South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-08-14

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ed his father. who did not realize
that the strong arms carrying him
20 safety were those Of his own son.
Tears appeared in the eyes Of both
men as they reached the street safe
~; tears brought 10 the eyes OF the
older man at the thought of his
own son rescuing him, rolled down
his cheeks but were quickly brushed
aside in an ATTEMPT to talk Meth
er was able 10 speak, overcome with
the having been saved and having
saved. After caring for the COM
fort OF his invalid father, Capt.
Billy returned once more to the
building, the rear OF which was now
engulfed in flames, TO continue his
/ search for the weak and inhrm.
The first alarm for the fire, which
later brought every available fire
fighter in the city into service, was
turned in at Box Is, at Colfax and
Main St, when smoke was noticed
emitting from the livery stable re-
Gently sold by o. King to Koehler
The blaze spread with such great
rapidly that it had traversed the
short space between the barn and
the Heller storage rooms across the
alley even before the arrival of the
firemen.
Great difficulty was experienced
| IN making any Roadway against the
| flames and while the attack was
concentrated on the old building
near the Colfax av. bridge, formerly
the site of the Coquiuard Wagon
! Works, then flying sparks ignited
the more costly business buildings
/ facing on Michigan St and extend
ing from the Colfax corner to the
/ Berman store
Thousands on Scene.
I In the meantime general alarm
had been sent out and the sound
of the fire and chemical trucks and
/ the pyrotechnic display afforded by
/ the flames shooting heavenward had
attracted thousands Of people to the
! scene. Families were hurried from
their sleeping quarters many OF the
women carrying children in their
arms, while the firemen made fran
| tic efforts to save the business
which appeared doomed beyond
matter OF doubt.
Considerable trouble was encount-
cred in securing sufficient water
| pressure for some time and it was
not until the old buildings in the
rear Of Michigan St and the en-
| tire Interior of Bagby's. Morans, the
| Quality Shoe Repair shop and sew
eral smaller business establishments
had been Quilted that any apprecia-
BILE Roadway was made against the
/ flames.
Police guarding the stricken
buildings performed yeOman work
/ in keeping back the large crowds
especially when it became known
| that large stores OF ammunition
/ stocked in the Berman store had TO
be removed lest the blaze cause an
/ explosion which would have rocked
! ers were pressed into service and
aided the officers in removing the
ammunition before the flames had
penetrated the store.
Report LOoting Attempts.
Several petty attempts at looting
were reported, officers detecting
| several boys in the act of stealing
supplies OF powder. Great caution
was exercised by the police in
| guarding the property of the Cleis
and Co jewelry store and other
valuables.
Standing out as one OF the real
| heroes Of the fire John J. Ripple,
who with his wife daughter and
| granddaughter narrowly escaped
! being burned to death in their rooms
above the Bagby studio. Ripple
aroused the remainder OF the family
when awakened by the sound Of the
fire trucks, and after gathering
what little he could Of his belong
ings, safely conducted them to the
street below. Their little flat was
entirely wiped out by the fire at a
| loss Of about $500 No insurance
was carried
other residents Of the block es-
capped with less serious losses, quick
" moving their household belong
ings to the street The west side of
Michigan St quickly took on the
appearance ola camping site, chairs,
tables. dressers and mattresses be-
ing placed against the store fronts
Business concerns near the blaz-
ing ruins soon started to fear for
the safety OF their own stock and
preparations were made for the re-
moval of the goods when IL was
thought that the flames would
spread Employees OF the Wyman