Fort Wayne, IN DeWald Dry Goods Fire, Dec 1899 part 4

A SLIGHT DAMAGE

The Rothschild block, adjoining the Kaag store, was slightly damaged both by fire and by water. The insurance men state that about $500 will cover the loss.

ON ROTHSCHILD BUILDING

The Rothschilds carried only $4,000 insurance on their block. This was taken out in the following agencies:

LENNART & ZORBAUGH
Imperial Insurance Co. $ 1,500

D. C. FISHER
Aetna 1,500

BERGHOFF & FUELBER
German of Indianapolis 1,000

THE PETERS STORE

The Peters Hardware company, in the building adjoining the Rothschild block, will suffer a loss variously estimated at from $1,000 to $3,000. This loss is due to the water in the cellar. Their surplus stock of nails and heavy hardware was stored in the basement and this entire stock is under water. There were about 250 kegs of nails. The exact damage cannot be estimated until the salvage is examined. Their stock of fine hardware was not damaged in the least. The loss on the goods stored in the basement is entirely covered by insurance.

ORIGIN OF THE FIRE

The origin of the fire will probably never be known. Mr. Robert DeWald thinks that there must have been an explosion of gas. One thing is certain, that the gas pressure was not too strong. The floors where the fire was first seen are heated by stoves, which burn gas. The stock about these stoves was removed a safe distance and it is not known how the fire could have communicated to the goods on the floor unless there was an explosion. After the west wall fell the gas mains were broken and there was much gas burning in the mains in the building.

AFTER THE BALTES BLOCK

Late this afternoon the firm of George Dewald & Co. began negotiations with a view to securing a business block down town. It is probable that they will get a short lease on the Baltes block, at the corner of West Berry and Harrison streets. They will make definite arrangements at an early an hour as possible.

ADVANCE IN PRICES

The stock of goods in both the DeWald and Kaag stores have increased in value since they were purchased, and the same stocks can not be duplicated today for the price quoted when the purchases were made. Both firms would lose by the purchase of new stocks of goods complete.

NOTES OF THE FIRE.

The insurance list published in the News to-day was furnished through the courtesy of Mr. Ed. M. Wilson, of the firm of Schrader & Wilson.

The Lakeside, Bloomingdale and Spy Run avenue street car lines were shut off by the falling of the walls. The trolley lines are down and there were no cars on the farther side of the debris at the time the walls fell.

Fort Wayne News, Fort Wayne, IN 27 Dec 1899