The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-03-02
FIRE OFFICIALS
SEEK CAUSE OF
100000 BLAZE
Business Houses at North,
lIlinoiS-Sts Swept
by Flames.

Fire officials today searched
through the twisted-metsl ruins of
one-quarter block business sec
ton at North and Illinois-sts to de-
terlnine the origin of a fire that
RACED or damaged IL establishments,
apartments and Offices and caused
an estimated 100000 loss.
The blaze, which started shortly
after l a. m. Sunday, resulted to-
day in several firms searching for
new quarters or opening their
establishments in buildings hurried
ly rented.
Conditions Of three firemen, in
jured in fighting the blaze, were re-
ported today as not serious.
Two Hurt in Traffic
Two members of the Fire IN
derwriters' Salvage Corps suffered
slight injuries when their truck COL
lided with a sedan at Pennsylvania
and New York-sts.
Willard Ward, owner Of the
quarterback of buildings on
North and Illinois-sts, estimated
the building damage at under $40,-
900.
Damage to major business es-
adjustments follows:
Indiana Wheel and Rim Co.. SO to
36 w. North-st. 100000, covered by
insurance.
Liberty Electric Co., 81 w. North
st, damage estimated at $4,000 by
Fred Drexler, secretary.
Glen G. Voorhis Photographic
studio, $4,000 loss, partly covered
by insurance, 10000 negatives of
photos destroyed.
Damaged by Fire, Water
Other structures, Offices and
apartments suffering fire and wa
ter damage follows:
Audley Durham Safe and Lock
Co., COL ~. Illinois-st Federal tSales
and Service Co., els N Illinois-st;
Ballcrank Sales and Service Co.,
500 N. Illinois-st; Hargrove Realty
Co, GOT N. Illinois-st; K. r. Nc
Cormack Economy Tailors, 613 N.
Illinois-st; Rutledge Mortuary Sup
plies, COS N. Illinois-st; Temple
Barber Shop, 603 NJ Iillinois-st, $3.50
damage, and L. 81 l.. Fruit Stand,
GIT N. Illinois-st.
A burglar brought discovery of
the three-alarm blaze.
Henry Rounds, 62115 N. illinois,
st, heard his dog barking. He saw
man in his apartment dash to
window sill and drop to the alley
below and then saw the flames. He
turned in the alarm as the burglar
escaped
Crowd Jams Streets
When fire trucks arrived the
quarter block was in flames. Traffic
was blocked on Illinois and side
streets as Saturday night theater
and cocktail parlor crowds TANNED
the streets.
Fremen had difficulty, bystand-
ers reported, obtaining sufficient
water pressure to fight the blaze.
Drums and containers of lacquers
in the Liberty Electric Co. added to
the fireworks, while highly infiam-
mable negatives in the Voorhis
Studio fastened spread of the blaze
to other buildings.
Fifty guests of the Harbour Ho-
tel, 6171a N. Illinois-st, were thrown
into panic as the flames leaped
across an alley and threatened the
hotel. Albert Wolf, hotel proprietor,
who said he heard six explosions in
the Liberty company, quieted the
guests.
Spontaneous Combustion Hinted
Possibility that spontaneous COM
bustion might have caused the fire
was seen in the report of H. A. Hol-
ley, COLE N. Illinois-st, who said he
heard dull thud' just as the
buildings broke into flames.
Heavy machinery and stock of the
Liberty Electric Co. plunged to the
floor below as fire RACED the upper
floor.
Several firemen on the roof of the
electric company were ordered to the
ground a few moments before the
roof and machinery crashed to the
first floor.
Suffers Cut Leg
Attempting to save valuable
lenses in the Voorhis Studio, An
sci G.. Delong, 1921 Udell-st, suf-
fered a cut leg.
Firemen injured in the blaze
were: Albert RUBBISH, 81, of 1853
Olive-st, lacerations; Robert Han
sen, overcome by smoke and paint
fumes, and Battalion Chief Robert
Sims, left shoulder hurt in fall.
Carl Hefner, SO, Salvage Corps
driver, and Edward Fleming, 40, of
1149 Laurel-st, suffered bruises and
cuts when their truck collided with
= sedan driven by Dean Rice, %,
OF 20S8 N Meridian-st.
Their conditions were reported
Str