The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1913-06-30

been rented by an italian family who
lived in the rear, while a number of
Greeks occupied the other rooms. OF
these so far could be learned losses
were sustained by John Dlmetratus,
saved s145 in cash, his clothes and fur
niture; Nick Menas, s25 in cash, Menas
having saved his trunk by throwing
1t out of the window; Harry George,
s2o5 which he had concealed IN money
belt, the belt and its treasure being
consumed. There were other individual
loses but these could not be ascer-
tanned.
E. S. Gilbert, the owner of the build
ing in which the fire had originated
was formerly a newspaper publisher.
and had stored in the building print
ng outfit valued at $4,000. The struc-
ture itself was valued at something
over $4,000 as nearly as could be as
certained this morning.
The fire caused more excitement in
Indiana Harbor than has attended any
blaze there in years Its origin is un-
known There was a report that cross
ed electric wires created the spark
which set fire to the building, but
Chief Doherty is inclined to believe
leaky gas pipes were at the bottom of
the trouble. Leaks were found after the
fire was extinguished. and this fact to-
gether with the fact that strong odor
of gas prevailed from the first. and that
the entire interior Of the building
blazed like furnace five minutes az
ter the FIRE was discovered, led the fire
chief to his conclusion.
Someone noticed a tiny flame curling
upward from the electrical shop and
in almost less time than 1t takes to
tell il, the entire interior was a seeth-
ing. roaring furnace. Men half clad be-
gan to run down the stirway. and at
the windows appeared the forms OF
those cut off from escape by the us
uaI exits. Four of the men jumped
their Names being given above. Some
of them hurled their belongings on;
of the window and followed them by a
leap which left them bruised and with
broken bones on the sidewalk below
BY the time the fire department ar
rived which they did very shortly after
the report came in, the flames had
gained such Roadway that there wal
no thought of saving the building
and the fremen turned their attention
to the building adjoining, where tbs
fire s1ad also gotten a good start. S.
quickly did it all happen, that tn.
bleeding forms of the injured men has
been removed to Central drug stor,
whence they were later taken to st
Margarets hospital before the firemel
were on the scene.
The danger to adjacent building
was such that Chief Doherty sent in
call to East Chicago and in a shor
while the big red auto fire engine wal
roaring on it's way to the Harbor
With both engines plying the f1ame
with water the fire was gotten unde
control. and by a seeming miracle non
of the firemen were overcome, al
though the flames coupled with tn
whiting heat of the day made the hea
terrific.
There was a report abroad tina
Livejanas, who lost his life in the fire
and whose body was not discovere,
until this morning, had run into tn
closet and locked himself in to hide
This was denied by his comrades il
the building. however, who surmise
that his object in going into the close
was to recover some money or othe
valuables he had concealed there
Somebody in the excitement must hav
pushed the door shut and smoke an
heat caused Livejanas to lapse int
Inconsistencies.
1t was common report about tow
this morning that there were severa
other bodies in the building. but thi
discreditel by the fire departme1
and the police.
This morning there was crowd {
Greeks clamoring to get into the ruin
to search for their money and valu
ables which they believed by som
miracle might not have been destroy
ed. Sergeant Hughes as a safety pre-
caution to prevent looting by tn
wrong men, denied them admission ;
first. Later, however. they were aC
nitted under guard of an officer. Sci
geant Barker is in charge of the cas-
and is making a thorough investig;
ton to ascertain who. If anybody, w;
to blame for the holocaust