City.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Feb. 1s.-For
four hours tonight the wholesale dis
trict bounded by Georgia and Meridian
streets, Jackson place and the Union
Depot sheds was menaced by a fire
which started in the wholesale ware
rooms of the Fahnley & McCrea Mil
linery Company. AT $50 o'clock three
general alarms brought into action
every department in the city and
suburbs.
When the fire was brought under
control eight buildings. among which
were three hotels. had been destroyed.
causing a loss estimated at $500. 000-
One fireman was hurt by falling walls.
Fire brands fell in showers upon the
business portion of the city. on every
building were stationed companies of
men with fire-fighting apparatus and
this precaution prevented a general
confagration.
In the A Kiefer Drug Company's
warerOoms, where many barrels of oil
and other explosives were stored, and
in the Delmetsch COmpany's wholesale
warehouse. where a seasoned stock OF
fireworks was located, several serious
explosions occurred.
The west wall of the Fahnley & Nc
Crea Millinery house. which faces on
Jackson place, across from the Union
station, fell within thirty minutes after
the fire started. One fireman re-
ceived- a .braksa leg and in the rush
TO escape from their perilous position
near the falling walls hundreds OF
spectators who thronged the space OF
the Union Depot square narrowly es-
capped death or serious injury.
Within a few minutes the east wall
fell across Meridian street, completely
blocking traffic, but no one was hurt.
The first intimation of a fire was
received when a watchman saw the
windows on the second and third floors
of the east front of Fahnlev & Nc
Crea's building burst open, allowing
sheets of flame to escape into Meridian
street. A general alarm was turned in.
followed by two others in rapid sue
cession, and by the time the first COM
pany reached the scene the millinery
house was almost completely ruined
ard the flames had spread to the Kief-
er Drug Company's building.
The occupants of the st. Nicholas
Hotel. many of whom had not retired,
escaped without injury.
Repeated explosions in the burning
section sent clouds of burning embers
into the retail district. where they fell.
still burning, upon the roofs of the
principal business houses.
Within fOrty-five minutes eight
buildings in the threatened district had
been totally destroyed. and the efforts
of the firemen centered in an endeavOr
to prevent the spread of the flames to
the warerooms of w. II. Thompson &
Co.. manufacturers of surgical instru-
ments
A spark from the fire in the wholesale
district set fire TO the roof of the
Grand Hotel, several blocks away. after
the main blaze had been brought under
control An alarm again summoned
all available departments. All of the
guests were aroused, and because Of
the damage by water. were compelled
to seek other lodgings. The damage
TO the hotel was slight
The principal losers are: Fahnley K
McCrea building $125,000. stock $780,
900; A. Keifer Drug Company, build
ing $1,000 stock s225.000; Grif1ths
Bros building $4,000. stock S1500O0; 2.
c. Delmetsch Company building $4,000.
stock $4,000: Sherman House building
s45,O00, stock $4,000; Savoy Hotel.
$50, 900; ST. Charles Hotel. $4,000.