The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1909-07-06
WATER co. CENSUREO
FOR DELINQUENCY
Worn Out appliances and Fixtures
Fail to Work and Damages In
crease, While Men Are Helpless
Concern Had Notice a Month Ago
of It's Fire Hydrant.
Especial to THE TIMEs.)


Indiana Harbor, July e.-Three fires
was Indiana Harbor's record for the /
Fourth of July. Just how any of them
started is a mystery, but 1t is sur
missed that fireworks played their
part IN the origin OF some, II not all
The most serious loss occurred early |
this morning when the story and a /
half cottage at 1869 Pennsylvania ave-
nue., belonging to Joe Seja and OCCUPIED
by three families, was almost destroyed |
by fire and smoke and the volumes of |
water with which the house was food
ed in order to try and save the build |
ing
The East Chicago and Indiana Har-
Dor Water company was censured in
connection with the Seja cottage fire,
as it was owing to the delay occasioned
by reason of the failure of fire plugs
to work, that the fire gained the head
way 1t did
Delinquency Causes Loss.
The fire company connected UP first
with a hydrant in Pennsylvania ave-
nue.. between One Hundred and Thirty
fifth and One Hundred and Thirty-sixth
street. This failed to work, so they
tried a second one the latter at Lin
COAI anu USylNaula avenues. In
order to make the connection here at
all they were obliged to send back to
eEvn for a stilson wrench with which
to unscrew the cap from the spout. so
worn had it become from age and long
usage, that it was impossible to handle
it with the ordinary tools carried by
| the company. This caused a delay OF
ten minutes and after the connection
/ an
to unscrew their nozzle and replace it.
seven times because of stones that
would be forced through the hose,
| choking the outlet and rendering the
hose useless. Some Of the stones were
an inch in diameter. This was at
tributed to the fact that the hydrants
had not been flushed out for so long
that they had become filled with peb-
bles and gravel.
The basement was occupied by the
owner, Joe SeJa, the first floor by
George Nagi and the upstairs by Mike
Zubash. Their personal effects were
all total loss and they carried, re-
spectitely $500. $500 and $500 in in
surance on the furniture. The loss on
the house. amounting about to 800
was covered by insurance.
The fact that the deficiency Of the
weeks ago to the water company by
fire plugs had been reported four
Assistant Fire Chief James Daugherty,
who also reported the matter to Street
Commissioner Bruno Schroeder, the
latter in turn reporting 1t to the wa
ter company, caused the members Of
the fire and police departments to Sc
verely censure the company.
A fire of Sunday night was that
which broke out In a room back of the
Metropole saloon at S4o6 Michigan ave-
nue., which Is occupied as a store room
by the Indiana Harbor bakery. Be
fore this could be gotten under con-
troll the loss had reached $500.
The third blaze caused a loss of $15t
to vacant building owned by Mike
Staney. 5000 Kennedy avenue. This
occurred Sunday night Staney left
about three months ago for a visit tc
the old country, saying he would return
in six weeks. Before his departure he
borrowed a sum OF money from Joe
Meyers who lives next door to the va
cant building, turning over his insur-
ance policy of $500 as security for hi:
note. Meyers was also placed II
charge Of the property, to get a tenan
if possible and keep his eye on til,
building generally.
The fact that when Chief Ben Flacl
and his men arrived upon the scene
Meyers, who was somewhat under thu
influence Of liquor at the time had t,
be punched in the face IN order to Civ
the men a chance to play upon TIL
flames. may or may not be significant
In any event Mike was very much Op
posed to the stream being turned upo1
the Staney building and TO emphasiz
his argument tried to take the nozzl
from the fremen and direct 1t towar,
his own house, which the chief wa
not in the slightest danger of beinl
burned as the wind was blowing tn
smoke and flames in the opposite direc
tion. A good punch in the face ha'
the effect Of quieting the obsterperou
Joe.