USA > Indiana > Allen County > Fort Wayne > History of the Fort Wayne Fire Department : extracts from Fort Wayne, Indiana, newspapers > Part 11
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1043
1
FORT WAYNE DAILY GAZETTE Thursday 06/17/1880
Page 4, Col. 4.
BIG BLAZE ON MAIN STREET.
LOSS ABOUT TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS. NARROW ESCAPE OF A WOMAN AND THREE CHILDREN.
A fire broke out about 10 o'clock last night in a couple of frame buildings, Nos. 30 and 32 West Main street, opposite the Gazette office. The fire originated in a kind of hall, or covered alley-way between the two buildings, and in ten minutes after the first cry of fire was heard, both of the frame structures, with their inflammable material, were wrapped in flames. The house No. 30 is owned by Mr. Bushman, and was occupied by Marcus Gohram, who kept a repair shop and carpet weaving establishment. The other building was occupied by Mrs. Louisa Marriott, who kept a second-hand store, and at the time had a large amount of goods on hand. Narrow Escape.
The fire broke out very suddenly and spread rapidly, and in the excitement of the few people in the neighborhood, no one except Fred Briel had the presence of mind to remember that the upper portion of the house was occupied Mrs. Marriott and her three children, who had retired for the night. Through his efforts the woman and her three children were rescued , being brought down stairs into the street in their night clothes, just in time to save their lives. Mrs. Marriott is said to have had one hundred dollars in money which was burned up with the balance of the property. The fire is supposed to have broken out in the carpet weaving establishment in the rear of the building, but the exact cause of its origin seems to be unknown. The loss on buildings and goods will probably amount to about two thousand dollars.
Mr. E. J. Heiny was the first one to discover the fire and give the alarm. The department responded promptly, and the flames were under control inside of a half hour. The buildings and stock were only partially insured.
FORT WAYNE DAILY GAZETTE Friday 06/18/1880 Page 4, Col. 3.
Mrs. Mariott, whose premises were burned night before last, on Main street, had $210 tucked away in a little tin box, which she was compelled to leave behind her in her hasty exit from the house. The money was found soon after the fire was extinguished, by Chief Smith and Geo. Strodel, and returned to the unfortunate woman. The boys deserve credit for their thoughtful attention to this matter.
1044
FORT WAYNE DAILY GAZETTE Sunday 06/20/1880
Page 4, Col. 2.
An alarm of fire from box 53, in the vicinity of Hoffman's factory, on West Main street, yesterday afternoon, about 3 o'clock, brought out the department, but on their arrival at the place they were unable to discover any fire.
PAPER UNKNOWN
07/07/1880
* Fire destroyed the shed and its contents consisting of old and dry hickory, oak, poplar and ash lumber which was used by Jacob A. Spereisen, for the manufacturing of wagons at his shop located 70 Taylor street near the Wabash Shops. Total loss of $2,000.
FORT WAYNE DAILY GAZETTE Thursday 07/22/1880 Page 4, Col. 4.
BURNT BARNS.
TWO FRAME BARNS FEED THE FIRE FIEND.
The alarm of fire was turned in this morning about 12:30 o'clock, and the firemen didn't stop to put on their collars but hustled out with their usual celerity. The fire originated in a frame barn in the rear of No. 151 West Wayne street, belonging to Mrs. John Hamilton. The structure was completely enveloped in flames when a Gazette reporter arrived on the scene, and the fire had extended to another frame barn directly in the rear of No. 152 West Washington street, belonging to Mr. Becker. Both barns with their contents were totally destroyed. Mrs. Hamilton estimates her loss at $500. The barn contained two or three stoves, some carpets and fuel. Becker's barn also held some carpets and stove wood, and he thinks that $250 is a fair estimate of his loss. Both Mr. Becker and Mrs. Hamilton had insurance.
There was lively hustling in the alleyway by parties owning live stock contained in the adjoining barns. Murray ran out a valuable horse and three buggies from his brick barn, which was slightly scorched.
Tom Meegan and a Gazette reporter boarded a bounding hose cart, and were among the first to arrive at Mrs. Hamilton's premises, where they found the ladies of the household wringing their hands, and in a state bordering upon hysterics. Meegan at once divested himself of his coat, and climbing upon the roof of the house, deluged it with pails of water, unquestionably saving the residence from ignition.
Mrs. Hamilton is firmly convinced that the conflagration is the work of an incendiary, as nothing of a combustible matter was stored in the barn.
1045
FORT WAYNE DAILY GAZETTE Tuesday 07/27/1880
Page 4, Col. 5.
AGAIN THE FLAMES.
BREAK OUT IN THE PETERS BOX AND LUMBER FACTORY.
Yesterday afternoon, about 4:30 o'clock, the ever ready firemen were summoned to the Peters Box and Lumber Factory, in Bloomingdale. A fire had broken out in the dry room, just above the boiler room, and for a time there threatened to be a formidable blaze. The smoke poured out in dense volumes, filling the building, and nearly suffocating the firemen, who mounted upon the roof and directed their hose against the smouldering lumber, stored in the dry- room. The fire-marshal finally directed the men to cut holes in the tin covered roof, and this being done, the stream of water was brought to bear upon the openings, and the flames, which were just breaking out, speedily extinguished. The boiler-room and the upper portion of the factory, used for sawing lumber was flooded with water, but no material damage done in this direction. The loss, including the damage to the roof, and the wetting of machinery, lumber, etc, will amount to about $500, and is fully covered by insurance.
This is the second fire originating in the dry-room within a very short time, and the insurance underwriters will probably ask to be relieved of further hazard.
The fire department were upon the scene with their usual promptitude, and by vigorous action, had the flames in subjection in an incredibly short space of time.
PAPER UNKNOWN 07/29/1880
* Charles Coeminsky, the 15 year old, who set fire to a barn and caused the death of little Leila Mellinger on 05/18/1880, at the corner of Franklin and Archer, was sentenced to six years in the penal department of the house of refuge by Judge Sinclair.
FORT WAYNE DAILY SENTINEL Monday 08/02/1880 Page 4, Col. 3.
STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.
A barn belonging to a farmer named Manganson, living about four miles north of this city, was struck by lightning and together with all its contents totally destroyed. Every effort was made to recover some of the farming implements which were very valuable, but with no success. The loss will foot up at about $4,000, while the insurance in the Farmer's company amounts to $1,000.
1046 1
FORT WAYNE DAILY SENTINEL Tuesday 08/03/1880
Page 4, Col. 3-4.
The engine house repairs are progressing rapidly.
An alarm of fire was turned in from box 62 about 12:15 this morning, and the department responded, but only to find that it was the victim of some villain's little game.
FORT WAYNE DAILY SENTINEL Wednesday 08/04/1880
Page 4, Col. 2-3.
The wretch that sends in those false alarms should be dissected.
The telephone and fire alarm wires cause a great deal of trouble.
The engine house roof is being repaired.
FORT WAYNE DAILY SENTINEL Friday 08/06/1880
Page 4, Col. 3-4.
Vogel is after the false alarmer.
The Alerts will give an excursion soon.
The fire alarm has been quiet for some time.
The Alerts will meet again Monday evening.
1047
1
FORT WAYNE DAILY SENTINEL Tuesday 08/10/1880 Page 4, Col. 3.
The false alarm fiend got in his work again last night.
A false alarm was sent in from box 3-2 about eleven o'clock last night.
FORT WAYNE DAILY SENTINEL Thursday 08/12/1880 Page 4, Col. 4.
The Lafayette Journal says that the farm owned by Mr. Herschey and rented by William Albaugh, situated near Colburn, was the scene of a disastrous fire on Monday night. The large barn, one of the largest, if not the largest, in the county, was totally destroyed. Mr. Albaugh had gone to mill and had returned and was removing the harness from his team when he heard a crrcking noise in the barn. His suspicions were aroused and, leaving his horses standing outside, he went into the building and discovered that it was on fire. Before he could do anything to extinguish the flames they had gained such headway that all efforts in that direction were useless, and the barn was totally destroyed. Mr. Albaugh succeeded in removing from the building a spring wagon and a set of harness, and these were the only things saved. There were 800 to 900 bushels of wheat destroyed, so we are informed, and besides a lot of other grain, a reaper and mower, several plows and other agricultural implements. The loss will reach $2,000. There was no insurance, and Mr. Albaugh loses the results of an entire season's work beside his implements. The barn was a large structure, 100 feet long and 40 feet wide. It was a good substantial building, and the miserable wretch who set it on fire deserved to burn with it.
1048
1
FORT WAYNE DAILY SENTINEL Friday 08/13/1880
Page 4, Col. 2.
The false alarm man showed up again this morning.
FORT WAYNE DAILY SENTINEL Saturday 08/14/1880
Page 1, Col. 2.
The firemen complain bitterly of the telephone repairer's carelessness which results in numerous false alarms.
FORT WAYNE DAILY SENTINEL Monday 08/16/1880
Page 4, Col. 1.
The new engine house is well under way.
Several of the fire alarm boxes were repaired by Chief Vogel and his assistants last night.
FORT WAYNE DAILY SENTINEL Wednesday
08/18/1880 Page 4, Col. 3.
Early on Saturday morning the Fort Wayne station house at Sewickley was discovered in flames, but the fire was extinguished before any great damage was done.
1049
FORT WAYNE DAILY SENTINEL Friday 08/20/1880 Page 1, Col. 6.
BARNS BURNED.
A barn belonging to a farmer named Kinsey, who resides near Spenceville, was set on fire by incendiaries last Monday night and together with its contents totally destroyed. The loss will aggregate $7,000. No insurance.
The lightning got in its work on a barn owned by a farmer named Woods in Pleasant township yesterday and totally destroyed it. The loss will amount to $1,500. No insurance.
FORT WAYNE DAILY SENTINEL Friday 08/20/1880
Page 4, Col. 3.
READY FOR AN EMERGENCY.
About 9 o'clock last evening a bright light was observed to shoot athwart the heavens and apparently caused by a fire in the southwestern portion of the city. With their characteristic vigilance the members of the fire department at once hooked their horses to the steamers and made everything in readiness in anticipation of their services being called into requisition, yet fortunately no alarm was sent in. The light was evidently caused by the burning of property of some description, although the fire was subsequently thought to have been beyond the city limits. Fort Wayne has one of the most vigilant fire departments in the country.
1050
FORT WAYNE DAILY SENTINEL Wednesday 08/25/1880 Page 3, Col. 3.
SWELTERING SOLONS. CITY COUNCIL MEETING.
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES.
The committee on fire department reported the purchase of another horse for the use of the department. The report was received and placed on file.
REPORTS OF OFFICERS.
The chief engineer of the fire department asked permission to attend a meeting of engineers in Boston next month, which was given.
FORT WAYNE DAILY SENTINEL Wednesday
08/25/1880 Page 4, Col. 3.
The false alarm fiend got in his work again yesterday afternoon.
Chief Vogel will attend a meeting of the chief engineers at Boston next month.
FORT WAYNE DAILY SENTINEL Saturday 08/28/1880 Page 4, Col. 4.
INCIPIENT BLAZE.
At 11:30 last night the department was called out. A fire had broken out in the moulding room of Old's foundry, on Water street, but was extinguished by bystanders without the services of the fire department.
1051
FORT WAYNE DAILY SENTINEL Monday 09/03/1880 Page 4, Col. 2.
The fire department will get out of practice if a fire don't occur pretty soon.
BRIDGE BURNED.
Saturday night, at about 10 o'clock, the Howe truss bridge over the New Albany road, near Lafayette, took fire from some unknown cause and was completely consumed. Trains were delayed in consequence.
FORT WAYNE DAILY SENTINEL Monday 09/06/1880 Page 1, Col. 2.
BIG FIRE AT VAN WERT.
DETERMINED TO BURN THE TOWN.
(Special telegram to the Sentinel.)
Van Wert, O., Sept. 6 .- A stable belonging to C. A. Melsheimer was burned on Sunday morning about 4 o'clock. The fire was the work of an incendiary. The stable and contents were destroyed with the exception of a valuable horse, which by some means unaccountable, escaped with only a slight scorching. No insurance and loss about $600.
During the burning of the stable another within 500 feet was set on fire by some person, while there were twelve persons watching the sparks to prevent the firing of a lumber yard and not at a greater distance than 150 feet from the first fire. The incendiary whoever he may be seems determined to spread destruction over the town. A third fire was also started during the first and a fourth the particulars of which has not yet come to light was set in the east part of town.
There seems to be a determined effort to burn the town and so far there has been no clue as to who the party is. An organized effort should be made and the offender brought to justice.
1052
FORT WAYNE DAILY SENTINEL Tuesday 09/14/1880
Page 1, Col. 5.
BURNING BARNS.
This afternoon about two o'clock a fire broke out from some unknown cause, in the two unoccupied buildings fronting on Hough street, in the rear of the Pittsburgh car shop. An alarm was sent in, and the department responded promptly. The fire had obtained a good headway when the department arrived, and it was with great difficulty that the flames were finally brought under control. The buildings were damaged so as to render them entirely useless. Particulars as to who owns the structures, and whether or not they were insured, could not be ascertained.
FORT WAYNE DAILY SENTINEL Saturday 09/18/1880
Page 1, Col. 4.
ATTEMPTED INCENDIARISM.
Mayor Zollinger was in Chicago yesterday, and upon his return home, at 8 o'clock last evening, was surprised to find all the entrances to his residence, on Brackenridge street securely locked. Upon making inquiry as to the cause thereof he was informed that a partially demented and well known individual named John McElfatrick had been peering in at the windows, and that the family had become alarmed. About four o'clock this morning, as a railway night-caller was passing the Mayor's residence he discovered that a box in the woodshed in the rear of the house was on fire and gave the alarm. The box was filled with refuse wall paper and was burning briskly when discovered, although the prompt application of several buckets of water extinguished the flames. At this juncture Mrs. Zollinger observed a man stealthily passing through the yard, and upon informing the Mayor the latter started in hot pursuit and in turning the corner of the house ran against the early morning prowler. He proved to be none other than the identical McElfatrick before referred to. Mayor Zollinger collared him and took him to the calaboose but not having a key with him he was unable to incarcerate his prisoner, consequently he liberated him although it is the intention to make a re-arrest this afternoon. It was the evident purpose of whoever kindled the blaze to burn property, as the box in which the fire was started had been removed from where it had been left standing the evening previous.
1053 1
FORT WAYNE DAILY SENTINEL Saturday 09/18/1880 Page 4, Col. 4.
SMALL BLAZE.
This afternoon about 2:15 an alarm of fire was sent in from box 14, corner of Ewing and Water streets. The department responded promptly. The fire was found to be located in the frame structure near the Ash factory. The building is occupied by several families. How the fire originated is unknown, but it was extinguished before any damage was done.
FORT WAYNE DAILY SENTINEL Monday 09/20/1880 Page 1, Col. 4.
A BIG BLAZE.
THE INTERIOR OF ECKERT'S PORK PACKING
ESTABLISHMENT BADLY DAMAGED BY FIRE.
Shortly before two o'clock yesterday afternoon an alarm was sent in occasioned by the breaking out of a fire in the smoking apartment of Eckart's pork packing establishment on Calhoun street. In less than no time the department was on the spot and making strenuous efforts to check the progress of the flames. Had it not been for the skill and exertion of the fire laddies there is no telling what dire results might have followed, as the location of the fire was in the very center of the business portion of the city, add the surrounding buildings were filled with oil and other combustibles. The fire, however, was soon got under control and was then easily extinguished. An investigation showed that the frame work of the interior of the building was badly damaged and the upper portion of the building so badly burned and charred as to necessitate a new roof. A large amount of meat was also rendered useless. Mr. Eckart estimates his loss at about $2000, which is fully insured in the city companies.
1054
FORT WAYNE DAILY SENTINEL Thursday 10/07/1880 Page 1, Col. 4.
THE FIRE FIEND.
This forenoon at 11:05 an alarm of fire was sent in from box 25, corner of Lewis and Hanna streets, and the department responded with its usual promptness. The fire was found to be located in a summer kitchen attached to a house at 87 Holman street, and was extinguished with but little trouble, and without any material damage.
PAPER UNKNOWN
10/10/1880
* A wagon loaded with fireworks explodes on West Berry street while the men were distributing them along the line of march for a big parade for the republican ratification rally. Injured were Alex Butler, James McLean and Henry Mensch.
FORT WAYNE DAILY SENTINEL Tuesday 10/19/1880
Page 4, Col. 2.
A defective flue in the residence corner of Calhoun and Water streets caused an alarm of fire to be turned in from box 5 about 11:30 o'clock this forenoon, which was promptly answered by the department. There was much excitement, but little flame, and small amount of water averted the danger. The house is owned by Henry Sharp, and occupied by his son John. Damage slight.
1055
FORT WAYNE DAILY SENTINEL Thursday 11/04/1880 Page 4, Col. 2.
An alarm of fire was sounded last evening between 7 and 8 o'clock, and another at about 6 o'clock this morning. The fire brigade and engines turned out on both occasions and rendered the services required. The cause of each alarm was the rekindling of the fire which, on Monday night, consumed the Bloomingdale brewery. This morning the firemen had a hard time of it, being kept at work from about 6 till 10 o'clock, playing upon a pile of burning sawdust. This is getting rather monotonous.
FORT WAYNE DAILY SENTINEL Friday 11/05/1880 Page 4, Col. 2.
The insurance companies that will have to stand the loss, to the amounts named, by the destructive fire of last Monday night are: Rhode Island insurance association, three policies of $595, $735 and $2,500 respectively; Hamburg Magdelburg, $1,500; Lancashire, three policies, $2,000, $2,000 and $1,590; Underwriters association, $4,000; total insurance, $14,920. The loss to Messrs. Rankert and Lutz will be over $20,000.
It has been ascertained, as the result of a careful and systematic investigation, that the fire which destroyed the Bloomingdale brewery, was the result of an incendiary. Several hogs heads had been filled with kerosene oil, and fired. A bucket, used at the brewery, was found half full of the combustible liquid. A pair of pants, saturated with oil, but which were not burned, may possibly lead to the discovery of the guilty wretch.
Mr. Gustav Lutz offers $100 reward for the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who set fire to the Bloomingdale brewery.
1056
FORT WAYNE DAILY SENTINEL Monday 11/15/1880
Page 4, Col. 2.
A small fire occurred on Water street, yesterday morning, shortly after midnight, and caused the destruction of a frame shed owned by Mr. Charles McCulloch and rented by Mr. W. S. Humphries. About one hundred dollars worth of wood owned by the latter was also consumed. The firemen did good work, and confined the flames to as narrow limits as possible. The origin of the fire is unknown. The barn was insured.
FORT WAYNE DAILY SENTINEL Tuesday 11/23/1880 Page 1, Col. 5.
An alarm of fire, sounded shortly before 3 o'clock, this afternoon, was caused by a small blaze at Hood's meat store, No. 100 Barr street. The brigade, with all their paraphernalis, turned out, but the engines were not brought into requisition.
FORT WAYNE DAILY SENTINEL Saturday 11/27/1880
Page 1, Col. 5.
A $2,000 fire occurred in the oil house of the Wabash road at 4:30 this morning, caused by setting a can of oil on the stove and allowing it to remain until the bottom melted out, causing the oil to run over the stove. The fire department was called out, but a few buckets full of water extinguished it.
1057
FORT WAYNE DAILY SENTINEL Tuesday 11/30/1880
Page 4, Col. 2.
The alarm of fire at noon to-day was caused by the men operating the telegraph wires.
The fire department boys sigh for a new spring wagon or something of that kind so they can exercise their horses.
There was an almost continual ringing of the fire bell yesterday, caused by the carelessness of the men who are putting up new wires in the city. Something should be done to prevent a recurrence of a similar transaction.
FORT WAYNE DAILY SENTINEL Wednesday 12/08/1880 Page 4, Col. 3.
A SMALL BLAZE.
At noon to-day, as every one was hurrying home to dinner, Chief Vogel dashed madly up Berry street to the engine house and soon the hoarse notes of the bell fell upon the ears of all striking No. 52, and an engine, hose cart and the hook and ladder truck came tearing out of the building at a fearful rate of speed. In answer to the question as to the whereabouts of the fire, a Sentinel reporter was informed that C. L. Centliver's brewery was in flames and as the news spread great crowds of people hurried out Spy Run avenue to witness the conflagration, Chief Vogel was notified from the brewery by telephone that there was a fire and, as before stated took part of the department and went out to find a small establishment used as a place to bottle beer in flames and the workmen of the brewery pouring water on it from buckets. In a few moments the firemen had a stream of water on the building and soon succeeded in putting a stop to the fire. The building took fire from the stove and as all the men were engaged in cutting ice gained considerable headway before it attracted their attention. There was but slight damage to either the building or contents - $150 will probably cover it all. The fire department is deserving of the highest praise for their prompt action in this matter, as the brewery is outside of the city limits and does not properly come under the protection of the department, and probably saved the entire brewery property from the flames as the buildings are all frame and would not have been hard to fire.
1058
FORT WAYNE DAILY SENTINEL Thursday 12/23/1880 Page 4, Col. 5.
Chief Engineer Vogel this afternoon made a formal test of the water works by tapping a fire plug at the corner of the second ward engine house and attaching a section of hose with an inch and a quarter nozzle to it. With only a pressure of twenty pounds at the plug a stream of water was thrown some thirty-five or forty feet high. Another section of hose was attached and both threw water about the same height, no difference being preceptible after attaching the second piece of hose. Only one engine was used at the water works house and the pressure there was only twenty five pounds. Chief Vogel stated that with a pressure of 150 pounds he could throw a stream of water over the dome of the court house.
PAPER UNKNOWN
01/30/1881
* Lawless citizens are obtaining their water supply from the fire department cisterns, which are filled from the canal at a great expense.
FORT WAYNE DAILY GAZETTE Tuesday 02/08/1881 Page 4, Col. 2 & 3.
A BIG BLAZE AT MONROEVILLE.
Chief Vogel of the fire department yesterday morning received a telegram for assistance from Monroeville where a fire broke out at 7 o'clock in a large three story frame building on the main street, owned by Samuel Poole and occupied by him on the first floor as a grocery store. The second floor was occupied for an office, a millinery store and a shoe-shop, while a masonic lodge room was in the third story. The fire department of Monroeville is naturally not adapted to the exigencies of a large fire but did the best they could and succeeded in throwing some water. However the building burned to the ground, with most of its contents. The loss will be $5,000 on building with no insurance and the loss to stock, on which there is some insurance, is about $2,500. The fire originated, it is said, from a defective flue. Mr. Poole is well known and liked in this city and will have a great deal of sympathy in his misfortune.
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