The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-11-25
$4,000 LOSS
IN DOWNTOWN
FIRE, z HURT
IncendiariSm Is Charged
and Probe Is Opened Into
Building Blaze.
FIGHT FLAMES 5 HOURS
East Washington Street
District Is ParaIyzed;
Traffic Halted.

FIRE, DeIleVeQ 10 De OF 1ncendlary
origin, early today swept three
story building at 143 East Washing
ton street, causing damage of more
than SOS, 900 and resulting in injury
of two flremen.
Handicapped by the heavy smoke
and blanket of frost, f1remen were
successful in their f1ve-hour fight,
in keeping the blaze from spreading
to other buildings of the East Wash
ington street business section.
The building is occupied by the
Carlin Music Company, the Capitol
Loan Company and china shop
owned by julius Weisman, 1887
Union street.
The blaze started, according to
authorities, under a stairway on the
second floor of the building. Of
flcials said the fire was blazing in
several places and excelsior was
found on the stairway leading to
the third floor.
Two Firemen Injured
William Ralstin of the Salvage
corps, incurred wrenched back
when he fell in the basement of
the building. He had been injured
slightly Thursday night when a
Salvage corps truck was involved in
an accident on the south side.
Oren Todd of Engine House IS
was cut severely on the hand by
broken glass while fighting the
blaze.
The rear of the roof of the Struc-
ture collapsed shortly after the fire
had gained Roadway. The debris
crashed to the floor of the third
story, smashing furniture stored
there.
Probe Is Opened
Unable to reach the front section
of the top floor, hremen could not
protect several thousand dollars
worth Of musical instruments stored
there. The water damages in this
part of the building will run high,
flremen said.
Assistant Chief Fred c. Kennedy
started an immediate investigation
of the fire for the department, as
sorting he believed the building was
set on fire shortly before the blaze
was discovered.
Chief Harry VoShell said his
theory of the fire will be announced
after the investigation. Lieutenant
John Sheehan Of the police depart
ment, however, filed a report in
d1cating the fire was of incendiary
origin, and Detectives John White
and Charles Bauer were assigned TO
the probe.
Spreading Is Blocked
The fire had gained such Roadway
on the second floor of the struc-
ture that flames broke through
cracks of a double brick wall and
threatened to ignite the Leader
store. West of the music company
store is the Pembroke Arcade, but
'f1remen blocked the fire before it
broke through.
Lines of hose we're dragged to
the top of the Leader store and
water played on top of the building.
Other f1remen broke through a va
cant Storeroom at Is South Della
ware street, carrying hose and
ladders to the courtyard in the
rear of the flaming structure.
Traffic was paralyzed by the
blaze and police roped off the en-
tire square on Washington street.
Pandemonium struck commission
row, on Delaware street, as trucks
and wagons were tied I'D in the
fire lines and smoke.
Buses Resume Service
Disrupted street car service was
replaced by buses on the East
Washington and East Michigan
street car lines.
The fire was discovered by Sam
j. Russell, 2163 North Olney street.
night Waterman of the Leader
store, who sounded the first alarm
after smelling smoke that seeped
through small elevator shaft be-
tween the buildings.
A second alarm was sounded
seven minutes after the first and
extra companies were called an
hour later. Every downtown and
near-downtown company answered
the alarms. Thirteen lines of hose
were played on the blaze.
Water Is Ankle Deem
Water was ankle deep inside the
building within an hour. Firemen
bored holes in the flooring to per-
NIT the water to drain.
Water damage to the loan COM
pany will total $1,000, according to
Leo Bishop, manager. The loss is
insured. A temporary Office has
been opened at 10 Pembroke
Arcade.
Albert Sering, receiver for the
music company, estimates loss to
musical stock at $4,000. This in
cluced several expensive pianos and
violins stored on the third floor.
The building is owned by A. L.
RoSenthal. The structure damage
probably will exceed $4,000, it was
said. The structure and music
company losses are covered by in
surance.
Frank Carlin of the music COM
pany when informed of the indica-
tons Of incendiariSm, declared a
large electric switch box or the sec
ond floor, near the source of the
blaze, might have started the fire.
The fire was one of the LARGEST