USA > Indiana > Allen County > Fort Wayne > History of the Fort Wayne Fire Department : extracts from Fort Wayne, Indiana, newspapers > Part 21
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The cortege formed in the following order: The marshals, the band, the police battalion, the pallbearers, the fire department, the city council and city officials; the hearse and the sorrowing relatives and friends in conveyances.
The band played a beautiful dirge, and led the line of march west on Berry street to Griffith, south on Griffith to Washington, west on Washington to the St. John's Lutheran church.
The casket was reverently borne into the church and placed before the alter, the solemn strains of Lambillotte's funeral march sounded from the organ. The alter and lectern were appropriately draped and the casket was covered with lovely wreaths and crosses composed of perfumed exotics.
The pastor of the church, the Rev. Kucher, conducted the services according to the beautiful ritual of the Lutheran religion. He preached a most eloquent sermon, and spoke feelingly of the sudden demise of the young man, and of his many sterling virtues.
After the sermon, the procession formed again, and escorted the remains to the city limits. The interment was in the cemetery of the church, some miles from town, and was completed at 4 p.m.
The length and demeanor of the concourse that attended the dead fireman, testified to his worth and popularity.
FORT WAYNE DAILY SENTINEL Friday 09/26/1884 Page 1, Col. 6.
The funeral of George Thieme occurred this afternoon and was the largest held in this city for years. The fire department, city officers, members of the council, the marshals and police were in the cortege, besides hundreds of carriages. The city band led the solemn procession.
1185
FORT WAYNE SENTINEL Saturday 10/11/1884
Page 3, Col. 5.
The new second story floor of the engine house has been so arranged that the firemen can slide down poles through circular opening. This is Chicago style and quite a good scheme for the sleepers.
FORT WAYNE SENTINEL Monday 10/20/1884
Page 3, Col. 4.
This morning a small blaze started in the residence of County Recorder Heller on Spy Run avenue. The Alert Hook & Ladder Truck was run to the house and in a short time the fire was extinguished. The damage was slight.
FORT WAYNE SENTINEL Saturday 10/27/1884
Page 3, Col. 3.
About 2 o'clock this morning a fire broke out in a barn, belonging to Mrs. John Hough, on Nelson street. The frame was damaged to the extent of $50. As usual the department was on deck to do effective work.
FORT WAYNE SENTINEL Thursday
10/30/1884
Page 3, Col. 2.
The Peters Box & Lumber Company has furnished the sleeping rooms on the second floor of the engine house.
1186
FORT WAYNE SENTINEL Friday 11/14/1884
Page 3, Col. 3.
The brass sliding poles were put in the engine house yesterday by A. Hattersley & Sons. At the first tap of the bell the firemen can slip down the poles from their cots on the second floor and hustle to their places. The improvement is metropolitan and will hasten things at the engine house.
FORT WAYNE SENTINEL Tuesday 11/18/1884
Page 3, Col. 2.
About 8 o'clock last night the fire department was called to Irishtown to smother a blazing chimney. At 2 o'clock another alarm called the firemen to the residence of D. A. Woodworth, on West Berry street, where an out house was in flames. The loss was slight.
page 3, col. 4.
Messrs. John Cochrane and D. A. Woodworth desire, through the Sentinel, to thank the family of Hon. Wm. Fleming, the police and firemen for their prompt action in quenching the flames on Mr. Woodworth's property last night.
All the unmarried firemen and minute men now sleep in the second floor of the engine house. A dozen neat cots arranged up there and the boys can readily slip down the brass poles. A bath room and clothes' closets are also arranged for the fire boys.
FORT WAYNE SENTINEL Thursday 11/20/1884
Page 3, Col. 2.
Henry Saunders, the driver of the Alert Hook & Ladder truck, suffers from an injury inflicted by an unwieldy pickaxe.
1187
FORT WAYNE SENTINEL Friday 11/28/1884
Page 3, Col. 2.
At 3:30 yesterday morning a fire broke out in Knecht's floral hot house in the east end and before the firemen reached the spot the north end of the conservatory was in flames and the shrubbery and plants enclosed were scorched to a crisp. The celebrated rubber tree, the property of Hon. F. P. Randall, was destroyed, as was also the lemon tree belonging to the same gentleman. Other valuable plants were burned and a considerable loss entailed.
FORT WAYNE SENTINEL Monday 12/01/1884
Page 3, Col. 2 & 3.
About 8 o'clock Saturday night a fire broke out in the harness shop owned by Casper Neirieter, at No. 86 East Main street. Police Officer Quinn hurried to the engine house and turned in the alarm, but the flames damaged the building and stock to the extent of $300 before the firemen did effective work. The property is owned by Mrs. George Link and her loss, with that of Mr. Neirieter, is fully covered by insurance. The origin of the fire was incendiary.
The city fire and street department employes were paid to-day. It is quite satisfactory to see these men get their money orders from City Clerk Rockhill and have City Treasurer Berghoff cash them dollar for dollar. This is one of the beauties of operating Fort Wayne on a cash basis.
FORT WAYNE SENTINEL Tuesday
12/02/1884
Page 3, Col. 2.
Early yesterday morning the new frame house of William Shaughnessy, two miles north of Monroeville, took fire from some unexplained cause and was entirely consumed. There was no insurance on the property, and besides losing his new and complete dwelling, Mr. Shaughnessy losses all his provisions, which he had stored within. The loss will not fall short of $1,000.
1188
FORT WAYNE SENTINEL Friday 12/26/1884
Page 3, Col. 2.
The fire department boys were out riding yesterday behind the handsome grey horses. A bus sleigh held the jolly party.
FORT WAYNE SENTINEL Monday 12/29/1884 Page 3, Col. 3.
A woodshed on the property of Charles Tresselt burned early Sunday morning. The loss is but $25.
One of the small boilers attached to the fire engines exploded this morning. The receptacle was wet and while being warmed the chemicals it held exploded and shattered a few panes of glass. A great crowd gathered about the engine house.
FORT WAYNE DAILY GAZETTE Friday 01/23/1885
Page 6, Col. 3.
Yesterday morning, the fire department had a run to No. 372 South Calhoun street, occupied by Zoellar & Merz, as a grocery store. The establishment caught fire from a defective flue, and it was on fire several times before. The flames were confined principally to an addition built in the rear. The fire caught in a little attic, between the first story ceiling and the roof, and did very considerable damage, the loss being $200, fully covered by insurance.
1189
FORT WAYNE DAILY GAZETTE Thursday 01/29/1885
Page 6, Col. 3.
The house occupied by John Orff, at No. 171 West Washington street, owned by C. W. Young, caught fire yesterday. The building is a one and a half story frame cottage, and the fire caught from the flue in the second story. The damage was not great, although the carpets and some of the furniture were considerably injured. The building is insured.
FORT WAYNE DAILY GAZETTE Monday 02/02/1885
Page 6, Col. 3.
Yesterday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock, the Anthony Wayne engine had a run to the corner of Webster and Grand streets. A chimney burned out with no damage to speak of. Mike Conners and Florence Boerger held the ribbons over four horses. Better drivers do not exist.
FORT WAYNE DAILY GAZETTE Saturday
02/07/1885 Page 6, Col. 5.
A FIRE.
Last night, about 7 o'clock, an alarm from box 12, called the department to No. 151 High street. The one story frame dwelling, occupied by Frank Sordelet, caught fire from a defective flue. Some $200 damage was occasioned. The house was partially destroyed and considerable damage done to furniture. The dwelling is owned by William Pape and fully insured. The fire was difficult to control but the boys got in their work as efficiently as usual.
1190
FORT WAYNE DAILY GAZETTE Monday 02/09/1885
Page 6, Col. 4.
TWO FIRES.
Yesterday, the fire department had two runs. Box sixteen was sounded. The first fire was at Markey & Mungovan's bakery on Calhoun street. The loss was but $100 and fully insured.
At 237 Calhoun street, the second conflagration occurred. The building is owned by Mrs. Franz and the damage was slight, about $5. Chief Hilbrecht says: The fire boys came royally to the front and made things hum in the vicinity. The fire department of Fort Wayne is as efficient as any municipal organization.
FORT WAYNE DAILY GAZETTE Wednesday 02/11/1885
Page 6, Col. 3.
An alarm of fire turned in from box 52, at 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon, called the department to the residence of M. L. Barbour, at No. 30 East Berry street. A couple of barrels in the basement containing hot ashes, scorched the upper floor, and that was all.
FORT WAYNE DAILY GAZETTE Tuesday
02/17/1885
Page 5, Col. 2.
John Schrader, the popular fireman, returned yesterday, from the World's Fair at New Orleans. While in the Cresent City he was looked after by the leading fire boys there and entertained.
1191
FORT WAYNE DAILY GAZETTE Saturday 02/21/1885
Page 6, Col. 4.
A SUBURBAN BLAZE.
H. W. LOVELAND'S FINE $4,000 RESIDENCE BURNED TO THE GROUND AT A TOTAL LOSS.
Yesterday morning, about 9 o'clock the residence of Hezekiah W. Loveland one half mile west of New Haven burned to the ground. The fire originated in an upper room from a defective flue. The farm house is one of the finest in Allen County and was erected at a cost of $4,000. In a bureau drawer was $80 in money which was destroyed with the entire furniture and fittings of Mr. Loveland's home. The loss is fully covered by insurance.
Mr. Loveland is well-known in Fort Wayne as a purveyor of watermelons during the season of that luscious fruit. His daughter is Mrs. Rine Caps.
FORT WAYNE DAILY GAZETTE Monday 02/23/1885 Page 6, Col. 3.
A BLAZE.
Last evening, at seven o'clock the fire department was called to the corner of Harrison and Berry streets. The house of Michael Baltes was on fire. The ignition occurred in a closet in a front room on the second floor occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Baltes as a sleeping apartment. How it originated is a mystery as there is no stove in the room or chimney leading therefrom. The department were promptly on deck and very quickly extinguished the flames, throwing little water and making only the necessary havoc with their axes. The loss will be about $50. Mr. Baltes is insured.
FORT WAYNE DAILY GAZETTE Wednesday
02/25/1885
Page 6, Col. 4.
THE COUNCIL.
The fire committee reported in favor of establishing eight new fire alarm boxes at the following street corners: Columbia and Barr streets, Columbia and Harrison, Washington and Barr, Berry and Clay, Wayne and Webster, Creighton avenue and Hanna, Calhoun and Williams, Broadway and Wilt.
1192 -
FORT WAYNE DAILY GAZETTE Monday 03/09/1885 Page 6, Col. 5.
A BLAZE.
Last night at 8 o'clock, the fire bell rang and there were two alarms sent in from boxes 24 and 27. The firemen made a quick run to Comparet street, and extinguished the flames, which were devouring the barn and shed belonging to Julius Tonne. A valuable cow was taken out of the blazing barn and escaped with a mere singeing. The entire loss amounts to $250, so we are informed by Chief Hilbrecht.
PAPER UNKNOWN
03/09/1885
* A frame barn back of the Hedekin House burned. Old Landmark. Built in 1855 was destroyed by fire. The barn belonged to Weil Brothers.
FORT WAYNE DAILY GAZETTE Tuesday 03/10/1885 Page 6, Col. 2.
A small fire occurred at White's Wheel Works last night. A wheelbarrow caught fire in some way and a lot of hoops ignited. The loss was trifling and the fire department were not summoned.
FORT WAYNE DAILY GAZETTE Wednesday
03/11/1885
Page 6, Col. 2.
At about 7:30 yesterday morning an alarm was turned in from box 5-2, to which the department responded with its usual alacrity. It was found that the east wing of the old Mayer house was in flames, and before the fire could be subdued about $500 damage was done. It is supposed the blaze originated from a defective flue.
1193
FORT WAYNE DAILY GAZETTE Thursday 03/12/1885
Page 6, Col. 3.
Last evening an alarm from box 52 called the department to the east end, where a frame barn belonging to Oscar Simons burned, at a loss of about $75. The firemen very promptly arrived and accomplished excellent service. The barn was located near the soap factory along the line of the Nickel Plate. Little water was thrown, but the hook and ladder boys got in their fine work. Chief Hilbrecht was on the scene and did himself great credit.
FORT WAYNE DAILY GAZETTE Friday 03/13/1885
Page 6, Col. 2.
A barn belonging to Oscar A. Simons, located on Glasgow avenue, burned Wednesday night. The building was totally consumed. Mr. Simons' loss will not exceed $100.
FORT WAYNE DAILY GAZETTE Saturday
03/14/1885
Page 6, Col. 3.
Florence Boerger, the popular fireman and driver of the engine "Franklin P. Randall" resigned his position last night to accept one as fireman on the Pittsburg. Florence was one of the best firemen on the city force and the Gazette regrets to learn of his retirement.
1194
FORT WAYNE DAILY GAZETTE Sunday 03/15/1885
Page 8, Col. 2.
There was no fire at the Mayer House yesterday. The department made a run, but it appears a "smart aleck" had turned in an alarm when he saw a cloud of black smoke ascending from the Sentinel's chimney.
FORT WAYNE DAILY GAZETTE Tuesday 03/17/1885
Page 6, Col. 3.
Yesterday evening the fire committee appointed Jim Klinger as driver in place of Florence Boerger, resigned. Mr. Klinger has been employed by Powers & Barnett for years and can handle the ribbons like a jockey.
FORT WAYNE DAILY GAZETTE Friday
03/20/1885 Page 6, Col. 3.
J. A. Allen, of New York, who has been drafting a fire map of Fort Wayne, will finish his labors Tuesday. Mr. Allen is a very clever gentleman and has made many friends during his stay in Fort Wayne.
1195
FORT WAYNE DAILY GAZETTE Monday 03/23/1885
Page 6, Col. 6.
ROAST BEEF.
A BARN BURNED WITH THREE VALUABLE COWS AND A HORSE.
Yesterday morning, the barn of John Walker, of Madison township, caught fire it is thought from fire dropped from the pipe of a hired man. The barn was a fine one costing over $1,000 and was totally destroyed.
Mr. Walker had just bought three Jersey cows worth $300 a piece and a $200 horse. The animal were burned so badly that they had to be shot and relieved of their misery. The family were at church and on their return the barn was a charred ruin. Mr. Walker came to town last evening and reported his loss to the insurance agency. His loss is only partially covered by the underwriters. Only a year ago Mr. Walker's barn burned.
FORT WAYNE DAILY GAZETTE Sunday 03/29/1885 Page 5, Col. 5.
THROUGH FIRE.
AN OLD MAN NAMED EIX ATTEMPTS TO GO TO THE UPPER OR
LOWER REGIONS IN A BLAZE OF GLORY -HE ATTEMPTS TO CREMATE HIMSELF AT THE HORSESHOE RESTAURANT.
Yesterday afternoon there was a sensation in the neighborhood of Barr street. For a couple of days a countryman by the name of Eix has been stopping at the "Horseshoe" boarding house. The old man is known to the police, and occasionally bowls up heavily. Yesterday he went to his room, sat down on the floor and placed a bundle of kindling wood and a lot of newspapers about him, setting fire to the inflammable mass. The smell of smoke smote the nostrils of the proprietor, who, with a servant, rushed up in time to save Eix from a scorching, which might have been more painful than a dose of brimstone in the hot locality popularly known as Hades. Eix was taken down stairs, and beyond a few slight burns and a gash on the hand, was in shape. He had been hitting the bottle and thought he had a call to cremate himself.
1196
FORT WAYNE DAILY GAZETTE Tuesday 04/07/1885 Page 8, Col. 5.
COMBUSTION.
FLAMES TEAR THE RAMSHACKLE OLD MAYER HOUSE TO PIECES AN OLD "LANDMARK" WHICH IS NEARLY WIPED OUT, AND OUGHT TO BE.
Yesterday morning at 4:30 o'clock after the Gazette was on the press, an alarm of fire called the vigilant fire department to the extreme west end of Berry street, where the brick barn of Hon. Wm. Fleming was discovered on fire. The roof was destroyed and other damage done, and about $200 will fix things. The insurance is $1,000, and A. H. Carrier carries it.
While Mr. Fleming's barn was wrapped in a few flames another alarm was sent in, and the Mayer house was discovered undergoing its third baptism of fire. The Mayer house has now been attacked by the very warm element three times, and it is a dead sure case of incendiarism. Nasty rumors were about the streets yesterday, but we prefer to wait before giving them credence. It is however, plain that coal oil was strewn about the house lately repaired and to have been completed this week as a European hotel and restaurant . We remember a mysterious person who hung about the house, and who dined with the guests. One morning a Gazette reporter saw the fellow in a silk lined dressing gown and patent leather slippers making a feint to mop the wash-room floor. The reporter asked who the dudish person was and was told that it was a yardman. After the second fire this young man remained, but hasn't lately been seen. He is alleged to have been a college graduate in hard luck from Chicago.
The hotel is a wreck and can not be rebuilt. The firemen should have put the hook and ladder truck to sharp work and leveled the old "landmark." It was no good to anyone and has not been for some years.
Mr. G. J. E. Mayer and wife have been absent, but were telegraphed yesterday to return at once, and will be here to-day. We condole with Mr. Mayer, who is a first-class boniface and has had much trouble of late.
Last week $8,500 insurance was placed on the property by Mr. D. C. Fisher, at request of Mr. C. H. Nix's agent, Mr. Mayor, in the following companies: American, of Newark, Pa .; Fire; Transatlantic, of Germany; Insurance Co. of North America; Queen of London; each $1,000; Washington, of Boston; Guardian, of London; $500 each. All the above was on the building which with the lot was owned by G. H. Nix, the Chicago capitalist. Mrs. G. J. E. Mayer owned the furniture and fixtures and her loss is covered by $2,500 thus distributed: Germania, New York, $1,000; Trans-Atlantic of Germany, $750; British American, $750. J. E. Graham carried four of the above companies; F. P. Randall, two; and A. H. Carrier and D. C. Fisher one each. They inform us that adjusters will be here to-day in response to telegrams.
1197
FORT WAYNE DAILY GAZETTE Thursday 04/16/1885
Page 6, Col. 4.
THE FIRE LIMITS.
THEY SHOULD BE AT ONCE EXTENDED -FIRE TRAPS GOING UP IN ALL PARTS OF THE IMMEDIATE SUBURBS OF FORT WAYNE.
The council should at once take measurers to extend the fire limits. All over the crowded portions of the city outside the present defined fire limits, there are arising frame timber boxes which could be set ablaze by a cigar stump carelessly thrown. Someday there will be a tremendous conflagration and property to the amount of thousands of dollars will go up in smoke. Many of these fire traps are located near to stately brick residences and valuable business blocks.
John T. Downey, esq., general agent of the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, with headquarters in this city, is yet a member of the common council of Indianapolis. The following ordinance introduced by him is yet in vogue, and a similar one might most advantageously be adopted in Fort Wayne. It reads:
An ordinance making it unlawful to erect wooden buildings within certain limits in the city of Indianapolis, regulating certain matters pertaining thereto, and repealing all ordinances in conflict herewith.
Section 1. Be it ordained by the common council and board of aldermen of the city of Indianapolis. That it shall be unlawful for any person to erect or cause to be erected within the limits of Vermont, Noble, South and West streets, in the city of Indianapolis, any building, the outer walls of which shall be composed of wood. It shall likewise be unlawful for any person to alter, repair or rebuild any frame or wooden building within said limits, the estimated cost of which shall be three hundred dollars or more, or make any addition to any building already erected in said limits, unless all of the exposed parts of said structure shall be composed of brick stone or iron: Provided, That the foregoing provision shall not apply to privies less than ten feet high. And provided further, that if the written consent of the chief fire engineer and members of the board of public improvements shall be given to any one to erect, repair, rebuild, or add to any such building, with material compose of wood, outside of Ohio, East Georgia and Missouri streets, and within the boundaries aforesaid, the provisions aforesaid shall not apply; and unless such written consent is exhibited and turned over to the city clerk, said officer shall not, in any case, issue any permit to erect, repair, rebuild or add to any such wooden building within the limits first above set out.
Any one violating any provision in this section shall be fined in any sum not exceeding one hundred dollars; and each day any one shall work or direct or cause work to be done on any such wooden building, in violation of the foregoing provisions, shall constitute a separate offense. And any building erected in violation of the foregoing provisions shall be condemned by the mayor on complaint of any citizen, and in the order of condemnation the mayor shall direct the same to be torn down by the street commissioner, and the costs thereof to be collected from the owner thereof.
1198
FORT WAYNE DAILY GAZETTE Friday 04/17/1885
Page 6, Col. 1.
Charley Thieme, of the fire department, will soon wed a charming lady of East Berry street.
FORT WAYNE DAILY GAZETTE Monday 05/04/1885
Page 6, Col. 3.
Yesterday afternoon, at 1 o'clock, an alarm from box 16, called the fire department to a frame oil shed belonging to the Wabash company, east of the depot. The roof caught fire from an engine spark, but the blaze was easily extinguished, at a loss of five dollars.
PAPER UNKNOWN
05/06/1885
* The remaining walls of the old Mayer House, Wayne and Calhoun street were leveled to the ground by the fire department.
1199 ยท t
FORT WAYNE DAILY GAZETTE Saturday 05/10/1885 Page 8, Col. 3 & 5.
A FIRE TRAP.
THE FRAME BUILDING ON WEST MAIN STREET, OCCUPIED BY THORWARD, THE FRUIT MAN, NEARLY DESTROYED BY FLAMES.
Last night at 12 o'clock the firemen had a call to the frame building next the Custer House, on West Main street. A blaze broke out suddenly in this fire trap, and but for the good work of the firemen the blaze would not have been confined and extinguished. Theodore Thorward was the occupant of the portion below stairs and ran the "Annex Fruit house." The entire stock of tropical fruits and peanuts carried by him was so well roasted as to be worthless. The loss to Mr. Thorward can not at this writing be accurately estimated.
On the second floor of the shanty a young man named Henry Piepenbrink had a small job printing office. His stuff too, was well melted and there will be no type-juggling thereabouts for many a day. The place should, like the Mayer house, be hauled down at once. There is no insurance.
Chief Hilbrecht informed us later that the loss will amount to about $300. The building is owned by Robert Stratton, esq.
A BLAZE AT BUTLER.
On Friday night a considerable fire occurred at Butler, our neighboring village about twenty miles from the city. The conflagration started about 10 o'clock in Tyson's butcher shop, which was consumed by the fiery elements with all its contents. Millinery, grocery, hardware stores adjoining were also destroyed. The loss was heavy and the insurance is only partial. At Butler they have no fire engine and had to rely on buckets and a hard rain storm which providentially arose, to save the entire business portion of Main street
FORT WAYNE DAILY GAZETTE Tuesday 05/12/1885 Page 6, Col. 2.
Yesterday, Jones the photographer, burned some straw in his store. Owing to a defective chimney the smoke instead of going into the open air went down the flue and into the Hamilton bank which was the occasion of an alarm to the fire department. Happily no water was thrown and when doors and windows were thrown open the place was quickly purified. A big crowd gathered including the Gazette man who expected to rescue a few $1,000 bills from the devouring element.
1200
FORT WAYNE DAILY GAZETTE Sunday 05/24/1885 Page 8, Col. 4.
A $200 BLAZE.
Last evening about 11 o'clock the old slaughtering house formerly occupied by A. Wolf, located near Eckart's packing house burned. No alarm was sent in and Chief Hilbrecht, who perceived the lurid glow on the horizon sent a hose cart in that direction. The shed, for that is about all it is, was totally destroyed. Whether Mr. Wolf had any insurance we are not informed. The fire is supposed to have been incendiary as a gang of tramps camp out in the vicinity and light their fires in the vicinity of the burned building and other packing houses.
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