The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1909-01-06
GARY THEATER
Quilted BY FIRE
tcontrnued from page L,


public for the first performance of the
evening, which was about Gas O'Clock.
He, it is said, attempted to put out
the fire himself until it got such a
Roadway that he could not handle II.
and the fire alarm was then turned in.
BY the time that the fire depart
ment arrived the building was so filed
with smoke that the blaze could not
be found. The smoke poured out of
the windows and out OF every crack
and crevice like a huge furnace. and
placed the fire fighters at a huge dis
advantage. Windows wore smashed in
all parts of the house to let the smoke
out so that the fire could be discov-
cred. In the meantime tons of water
from four lines OF hose played on the
floor SO that in a few minutes the
flames were extinguished in the water
soaked rafters.
Fireman's Life Endangered
During the progress OF the fire. when
the fumes were most dangerous, Fire
man Frazier crawied into the basement
to flood that section OF the building.
Behind him was Chief Feeiey and sew
eral other fireman who, however. did
not notice what condition Frazier was
in BY the time that they found him
grasping the nozzle OF the hose, lying
on the wet basement floor, the daring
fire fighter was nearly suffocated. He
was taken into the open air where
artificial respiration was used as a
means OF bringing life back into the
body.
He was carried into the Borman-
Watson drug store, near by. where his
lungs were emptied OF the smoke as
soon as possible. He was treated by
physician and as soon as he partially
recovered consciousness he opened HIS
eyes an dasked: rs the fire out. fell
lers?" He then lapsed into uncon-
seriousness again and was taken to the
Mercy hospital.
vioffnist Wants His Fiddle.
Several other narrow escapes were
reported, due to the crashing glass and
efforts to save property. The vioiinist,
George Tommynosi rushed in to the
building to have his $500 violin, which
he priced more than anything else on
earth. He succeeded in getting the in
strument out after lighting the dense
volumes OF smoke and suffered no SER
ious effect. A Jap, who had rented
space at the entrance of the theater
for the purpose of disposing of his
wares, had just dressed in his costume
Of red knee breaches, red stockings.
etc, when the fire broke out There
after he spent the evening trying to
save some of his property and protect
himself from the chilly wind.
The flremen worked with daring and
great ability, considering the length
of time that they have been in the ser
vice. When the last lines OF hose. how
ever, had been placed in the wagon
and the start was made back to the
station. the men were practically ex-
hausted from their long struggle.
Building Owned by Palmer,
The building in which the fire took
place was owned by E. S. Palmer. a
brick foreman of Hobart The build
ing was leased by D. D. Claudy. pro-
prietor OF the Club Cigar store. who
in turn had subleased it to a syndicata.
Of which Zimmerman and Hall were
the leading stockholders, for the pur-
pose Of operating five cent theater.
The brick walls of the building and
the body of the theater in general was
not much injured, but great damage
was done by the breaking in Of the
window lights, the cutting of the floors.
the damage to furniture and fixtures
and the damage by the use of water,
The flames and smoke also did consid-
cradle injury to the floors and fixtures.
1t Is estimated that it will be several
weeks before the theater can possibly
operations.