Fort Wayne, IN Business Section Fire, Mar 1897

A BAD FIRE.

PROPERTY VALUED AT $150,000 IS DESTROYED AT FORT WAYNE.

Fort Wayne, Ind., March 1. -- At seven o'clock Sunday morning a passer-by saw smoke issuing from MORGAN & Co.'s retail and wholesale hardware store on Columbia street. An alarm was sounded and for ten hours six engines and the entire fire department fought the biggest fire that has occurred here for several years. The large building and big stock of MORGAN & Co. are a complete loss and four other merchants property is wholly or partially destroyed.
The losses are:
O. P. MORGAN and MRS. FRED BEACH, building, $15,000; loss on stock, $75,000, with $47,000 insurance.
J. C. MEYER, building, and JULIUS NATHAN & Co., wholesale liquor dealers, $12,000.
MRS. MARY WILLIAMS, building, and NATHAN KIRSCHHEIMER & Co., wholesale dealers in paper, $20,000.
MISS MARGARET HAMILTON, building, and ROMARY, GOEGLEIN & Co., dealers in hardware,
$14,000.
JUDGE JOHN MORRIS, building, and A. H. STAUB, stoves and hardware, $5,000.
The total loss is estimated at $150,000, insurance $90,000.
Four firemen narrowly escaped being crushed to death. They were at work on a roof when a much higher wall toppled toward them and to escape death they were compelled to jump to the ground. They were all badly bruised and GEORGE CLINGMAN suffered injuries to the spine and internally which may result fatally. The cause of the fire is unknown, although it is believed that the natural gas, which was turned low in the furnace, may have taken on such a pressure during the night and forced such a hot fire as to ignite the floor above.

Stevens Point Daily Journal Wisconsin 1897-03-01
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Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!