South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-08-19
MAGYAR HALL
BURNS, FEAR
MAN IS LOST
Mike MuSzaT Reported Miss
ing-SeaTCh of Ruins Fails
to Give CIue-LOSS
$4,000.

Magyar hall. 316 S. Chaplin St.
used as a meeting place by Hun
garian societies. was partially de
strOyed by fire at O'Clock last
night. A report that Mike Muszar.
president OF one of the societies.
was burned 10 death could not be
confirmed Firemen made a
thorough search Of the building but
could find TO trace of him. AT
late hour last night he was report
ed still missing
Insurance 20 the extent OF SIS
0eO Is carried. The building is own
cd by company Of Hungarian men,
but IL is understood that the Mues-
sci Brewing Co holds a mortgage
on the place.
The flames had gained great head
way before the hremen arrived. and
e tight lasting nearly an hour and a
half was necessary 20 bring them
under control The FIRE apparently
originated i'm the back part of the
second floor. under or upon the
stage, which occupies the entire rear
end, and spread rapidly toward the
front along the north side of the
building. which is cut up by many
windows and doors. The south side
OF the hall has only a few small
windows
Biggest Damage I'm Thcater
A large theater. with "A dance
door. which is used for the first
floor audience and a gallery occu-
pies the greater portion Of the build
saloon take up the front part. IL
was in the theater that the greater
portion OF the damage was done,
although the club rooms on the sec
ond and third floors were burned
slightly and flooded with water The
entire stage was burned, and all the
scenery and curtains were destroy
ed.
That defective wiring -Jout the
switchboard is respOnsib for the
blaze is the theory advanced. and
evidence seems TO bear this out, for
the center of the fire appeared 20 be
near the board. No protection sur
rounded the switches and fuses,
however. for no metal box. such as
i~ used I'm buildings constructed now
was found Apparently a wooden
door closed off the board. for the
badly charred remains OF door
were found near the place. The
hall was built in 1910.
Flames Spread Rapidly.
From the north side OF the stage.
ON which the board was located.
the blaze spread rapidly. burning
the nimsy canvas scenery i'm short
order. This caused "a tremendous
bIaze-smoke and flames pouring
ont Of the windows and breaking
Through the uoof The glare could
Ice seen as far away as Michigan
ST.
I'm the northeast corner OF the
theater-dauce hall the tremen en-
couutered the most stubborn blaze.
II was in part of the building
Il -rcult 10 reach with the hose lines.
and nremen had 10 break i'm door
from "a fire escape before they could
get water ON that part OF the ire.
Ladders were put up the front OF
the building Co windows which en-
tered on the club rooms. and
through these lines were introduced
which we're carried into the gallery,
which is connected by doorways to
the club rooms.
BuiIding Forms Furnace.
The wide open space, two stories
hieh. which fronts ON the stage ere
ated "a virtual dreboN. The stage
and lower windows formed n draft
way. and when the hremeu broke i'm
the windows on the front of the
third floor they served as CHM
uev. windows 20 the north We're
framed i'm Ere and line Of poles
were soon ignited by the blaze
For a time il was thought be- would
ba necessary 90 stretch police lines.
inasmuch as flying glass and parts
az window sashes were constantly
drumming 10 the street. but this dan
ger was soon passed Police pa
troIed the crowd. however. and kept
them we'll out OF harms way The
rIar, against the sky drew a huge
crowd. many people coming from
the downtown district
some difficulty was experienced
because OF insufficient water pres
sure but as soon as the pumps could
10 speeded up this difficulty was
,rorcone The motor pump COM
many was pressed into service. two
lines being run from the machine.
which helped the water pressure
Considera bly,.
rive Companies Answer Call.
Fire companies two. four 1--WE and
six answered the three alarms the
FIRST OF which was rung az t;5S
o'clock All the central apparatus
aIso responded 90 the call. num-
Ter Of citizens helped shift the many
1csa lines which were laid. aiding
the aremen in gaining control Of the
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