USA > Indiana > Allen County > Fort Wayne > History of the Fort Wayne Fire Department : extracts from Fort Wayne, Indiana, newspapers > Part 22
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FORT WAYNE DAILY GAZETTE Thursday 05/28/1885 Page 5, Col. 2.
A $200 BLAZE.
Last evening fire was discovered in the office of Dr. Causland in the rear of W. L. Moellering's drug store, on the corner of Lewis and Lafayette streets.
The room was easy of access and the flames were quickly subdued by several buckets of water without necessitating a call of the fire department. The doctor lost some $200 worth of surgical instrument and his costly reclining chair.
FORT WAYNE DAILY GAZETTE Wednesday 06/03/1885 Page 6, Col. 4.
A STIFF BLAZE.
L. O. HULL'S STOCK OF WALL PAPERS CONSIDERABLY DAMAGED BY A GAS EXPLOSION IN THE CELLAR.
Yesterday afternoon at 4:30 o'clock the fire department were summoned by an alarm from box 52 to 88 Calhoun street, Mr. L. O. Hull's wallpaper and decorating establishment. It appears that one of Mr. Hull's employes went down cellar and lit a gas burner. The gas had leaked and there was a flash and an explosion, resulting in a blaze of good proportions. The stock of wall paper, etc., was damaged to about the sum of $1,000, so far as can be estimated at present. The damage to the building was slight, the dense smoke and the two streams of water doing the principal damage. The loss is covered by insurance.
Fifteen years ago there was a similar explosion of gas in the cellar of this building and Fred Helzeman (Hilsman), a fireman, lost his life, and Ferd. F. Boltz, John Downey and others then members of the department, were injured.
1201
FORT WAYNE DAILY GAZETTE Friday 06/05/1885 Page 6, Col. 5.
THE FIRE KING
SWOOPS DOWN UPON RANKE & YERGENS' STAVE & HEADING FACTORY THE LOSS $10,000, COVERED BY $3,200 INSURANCE - A GALLANT FIGHT
BY HILBRECHT'S STURDY LADDIES.
Last night, at 11:30 o'clock, a prolonged whistle extending into a very scream of steam, from the engine room of Ranke & Yergen's stave and heading factory, corner of Griffith and Superior streets, caused the department to make one of the best runs on record, there. When the place was reached it was found that the man who acts as watchman and fireman, named William Dickmeyer, had been unable to call the department, as the fire alarm box near by was in bad repair.
When Hilbrecht and his entire force arrived the main building was wrapped in flames, and the glare illuminated nearly the whole city. Three streams were put on, but owing to the unavoidable delay in sending the alarm, some $10,000 worth of property, including the firm's large building, a frame structure of two stories, was destroyed totally. The hook and ladder force tore away the debris and threw out about a ton of headings, all by hand. The water was drawn out of the boilers quickly and the fire in the furnaces extinguished.
This terrible conflagration was started by a spark from the furnace igniting a pile of dry shavings thrown down when the factory closed in order to light the fires for this (Friday's) work, which is postponed sine die.
A Gazette reporter was promptly on the spot and viewed the smouldering ruins. Chief Hilbrecht was on deck directing his men who saved some $10,000 worth of lumber by efforts nothing less than herculean. Messrs. Wm. Ranke and Wm. Yergens the owners, were viewing their loss with blanched faces and said that the exact amount of insurance was $32,000, the policies all placed in the companies represented by Sidney C. Lumbard. This firm started nineteen years ago, January 5, of this year. They will at once rebuild.
Sixty-three men are thrown out of employment by the destruction of the factory, machinery, etc. Not until 4 o'clock this morning did the firemen leave the spot.
1202
FORT WAYNE DAILY GAZETTE Saturday 06/20/1885
Page 6, Col. 3.
A FIRE AT LAGRO.
A $15,000 BLAZE AT A SUBURB OF FORT WAYNE.
At 1 o'clock yesterday morning a telephone message was received from LaGro, 20 miles east, asking for aid, and saying, "The town is burning up." The Wabash fire department hurried to the scene. The fire was confined to the large furniture factory and lumber yards of H. McNown & Son. Had there been any wind stirring the town would have been swept. The fire was first discovered near the boiler-house, and nothing could be done by the terrified inhabitants to check the progress of the flames. Women and children assisted in carrying water from the river. The town is without fire protection of any kind. The building burned was fifty by sixty feet; a frame with a wing. Eighty thousand feet of lumber was also destroyed. The loss is $15,000, with an insurance of $3,000. The cause of the fire is not known. The Wabash fire department saved the town from destruction.
FORT WAYNE DAILY GAZETTE Tuesday 06/30/1885 Page 6, Col. 2.
Chief Hilbrecht has thoroughly reorganized the fire alarm system and thirty-seven alarm boxes now hang about the city. The boxes are admirably arranged and in districts most liable to fire.
1
FORT WAYNE DAILY GAZETTE Friday 07/03/1885 Page 6, Col. 2.
Andy Thieme, of the fire department, will soon lead to the hymenial altar Miss. Annie, the eldest daughter of Hon. Henry Immel. The young couple have already furnished their apartments.
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FORT WAYNE DAILY GAZETTE Saturday 07/04/1885
Page 6, Col. 3.
Charlie Thieme, of the fire department, was heartily congratulated by his friends yesterday on his approaching marriage to Miss. Annie Immel.
FORT WAYNE DAILY GAZETTE Tuesday 07/07/1885 Page 6, Col. 4.
Miss. Annie, the charming daughter of Hon. Henry Immel, was married Sunday evening, to Charles F. W. Thieme, son of the Broadway grocer. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Kucher, of St. Johns Lutheran church in the presence of a large number of friends. The young couple have commenced housekeeping in the Immel block, on East Berry street.
FORT WAYNE DAILY GAZETTE Saturday 07/12/1885 Page 8, Col. 1.
Christ Royhans, of the fire department, will soon be married to a Bloomingdale belle.
FORT WAYNE DAILY GAZETTE Wednesday 07/29/1885 Page 6, Col. 4.
Chief Hilbrecht reported that swinging harness for all fire department horses would cost $200. Referred to the committee on fire department.
FORT WAYNE DAILY GAZETTE Friday 07/31/1885 Page 6, Col. 3.
Wednesday afternoon the barn and stabling on the farm of John Felger, about nine miles southeast of the city, in Marion township, caught fire through some unknown cause. By the united efforts of the neighbors the live stock was rescued, and the flames subdued at a late hour. The barn contained about 500 shocks of wheat and twenty tons of hay and several new agricultural implements, the whole being rendered useless.
1204
FORT WAYNE DAILY SENTINEL Saturday 08/01/1885
Page 4, Col. 3 & 4.
Joseph Fry, of the fire department, will have an operation performed on him at the St. Joe hospital to-day. He has ulcers on his breast, which will be lanced.
The fire engine house and police station were tastily draped in black to-day out of respect for the memory of General Grant.
FORT WAYNE DAILY SENTINEL Tuesday 08/04/1885 Page 4, Col. 4.
Next Sunday there will be a wrestling match between Chris Royhans and John Baker, of the fire department for $5 a side. Whether Greco-Roman or catch as catch can is not stated.
FORT WAYNE DAILY SENTINEL Tuesday 08/11/1885 Page 1, Col. 5.
A $1,000 BLAZE.
The fine stable on the farm of David Swank, in Pleasant township, burned last night with all its contents - 400 bushels of wheat, 100 bushels of corn, two horses and farming implements. His loss is $1,000.
FORT WAYNE DAILY SENTINEL Tuesday 08/11/1885 Page 4, Col. 2.
Charley Becker was given a handsome gold badge by the members of Hose company No. 3, of which the gallant fireman is foreman. Mr. Becker did the royal act to his friends.
1205
FORT WAYNE DAILY SENTINEL Wednesday 08/12/1885 Page 3, Col. 3.
CITY COUNCIL.
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON FIRE DEPARTMENT.
1. We have made contract with the Gamewell-Fire Alarm Telegraph company for a new bell striker, and sold the old bell striker to the same party for fifty dollars.
2. Adverse to the resolution of Councilman Michael for selling the Seventh ward engine house, we would recommend that the committee on public grounds and buildings have said building removed at once to the southwest corner of said lot.
3. In favor of having the chief of the fire department instructed to purchase the swinging harness for the fire department.
W. Doehrman, Peter J. Schied, Com. H. A. Read.
FORT WAYNE DAILY SENTINEL Monday 08/17/1885 Page 4, Col. 2.
There was a blaze at the home of Wm. Heinlein, No. 306 South Harrison street, yesterday morning. The fire department ran to the scene. The damage is but $15.
FORT WAYNE DAILY SENTINEL Wednesday 08/19/1885
Page 3, Col. 2.
The fire department ran to Bass street last night and saved from total destruction a barn owned by Mrs. Eliza Beegan. The loss will aggregate $100. It is covered by insurance.
1206
FORT WAYNE DAILY SENTINEL Thursday 08/20/1885
Page 1, Col. 5.
ACCIDENT AT A FIRE.
A blazing pile of shavings called the fire department to the St. Mary's Catholic church at noon. En route to the fire a hose cart collided with the hook and ladder truck. Asa Lewis was thrown from the truck and Driver Driebelbiss from the cart. No damage.
page 4, col. 4. DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.
KINSEY, THE NEW TOWN ON THE NICKEL PLATE ROAD, ALMOST DESTROYED.
From the few particulars received, says the Warsaw Times, it is learned that the new town of Kinsey, located in the southeastern part of Kosciusko county, on the Nickel Plate railroad, was almost destroyed by a fire Tuesday afternoon. The destruction, for a new town, was very great. A barn, the depot, several houses and about $800 worth of lumber, belonging to Ol Matthews, of Warsaw, were destroyed. The information in reference to the fire was very meager, but the above embraces all that has so far been learned.
FORT WAYNE DAILY SENTINEL Thursday 08/27/1885
Page 4, Col. 2 & 3.
There was a blaze in the house of Fred Barthold, at No. 80 Baker street, yesterday. A hole was burned in the roof of the building. The fire department responded, but did not use water.
The barn of a farmer, named Tapp, of St. Joe township, burned last night together with all its contents.
1207
FORT WAYNE DAILY SENTINEL Monday 09/07/1885 Page 4, Col. 4 & 5.
A FURIOUS FIRE.
IT THREATENS WHOLE BLOCKS FOR OVER AN HOUR.
THE IMMENSE WARE ROOMS OF S. BASH & CO. ENTIRELY DEVASTATED
GOSSIP AND INCIDENTS OF THE BIG BLAZE.
Just before 7 o'clock last evening the quiet was broken by the shrill tap of the fire bell, followed by the muffled alarm of the gong within, summoning the department to box 62, at the Robinson, corner Harrison and Columbia streets. The Sentinel representative stood in front of the engine house and followed the fire laddies to the ware house and grain elevator of S. Bash & Co., at Nos. 24 and 25 West Columbia street, where dense volumes of smoke issued from the front windows, the chimneys and sky lights of the building. In a few seconds and before the firemen could attach the hose to Lowry hydrants, a blaze shot from the upper story and made brilliant the heavens. Two streams of water were instantly directed into the windows and to the roof, but they seemed to only increase the fury of the angry flames. The smoke came out from every crevice, in dark, swift rolls, and with almost force enough to dash the water back into the faces of the firemen in the streets below. Nothing daunted by the progress of the flames, the department closed in on the fire and poured water onto the blazing timbers.
Then would the flames gather, smother for a while and shoot high into the air, carrying with them blazing cinders, which fell harmless near by, as no wind prevailed to waft them to destructive points. The fire was then steadily eating its way from the front store rooms to the elevator in the rear and it looked as though the immense grain receptacle was doomed. The west wall of the front room split into two parts from the roof to the foundation, about this time, and the fire shot in and out of this crevice with the swiftness of lightning. In the face of this threatening wall the firemen marched on it and sent a third stream to the south end of the elevator, the idea being to confine the destruction to the front part, which was divided from the elevator by a twelve-inch wall. Even this plan, well conceived and proper as it was, did not promise much good, for the fire had by this time obliterated the tin roof and the building could be likened unto a huge blast furnace, the severity of which three streams of water but increased. Thus ran the fire for about an hour and a half, but the boys never relaxed an effort. Three men ascended the grain elevator from the inside, although smoke issued from it and their exit was threatened by fire from below. Their business was to locate the seat of the fire in front and direct the water to it. Occasionally their scheme succeeded, but again the flames would leap out with renewed rage, licking the top timbers and threatening not only the elevator, but the oil mill, belonging to the same firm in a new building, just adjoining it. There was a mortal dread of that calamity, because the burning of the oil mill meant annihilation to the surrounding blocks. In the meantime the fire had exhausted its material and then alone did the water assert its supremacy, so that in an hour and three quarters after the alarm bell tapped, the fire was under control and the elevator and the oil mill were saved from total destruction. This did not end the work of the firemen, who all night long threw water on the smouldering ruins, which oft and on would blaze up afresh.
1208
The firm is styled S. Bash & Co., and is composed of Mr. Sol. Bash and his sons, Messrs. Charley S., Winfield S. and Willis Bash, and Peter Smyser. The house does the most extensive grain, seed and commission business in Northern Indiana and the fire last night will not retard their trade as the elevator was started this morning, its big furnace blazed and S. Bash & Co., are at the old stand to buy anything in their line. This is enterprise.
A tour of the burned double building this morning revealed the destructive work of the fire. Most of the heavy cross timbers were in ashes and the second and third floors were completely gutted. In the building was stored rags, wool, feathers, seed and various other articles and commodities. The fire began in the second floor of the west side and originated from spontaneous combustion, as that is the only way the owners can account for it.
Messrs. Bash & Co., have a force of men cleaning out the burned building. They now attribute the fire to spontaneous combustion; in fact employes assorting hides in the basement of the building yesterday did not know of the fire until water was directed on it. "We will rebuild," said Mr. Bash as soon as the insurance men adjust our loss, which we now estimate at something less than $30,000. "We cannot tell exactly, but the damage will not exceed the sum named."
Beside the stock of S. Bash & Co., Peter Certia and Fred C. Roltz had 380 bushels of Bohemian oats stored in the ware room. This grain they valued at $10 a bushels or $3,800 altogether. Bash & Co. are responsible for the storage according to the terms of their agreement, but whether the insurance adjusters will pay that sum is a question, although Mr. Certia remarked, "We were as sure as daylight to get $10 for every bushel we had."
There was an insurance of $25,500 on the burned wareroom, the elevator and the stock. But three days ago, $10,000 of this amount was placed on the building and the stock, as the firm anticipated storing large quantities of grain for the winter trade. The insurance rate is very high and the firm paid dearly for the risk. The insurance is all in the agency of S. C. Lumbard and is divided as follows: Liverpool, London and Globe, $8,000 on the building; Fire Association of Philadelphia, $3,000 on stock; Royal, of London, $4,000; London Lancashire, $3,000; North British and Mercantile, $2,000; Niagara, of New York, $2,000; Home, of New York, $2,000 and the German American, $1,500.
The site of the present ruined ware room is ill fated. About the years 1855 and 1856 John E. Hill and Alexander M. Arbison conducted a ware house on the same spot. In the years named the building caught fire and was burned to the ground. Mr. Arbison lives in Michigan and will read The Sentinel's account of the fire last night with much interest.
SPARKS.
Here's our Chief Hilbrecht.
Win Bash runs a horse collar manufactory next to the oil mill.
John Liechner, Harry Hammell and the keepers of other public houses in the vicinity did great business.
Five hundred people looked at the fire and not a few of them were ducked by the exhaust or relief valve in the hose.
The girls were out in force and seemed to convert the occasion into a sort of picnic. They had bushels of fun in the crowd.
Charley Bash was the first member of the firm at the scene of the fire. He was cool, but feared the elevator would go.
Mayor Muhler, Captain Diehl, Hon. Jesse L. Williams and Captain Hettler stood in the street in front of the blazing building.
1209
The insurance of $25,500 does not represent half the value of the ware rooms, elevator and stock. It is all the firm could afford to carry.
The grain elevator is built of pine wood save the brick wall that divides it from the ware room and slate siding and roof. It would have made a frightful fire.
If the Bash oil mill had caught fire the whole block might have been destroyed, counting on the paint store and drug store to go in the event of an explosion.
The water works acted like a charm and during the fire there was a pressure of 110 and 115 pounds to the square inch. An engine was added to the force when it became necessary to cover the high elevator with a stream. It would not be right to close without complimenting the heroic work of the fire department and The Sentinel will not cease to shower enconiums on Chief Hilbrecht and as gallant a set of firemen as ever pointed nozzles on a blaze. They worked quietly, but with pluck and a determination to win, which they did right nobly, too.
FORT WAYNE DAILY SENTINEL Tuesday 09/08/1885 Page 1, Col. 3.
THE BASH FIRE ..
An adjuster representing the Liverpool, London and Globe Insurance company arrived in the city to-day. It was in this company the Bash warehouse buildings and fixtures were insured for $8,000 and he comes here to square the claim that the Messrs. Bash can at once re-build. In addition to the $25,500 insurance held in the Lumbard agencies, D. L. Harding held $6,000 on the building and stock, making the total insurance $31,500.
1210
FORT WAYNE DAILY SENTINEL Monday 09/21/1885 Page 4, Col. 5.
THE SABBATH FIRE.
The department was summoned yesterday afternoon to the rear of W. H. Miller's grocery store where an out house blazed up. A stream of water quenched the fire, but at 11 o'clock last night it was fired again and a second time the firemen smothered it. A few boys in the neighborhood did the work. The damage will not exceed $10.
FORT WAYNE DAILY SENTINEL Wednesday 09/23/1885
Page 4, Col. 4.
George Strodel, Charles Sheldon, Rine Caps and Judge Sinclair left this afternoon on a duck slaughtering expedition to West Lake. Just what the judge accompanies the party for we don't know, for the writer don't believe he knows how to discharge a gun.
A MIDNIGHT BLAZE.
Last night a fire originated in the Union block, at the southeast corner of Clinton and Main streets and soon smoke issued from the old building in black rolls. The firemen got at the place about 12 o'clock and promptly quenched the blaze. The damage from fire will not exceed $900, but the water did much injury. Capt Beadley's Delmonico restaurant was drenched. Mrs. Polly Schilling's millinery store, Chausse & Yettie's second hand store and John Trott's candy store were all soaked. Inmates of the upper floors also suffered losses, but everything is covered by insurance,
1211
FORT WAYNE DAILY SENTINEL Thursday 09/24/1885
Page 4, Col. 2.
"The Firemens' Home, 24 East Berry street, Fort Wayne, E. W. Lindeman, proprietor, is the finest resort in that city, for the thirsty. Billy is a genial host and his friends are - legion. "Gus," his good-looking assistant, is very polite and attentive," says C. A. Alvord, in the Albion Democrat.
FORT WAYNE DAILY SENTINEL Saturday 09/26/1885 Page 4, Col. 4.
A BAD FIRE IN A DRUG STORE.
The drug store of Henry Rienewald, at the corner of Calhoun and Grand street, is a total wreck. At 12 o'clock last night an explosion occurred in the rear of the building and quicker than it takes to tell it the whole room was ablaze. When the fire department came the flames were in the second story. The building belonged to Mr. Tim Hogan, and was insured for $1,500. The damage is about $500. The stock of drugs is valued at $1,000 and insured for $1,500. The fire looked like the work of an incendiary, but The Sentinel prefers to believe it accidental, on the word of Dr. Fiser, who left the store all right. Mr. Reinewald was at Chicago but hastened home to-day. Inmates of the second story were smoked out in a hurry. They say two men ran from the building when the blaze was started by an explosion.
FORT WAYNE DAILY SENTINEL Wednesday 09/30/1885 Page 4, Col. 3.
The new bell striker to be used in the tower of the engine house has arrived and will be put in place at once.
FORT WAYNE DAILY SENTINEL Thursday 10/01/1885 Page 4, Col. 2 & 3.
At 5:40 last evening fire was discovered in a small story and a half frame dwelling, at No. 34 Oliver street, a remote portion of the Seventh ward. The building belongs to Mrs. Lauer, a widow, and was damaged only to the extent of $25.
A gasoline stove at the residence of W. H. Dreier, on Superior street, blazed up at six o'clock this morning and frightened the family. The fire department ran to the scene, but a quilt had smothered the harmless flames.
1212
FORT WAYNE DAILY SENTINEL Monday 10/05/1885
Page 4, Col. 4.
A HUMAN ROAST.
FORTY OF THE NORTHERN INDIANA FAIR STABLES REDUCED TO ASHES
AND A TRAMP CREMATED IN THE BLAZE.
Shortly after 8 o'clock last night a blaze shot up west of the city and brightened the heavens. The fire department responded and quickly were at the fair grounds, where the stables along the river, behind and to the north of the grand stand, were blazing with great fury. The firemen could not reach the river, and the best they could do was to tear a gap in the line of stables and stay the flames. This they did, with the assistance of what water they could carry in buckets from the river. Forty stables were then in ashes, and in one of them a gastly sight met the eye.
The charred and lifeless trunk of a man lay roasting in the midst of a heap of ashes. His lower limbs were burned entirely off to the hip joints. His arms were obliterated to the shoulder joints, and the top of his skull had crumbled to dust in the flames. The clothes were burned from his body and nothing was left but the human trunk. The flesh was melted from it and the poor fellow's heart, lungs and entrails protruded through the bones and muscles in crimped, knotted and twisted lumps and from this steaming mass of flesh a sickening odor came. The ill-shapen remnants were dragged from the ruins and carted to Peltier's mortuary rooms where disinfectants were spilled on them to make them bearable in the neighborhood. The police pulled another man from the fire with his hands blistered and arrested another member of the gang of tramps who stook by. The fellows were beastly drunk and had to be carted away.
Griffin, the tramp who was pulled from a blazing stall in a drunken stupor, was questioned this morning but does not know the dead man. The fellows were all drunk and in the racket that followed the stables were fired. Some people advance the theory that the burned tramp was murdered and then cremated but this does not hold as his body lay a long distance from the origin of the fire. A tramp named John H. Willis, who stood on the bridge, saw a man leave one of the stalls and stumble down the river bank. The fellow got away in the darkness. Coroner Dinnen held an inquest on the dead man, and will declare his fate accidental. The ugly chunk of the burned body will be planted in Lindenwood as "Unknown," and thus ends his career.
The loss of the Fair association will reach $1,000, and but an insurance of $300 is on the buildings destroyed.
Dr. J. M. Dinnen visited the scene of the conflagration this afternoon. He tells us that the man Griffin referred to above confessed his name was Ed Healy. The fellow cannot recollect a thing about the fire or does not want to.
1213
FORT WAYNE DAILY SENTINEL Tuesday 10/06/1885
Page 4, Col. 2 & 3.
The new bell striker in the engine house tower is in its place and tolled the noon hour yesterday. The time is regulated from the jewelry house of H. C. Graffe, and is always correct.
The Seventh ward engine house is finished up to the second story and will be under roof and ready for use in a month.
FORT WAYNE DAILY SENTINEL Saturday 10/10/1885
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