South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-01-13
ENGRAVING and ELECTRIC PLANTS
HIT BY $4,000 FIRE; HEROIC
WORK SAVES SURROUNDING FIRMS
Gree n ByerS Building De-
Stroyed - Hardy Printing
Co., Bakers, BiTdSeII
and Grocery House
MenaCed for 3
Hours.

Fire. resulting in $4,000 prop
erty loss. added to the gaiety of yes
terday's blizzard, breaking out in
the southwest corner. second floor.
OF the Charles Green-Abraham
Byers bldg, 413-415 St. Joseph St.
about $3.50 o'clock last night and
threatening the entire surrounding
neigh bOrhoOd for three hours.
The building was occupied, ground
floor, by the supply department of
the Indiana & Michigan Electric
company and top (second) floor.
by the Indiana Engraving company,
the loss Of the former being $4,000.
the latter $4,000. and on the build
ing approximately $4,000. L. p.
Hardy & Co. printers, adjoining the
burned structure at 417-f9 s. St.
Joseph St, caught fire several times,
and suffered a loss of perhaps $500.
mostly from water.
W. T. Wyant & Co, across the
street. also caught fire and had a
narrow escape from total destruc-
tion. Their loss Will run approx
mately S9bOo Upwards Of 800 bar
rels OF flour some empty crates. and
damage 20 building. are on the list.
Big Plants Threatened.
But for the splendid work OF the
south Bend fire department. the
south Bend Bread company and the
Birdsell Manufacturing company's
plants. and warehouse OF the Ma
1ional Grocery company, might also
have gone up in smoke being con-
stantly threatened.
one spectator, William Walsh,
was overcome by the fumes which
were swept from the burning struc-
ture. He was carried into the Grand
Trunk railway station and revived.
II is rumored also that Percy Al
ford. a fireman. had been overcome
10y the smoke. but this rumor was
denied by Afford, who said il was
"all bunk"
Cause Is Unknown.
No definite cause has been assign
I'd the fire. but witnesses agree that
d. started I'm the southwest corner
OF the second floor. which is occu-
pied by the engraving company.
Grant Anderson, an employe of the
company. who turned in the still
alarm. tells the story:
we had just come back from
supper. and had pulled off our coats
and rubbers. when we heard a noise
that sounded like il was hailing out
side. asked my partner John
Strickler. If he thought We would
have TO get out in the storm and
fix up lines. and we went 10 the door
TO look out and see how the weather
was.
when we turned to come in, we
saw the ceiling in the southwest
corner fall in. and we telephoned
the hre department
TIanles spread Rapidly.
The intense cold and the dense
clouds OF black smoke sent up by
the burning chemicals in both the
engraving company and the electric
supply house made the work Of the
firemen exceedingly difficult. So
rapidly had the flames spread that
by the time the hremen arrived,
the interior Of the building was
roaring furnace Streams OF water
were sent in the windows. and over
the fallen roof i'm an effort 20 set
the fire under control
The South Bend Bread company.
the National Grocery company's
warehouse. and part Of the Birdseu
Manufacturing company's plant
were threatened by the sparks which
were borne on the high wind which
was blowing directly east. The W.
II Wyant storehouse. situated di-
rectly across the street, was the only
building which caught FIRE however
windows in the third floor furnish
ed food for the flames, which spread
for a short time Prompt action on
the part Of the fremen saved the
building
Big Crowd Dedes Cold.
The red glare Of the fire against
The sky attracted a large number Cf
Fpectators. who gathered. despite
the cold. 70 watch the flames which,
led BY the DRY wood of the interior
OF the building and the volatile
chemicals. were leaping high into
the air and sending heavy clouds Of
pungent smoke 10 the east along
with showers Of sparks which threat
ened 90 spread the flames 10 other
buildings.
A soon as the dre was brought
under control after a fight lasting
over two hours. hot coffee and sand
wiches were distributed 20 the fire
men who came covered wits zee into
the office Of the L p. Hardy Co TO
get the food. Some Of the helmets
bore white coatings fully quarter
az an inch thick and the hremen's 5
coats were stin with icy coverings.
L. r. Hardy and Mrs. Marie Hon-