The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-04-19
Police Hold Three Men in In
veStigation of Blaze Fatal
to Eight Firemen and One
CiviIian-More Than 20
Injured.
HER0ISM MARKS RESCUE
OF ENTRAPPED VICTIMS
Terrific Explosion Causes
Walls and Roof to Fall,
Carrying Men Down Into
Roaring Furnace - Priest
Risks Life to SoIace Dying,

~ United Prcss
CHICAGO. April 19-Arson was
suspected by police today in the fire
which last night gutted a four story
building here, killing eight f1remen,
one civilian. and injuring twenty
others. some perhaps fatally.
Police took into custody Samuel
Moore. Leo UneI and Samuel Palinski
in connection with their investigation
of arson.
Moore and Uneu. proprietors of the
Moore-UneH Novelty Company. oc-
cupants of part Of the structure, took
out $4,000 fire insurance several
days ago, police said.
Asked About Tenants
Palenski. police said held the policy
in lieu Of a mortgage on the com
pany's stock. Adolph Friedman pro
prietor of another shop in the build
ing, told police that an nour and
half before the fire broke out. Moore
asked him if all the tenants were out
Of the building.
Search Of the ruins continues, police
and hremen fearing others still unac-
counted for may have been trapped
when terrific explosion caused the
walls to billow out and collapse. The
explosion occurred on the second
floor while f1remen were swarming all
over the building.
The dead:
Capt. John J. Brennan. 40.
Michael Devine, ga.
Lieut.. Frank Frosh, 81.
Thomas Kelly, 81
Edward Kersting. 3s
Francis Y. Leavy, s..
Samuel T. Warren. 40.
jeremiah Callaghan. 20
William Dehr. 40. teamster.
The structure was known as the
Curran Bldg. located on Blue Island
Ave. on the south side. Fire, appar-
entity insignificant. broke out last eve
ming. Within a few moments the fire
was raging through the entire struc-
ture. Scores Of pieces Of fire appara-
tus were brought to the scene.
No Warning
Several iiremen were on the upper
floors. others were on the ground floor,
and still others were perched on lad
6ers leaning against walls and on a
water tower rearing its head a few
feet from the building when, without
= second Of warning, the explosion
shook the building: the walls bulged
9ut and then caved to the ground.
The roof and upper floors crashed
through to the basement. carrying the
tortured. living freight Shrieks of
h. l. -
he flames and earth shaking crash OF
falling brick. concrete. steel and
timbers.
Unsurpassed HerOism
Scenes Of unsurpassed heroism fol
lowed. Policemen and firemen, un-
daunted by the leaping flames and
falling debris. rushed into the roar
ing furnace. Most of those on the
injured list who were dragged from
me ruins owe their lives to the
prompt and courageous work of the
rescuers. Doctors. interns and nurses
were summoned and they rendered
first aid in the glare of the fire.
priest. Father Jones of the Holy
Family Church. walked calmly
through the excitement. delivering
he last sacrament to the dying.
Patrolman Thomas Kelly. Jr. Civ
ing assistance whatever needed. came
on one little group and broke through
20 see IL he could and found his father
-dead-in the center.
Miraculous Escape
Lieut.. John Kaminsky and John
Courtney of a fire insurance truck.
had a miraculous escape from death.
They were on the third floor when
he explosion occurred. They rode the
flying wall to the street and while
rendered unconscious. were not badly
hurt.
Police were told that owners of the
Curren building had aroused the
enmity OF many persons by planning
to rent the upper floors of the
structure to negroes. Police also were
told thst several persons, acting
suspiciously. had been seen near the
building just before the fire.
Separate investigations are under
way by police. the fire marshal and
the coroner.