The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-03-22
BUILDING WHERE THE FIRE STARTED WAS ENTIRELY
ENWRAPPED BY FLAMES WHEN THE ATTENTION OF
THE NIGHT WATcHMAN WAS ATTRACTED, c0NsE
QUENTLY THE FIREMEN HAD HARD CONTEST.


HAD A HARD CONTEST.
polls trains, due to leave the city be-
tween II and l o'clock.
Fire Fighting Arduous.
Fighting the flames was especially
arduous The south building was
covered with iron and the only access
was through the doors and windows.
The doors were locked and barred
and had to be chopped down. The
building was filled with smoke and
the firemen were at a loss to find the
flames. The exact location of the fire
could not be found and 1t was several
minutes before the water was in the
least bit effective. The efforts of the
firemen as directed against the frame
structure were futile, as the water
could not quench the flames. Seeing
this condition to exist, Chief Miller
directed his men to save the new
brick building.
Drive Flames Back.
The latter structure soon filled
with smoke and 1t was impossible for
the firemen to find their way about in
1t. Two lines Of hose were directed
against the roof and second story and
by this means the flames were fought
Several times the Fire Demon was
too strong, however. and encfoached,
but each time he was driven back be-
fore severe damage was done. The
most valuable machinery is located in
this building on the lower floor. II
was with heroic efforts the firemen
and volunteers exerted themselves to
protect this machinery. On several
occasions. to the spectators, It appear
ed the struggle would be lost.
Guard Three Buildings. n
The attention OF the department
had to be divided. between three build
ings The warehouse which contains
the Grated machines is frame struc-
ture and the roof and sides were kept
drenched with water. Had the flames
gained a start in this building the
loss would have been almost hall
again as great. The new automatic
conveyor, on which the crates were
transported from the factory, or from
the warehouse, to the cars for load.
ing, was damaged, but as it is large
ly of iron, can be repaired without
any great expense. 1t was installed
only a short time ago at a cost OF
$500.
Iron Got White Hot.
So much iron packed the frame
building that almost as fast as water
was thrown onto 1t, it was converted
into steam. 1t seemed impossible to
extinguish the flames and it was not
until this afternoon that the last lurk
ing blazes were put out. The struc
ture was of only two stories and this
fact helped the firemen. They could
fight the flames direct from the
ground, although several times dan
gerous positions were assumed as
they presented more advantageous
places from which to direct the water
The sheet iron sidings of the build
ing became white hot and when sec
tions fell into pools of water that had
collected. clouds Of steam arose. The
iron confined the flames within and
made an immense cauldron against
which the firemen directed tons oi
water In vain.
Floors Fell Through.
The only spectacular features furn
ished by the conflagration were when
the floors fell through and great
tongues Of flames mounted high into
the air. As massive beams followed
one upon another into the blazing fur
mace. tapering fingers of fire wavered
aloft throwing out blazing embers in
to the railroad yards. When the paint
room In this department was reached
and oil was added to the flames. the
smoke became as black as night. II
poured out as il belched from a volca
no and roared with an ominous sound
that could be heard squares away.
Feared an Explosion.
Look out for the paint room.
came the warning cry from an EN-
ploye as great glare was seen on the
windows in the cupola of the main
building. The crowd Of spectators
surged In q rush to the east as ex
plosions were feared. A hose was
brought and the water shot through
the windows with great force. For
tunately the seat Of the flames was
located at the first trial and theiI
headway was checked. It is believed
that had the flames got into this par,
Of the building, 1t could not have beer
saved.
In the brick building, were fire
hose attached to plugs. buckets and
sacks OF sand for use in fighting fire
but none OF these was available. Such
dense smoke filled the building that
It was impossible for any one to pene
|trate It There was danger all the
time from falling embers. also. and
the best the firemen could do was tt
pour in the water al . protective
agency.
Wind Was : Factor.
The only faeAee thaa insured--th,