The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-01-10
HUNT F|REBUG
after BLAzES
ON NORTH SIDE
Flames Set to Three Apart
ment Houses in Two
Days.
PERIL TO so FAMILIES
$4,000 Damage Caused
by Incendiary Flames
at 'HazeIton.'
PERIL TO SO FAMILIES

A firebug has started fires, one
of which resulted in loss estimated
at $4,000, in three apartment
buildings in the vicinity of Thirty
sixth and Illinois streets within the
last two days, evidence checked by
fire officials indicated today.
Homes and possibly lives of
nearly fifty families we're threatened
by the blazes and furnishings and
clothing Of seven families living at
the Hazelton, 1905 North Illinois
street, we're destroyed or damaged by
smoke and water.
A man and his wife were trapped
in their apartment and rescued with
ladders by firemen.
The fire at the Hazelton, which
broke out at 6:49 Wednesday, was
the most serious of the three blazes.
Occupants estimated their losses at
$4,000 and, according to officials of
the Washington Bank and Trust
Company, rental agents, damage to
the building will exceed $4,000. The
building is owned by R. S. Heaton,
KnlghtStoWn, Ind.
Blaze of Incendiary Origin
Firemen officially reported the
blaze of incendiary origin.
The flaraes started in the rear
half of the building to which the
entrance is on Thirty sixth street
and which is separated from the
front half by a fire wall. The build
ing is two-story brick structure.
The only way to pass between the
two sections of the building is
through heavy fire door in the
basement which automatically is
kept closed. Occupants of the build
ing reported the door closed in the
late afternoon.
Evidence that the blaze was in
cendiary is seen in the fact that the
doors we're open when fireman ar
rived. The blaze started against the
fire wall in the rear part of the
building near the door and swept
through the door and basement of
the front part.
The flames also roared up the
stairs of the rear section and
trapped Mr.. and Mrs. E. E. Dicker-
son in apartment 8, second floor.
Rescue Couple Asking Help
Pumper Company % answered the
call and found MIR. and Mrs. Dick
erson calling for help from the win
dows. Firemen Earl Brown and Ber-
nard Mann carried Mrs. Dickerson,
who had tainted, down ladder.
Dickerson climbed down himself.
Lieutenant Michael Mulvihill and
two men in the meantime had
dashed to the basement, but were
forced out and nearly overcome by
the flames and heavy smoke. Elec-
trio refrigerator pipes in the base
ment had burst filling the building
with sulphur fumes.
A second attempt to fire an apart
ment at 18 West Thirty-fourth
street, which is at the corner of
Meridian and Thirty-fourth, was
thwarted by Patrolman c.. A. Rar-
don and E. A. Watts, merchant po-
liceman.
A fire broke out in the basement
of the building at 6:13 p. m. and at
first officially was reported by fire.
men to have been caused by rub
bish in basement"
Other Apartments Burn
After firemen had put out the
flames and were about to leave,
Rardon and Watts were inspecting
The basement when they found a
mass of flaming papers stuck be-
tween wood Stats separating stor-
age spaces. They extinguished the
flames before the fire spread.
A fire at the Ellis apartment, 1852
72 North Illinois street, at 7:49
Tuesday, at first listed as caused by
spontaneous combustion, now is be-
lieved to have been the work Of the
firebug.
The damage at the Ellis building,
where the fire was held to the base
ment, was estimated at $500.
Fourteen other fires, most of them
minor. we're extinguished by nremen
in the twenty -four hours ending at
z a. m.