Indiana daily times., 1921-05-16
$4,000 BLAZE
HITS 18 HOMES
Sparks, Falling on ROOn
Ignite New Jersey
Street Houses.

In the most disastrous fire that has
visited residential districts in Indianapo-
list In many years eighteen houses were
destroyed or damaged Sunday afternoon.
The blaze started in the home of DIR.
Daniel W. Layman, 1886 North New
Jersey street. The total damage is
estimated at $4,000.
The reports Of the fire department show
the following residences were damaged,
and the amount of loss sustained ex-
elusive Of damage to furnishings: Dr.
Layman, $1,000: Mary Maughlin, 1240
North New Jersey, $1,000: Harvey Elan,
1892 North New Jersey. 5000; DR.. Il.
J. Stanley, 1928 North New Jersey
street, $1,000; Joseph Savage, 1922 North
New Jersey street, $50: H. Seidel, 1913
North New Jersey street, $40; James
O'Connor, 1921 North New Jersey street,
$40; August Kuhn, 1925 North New
Jersey street, $40; J. Holiday, 1875 North
New Jersey street, $40; Henrietta Allen
wood, 1241 North New Jersey street,
$40; W. II. Harris, 1896 Central avenue,
$40; Oren Perry, 1918 Central avenue,
$40; E. c. Morris, 1919 Central avenue,
So; George Mansfield, 1235 Central avenue
So; DR.. George Early, 1928 Central
avenue, $4,000; ]. ]. Haines, 1890 Central
avenue, $4,000; Mrs. George Beam, 1222
Central avenue, $1,000; ]. e. Webb, 1237
Central avenue, $50.
Sparks falling on the roof of DR.. Lay
mans home is given by fremen as the
cause Of the blaze. The flames spread
rapidly and when the first hremen ar
rived three houses were burning.
The first alarm, a still, was sent in at
1 10 p. m. and this did not bring On fire
pressure as q box alarm does and, there
fore. the first fiTemen had to wait almost
five minutes before high water pressure
came on. During this time the fremen
say there was an explosion in the home
of Harvey ]. Elan, 1882 North New Jer-
sey street. The explosion was in the
water heating tank on the second floor
and the roof was lifted high in the air.
Flaming fire brands dropped on the roofs
of other houses. The fire had alreauy
destroyed the second stories Of six resi-
dences In the 1900 block on North New
Jersey street.
The wind helped the fire, which spread
to Central avenue. The home of George
W. Early, 1928 Central avenue, was al
most destroyed, and the loss was esti-
mated at $4,000. Fire reached the roof
of the home Of Harry A. Haynes, and
the fire and water damage amounted to
Sc. .O0O
When the flames ate into the support
ing beams Of the slate roof of the homo
of Mrs. George W. Beam, 1922 Central
avenue. part Of the roof caved in. The
] damage there is estimated at $4,000.
| DR. Layman's loss is estimated at more
than $4,000 Mr.. Elan suffered the great
est loss Of any home owner in the New
Jersey street group. Much of the dam
age was caused by the explosion. The
damage is estimated at more than $6,000
| Lack of immediate high water pressure
made it impossible for firemen to use
more than one hose line on three burning
residences for a few minutes after their
arrival. Fourteen hose lines were laid
later.
Heavy water damage was caused to
merchandise at the Granger department
store yesterday when fire OF unknown
origin started in tlat building. The store
is located at 336-55S West Washington
street.