Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-01-03

Ed Work by nremen Wn1Ie the
ermometer was but three above zero
pt the flames confined TO the top floor
- the hve-story building.
Vernon Griffith, president of the com
pany, said he could not estimate the loss
until he had ascertained the water dam
age. He said it might be $4,000 or
might reach 100000.
THIRD TIME FIRM
HIT IN FIVE YEARS.
It was the forty seventh fire alarm
answered by city Aremen in twenty four
hours. It was the third time the Griffith
Brothers store had been visited by fire
during the last FIVE years and the fifth
IRE In the history of the company.
Flames had burst through the win
dows Of the fifth floor and reached half
way across the street when firemen first
reached the scene. The extension ladder
was raised against the building, but
heat drove hremen away from the fifth
floor. Firemen also had dragged FIVE
lines Of hose to the roof of the building
by way Of FIRE escapes. The water tow
er was reared in Maryland street, but
was not used.
NIGHT WATCHAIAN
DISCOVERS BLAZE.
Thomas Darden, coIored night watch
man, 816 West Eleventh street, discov.
cred the fire. He was on the fifth floor
about a. M. but found nothing amiss.
About 6'45 a. M, when he was in the
basement he smelled smoke. He started
upward in an elevator.
when I got to the fifth floor it was
all In fiames," he said. when 1 got the
Aelevator down to the first floor the fire.
nen were kicking in the door"
Two skylights in the roof Of the fifth
were but 1ues through which the
log hurst and lowered high above the
ng.j People going to work stopped
hitter cold to watch the spectacle.
dripping down the front of the
4 building froze, making the front Of the
building resemble a frozen water fall
Chief John c. Loucks, Assistant Chief
Simeon Hoyl and Third Battalion Chief
Walter Ripley directed the fire lighting.
Hose was stretched around on Meridian
street, attached to a water plug in front
Of The Times building, to washington
street and Illinois street
BLAZE STARTS IN
] TRIMMING ROOM.
The millinery company maintained a
4 trimming room on the fifth floor, located
in the middle OF the floor. and was sep
arated from other parts of the floor by
Thesvy walls and metal doors. Charles
fWebber, foreman, said the fire started in
fthe trimming room. The heavy walls and
FdoOrs only impeded, but did not stop
1.-THE progress of the flames. Metal cell
Eings prevented the fire from reaching
Ailower floors.
E The first four floors are used as sales
5fooms. Thousands Of hats, trimmed and
| Antrimmed, and other millinery, were
foaked with Hater- walch poured down
IIrom the top floor. Salvage corps men
worked desperately to save the stock.
1T j. impossible to estimate the dam
4 age at this time said Vernon Griffith
kornrPf the members of the firm which
ms the Griffith millinery store. eve
are fully covered by insurance no mat
ter what the loss should be I have nc
idea as to what could cause a fire or
that floor. However. it Is the fifth time
we have had fire.
STOCK HEAVIER
THAN USUAL.
1--WE had on hand an unusually heavy
stock for this time Of the year, because
of the market conditions. Our. travel
ing mems trunks were packed and in the
building ready for them to start today
to take orders for the spring business
We don't know If their samples are dam
aged"
when asked If he thought the damage
to the stock would be $4,000. Mr.. Grif-
hth said. "It is impossible to tell at
this time. 1t might reach 100000. 1t
all depends on how quickly the stock
was covered by the salvage corps before
the water started to pour through. We
are taking an invoice and it will be
some days before we can make any esti-
mate Of the damage"
The Gr1ith Brothers Millinery Com
pany is owned by a firm the members
OF which are Vernon Griffith and Charles
g. Stone. Mr. Griffith said he was con-
hdent that the fire would not interfere
with business to any great extent, as
the company had considerable undam-
aged stock and also had arranged for
other stock to be shipped Immediately.