The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-06-20

burned on the right wrist. "A
flaming ember struck his head
and burned his scalp.
The Rev. John O'Connell,
pastor of the church; the Rev.
George Sebastian, acting assistant.
followed him into the building and
aided in carrying out the vest
ments and Sacraments.
They stuck at their rescue work
until police forced them from the
building a few minutes before the
150-foot wooden tower crumbled.
Three Firemen Hurt
An hour after the fire was ex-
tinguished three firemen on clean
up duty were injured when a part
of the roof caved in upon them.
Battalion Chief Michael A,
Murphy, 5ls Cottage Ave, was badly
bruised and shaken up.
Fireman Charles Goines, I'll N
Noble St, received severe arm
lacerations.
Fireman Glen E. Meloy,\ 604 NJ
Tibbs Ave, suffered a broken arm.
Meloy was held at city hospital
for an X-Ray picture of his ann.
The men we're working in the
organ loft when the roof crashed.
Sisters Of Providence, in their
quarters on second floor ooa school
building fifty feet to the south on
Woodlawn Ave-, ignored warnings Of
firemen that the flames might
spread to the school and prayed
while the fire ravaged the church.
Most Of the contents of the brick
church building were destroyed, but
fourteen paintings of the stations of
the Cross, valued at from $500 to
$1,000 apiece, miraculously we're
hanging intact on the blackened
walls when firemen had ex-
tinguished the last sparks after a
two-hour battle.
Statues Are Unmarried
Although the altar was destroyed,
statues of st. Patrick and st. Den
mis- standing on either side also were
unharmed by tons of falling debris.
Fire Chief Jesse Hutsell said he
will ask the State fire marshal to
investigate the origin of the fire, be-
cause the speed with which the
flames spread indicated that the fire
was not from accidental causes.
Fire flremen reaching the church
said the flames seemingly had
started in four different places
about the altar, in the rear of the
church.
According to insurance company
officials the building and contents
were insured for SAL 200.
Halt Flame Spread
Eight pumper companies, three
trucks and two squads of firemen
fought the blaze. Ten lines of hose
were laid and prevented the spread
of the flames to the two adjoining
school buildings and serious dam
age to other nearby buildings.
Mrs. A. H. Gelman, CAT Virginia
Ave, was burned slightly on the
neck and chest when sparks dropped
inside her dress as she stood in her
back yard. Sparks also burned a
few shingles from the roof of her
house.
Roofs of the Hollander and Gel
man cigar store, 949 Virginia Ave,
and houses at 933 and 935 Buchanan
st. also were damaged slightly
Priests Rush In
Father Tieman discovered the fire
about. 1905 a. m. He had been
working about the yard. Father
O'Connell was in the temporary
parish house. across the street eat
ing breakfast. He had left the
church at 8:45 a. m. and was sure
that all the candles about the al
tar were extinguished then, he said.
Father Tieman gave the alarm
and rushed into the building. The
altar already was in flames and
blazing pieces of the ceiling we're
dropping.
The other two priests followed
him into the structure, risking their
lives to aid with the rescue work.
John Wolsiffer, l411 E. Southern
Ave-, was passing by when he saw
the flames. He rushed into the
church to carry out the sacred
eucharist, but found the priests al
ready had removed it.
Police Take Charge
Patrolmen Patrick Finneran and
Thomas Dunwoody, on beats ad-
joining the structure, forced the
priests to leave the building as the
flames Spread.