The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-10-06
Not Nero
Rome Fired by Hot Dog
Stand, Modern AeSop
Tells Audience.
BY DANIEL M. KIDNEY

NERO never burned Rome at all.
IN That fire started at a hot-dog
stand at the Circus Maxinlus and
the anti-Nero politicians hung it on
the old man. The truth was that
Nero was only f1ddling to arouse his
emotions to a high pitch so he could
write a great poem.
At the time the chief Of the Ro-
man fire department, Flaccus Gu
trius, was a racketeer. He would
demand down payments from
householders before he would put
out their fires. On dull day he
might even drum up little business
with a. torch.
In modern times, Oct. 9, 1871, &C.
Cured the great Chicago fire. Here
also scientific historians have been
at work. They conclude that Mrs.
OLeary never had COW, or If she
did she didn't have lantern and
if she did have a lantern it was
out of oil the night the fire started.
At any rate she is eXonerated OF
the charge of starting the $168,0OO,-
900 conflagration which cost 200
lives.
A ND all Of the great fires of his
N tory are laid largely to one su-
preme source-carelessnesS.
In some such manner as the
above, z. c. Sanderson, head of the
educational division of the Office OF
State Fire Marshal Alfred z. Hogs
ton, is going about the state this
week "debunking" great fire stories
and driving home the fact that
carelessness is the great cause and
can be prevented.
This contribution to fire proven
ton week, which is held annually
on the anniversary week OF the
great Chicago fire, is to be given
by Saunderson at Clinton, Kokomo.
Peru, TT. Wayne, Connersville and
Greenfield.
Miss E. r. jacques, assistant edu-
cational director, is handling the
talks in the schools.
Il
CIT seems that Nero did not burn
Rome at all" Sanderson tells
his audience. For ages and for
some reason, I suspicion political
since such reasons are best under
stood in a republic. this charge OF
arson has been hung on Nero.
ut hardly seems quite fair to the
old fellow when after all he was
trying his best to be a great poet.
II am told that the records show
the origin Of the great fire Of Rome
to be entirely different. 1t seems
they were having one of those great
spectacles. or what we would call
today a frolic in the coliseum, and
the fire actually started in a hot dog
stand just outside, along the APP
plan Way.
There have been a lot of things
started in a hot dog stand since
that time and so believe we should
blame the great fire in Rome to a
hot dog stand instead of Nero.
ATOW In Rome under Nero, the
IN fire department was under
Chief Flaccus Curtrius. It appears
that this gentleman had a splendid
eye for business and probably had
a monopoly on fire prevention in
Rome. He responded in person to
all fires. Reaching the place he
took up a stragetic position in front
of the burning building and then
would barter with the owner over
the price of extinguishment.
''The longer the fire burned, the
harder it was to put it out, and
consequently, the higher the price.
When business was dull, FlaccuS
would quicken the fires of Rome
with a fire Of his own kindling.
Here you see that Chicago really
does not have anything on ancient
Rome. and that Flaccus after all
had quite a racket. The authori-
ties finally realized his breach OF
trust and his efforts to increase
business was his undoing.
"F1accus was replaced with
volunteer fire department Of 10000
members