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All text and photos Copyright 1965 Palladium-Item

Vol. 185, No. 30 / Richmond, Ind., Thursday, February 4, 1965 / City Edition / Single Copy 10 Cents

Phone Company Fire Loss Over $1 Million

[Photo] Smoke pours from an opening at the back side of the main building, closest to the area of the fire. Firemen wear masks as they attempt to locate the smoldering blaze.

[Photo] Captain Walter Stout, Richmond Police officer, back to camera, and Jimmy Cain, right, operate emergency Civil Defense radio equipment in the Civil Defense Headquarters at the City Building Thursday morning. Paul Smith, Civil Defense Chief is shown standing, watching and directing the emergency operations.

70 Percent Of Service Cut Off;
Emergency Equipment On Way

Radio Communications Provide Only Link;
Two Firemen Overcome;
Towns Send Help
Emergency Contacts

By late tonight, telephone users with numbers starting with 935 may make emergency contacts by dialing 935-1161, 935-1171, or 935-1181. Operators on duty at sub-stations will relay the message to a police radio unit standing by.

Those with telephones starting with 973 can make emergency contacts through 973-1162, 973-1163, or 973-1164.

Telephones starting 935 are serviced by Substation No. 3, in the alley between South Eighth and Ninth, south of South G. Those with 973 are served through Substation No.2, on South Erst Ninth between Main and A.

Similar service is being planned for Substation No. 1, a block south of Richmond Ave., on North West First St., with a 957-prefix.

So far, no emergency service has been arranged for other phones, representing about 70 percent, but equipment is being rushed from other Indiana cities, and from General Telephone utilities in Michigan an Pennsylvania.

As temporary units arrive, more numbers will be added to those able to make calls. A list of critical phones will be taken care of first.

Meanwhile, starting late tonight, emergency long distance calls may be made by anyone coming to the business office, 31 North Ninth St., which will be open 24 hours a day until further notice. Phone officials stress that only emergency calls can be handled. The office will be open for business Friday as usual.

Fire of an undetermined origin Thursday morning caused damage estimated at more that $1 million to the General Telephone Co. of Indiana, 31 North Ninth St.

Except for radio communication, Richmond was isolated from the outside world.

Seventy percent of Richmond's 26,000 telephones were knocked out, and the rest serviced out of substations could be in contact only with each other.

Two Firemen Overcome

Two firemen were overcome by dense smoke.

Ervine Perkins, 36 years old, of No. 2 Company, was taken to Reid Memorial Hospital and treated for smoke inhalation. He was overcome by the dense, acrid smoke. His condition was good later in the day.

Elwood Richardson, also of No. 2 Company, was taken to his home.

Telephones with these prefixes have been knocked out of service:

962, 966 and 969.

Telephones served out of substations, with prefixes 973 (west side) 935 (south side), and 957 (northwest side) can call any other number with the same prefix or any other unaffected prefixes.

Fire Out At 10 A.M.

William P. Rigdon, Richmond manager, said that the fire which started at 6:45 a.m., was not put out until 10 a.m. "and we are now mopping up."

Emergency telephone equipment units were being rushed to Richmond from Fort Wayne, Kokomo and Indianapolis. They were expected momentarily.

They will be set up in trailers on the phone company's parking lot at the rear of the main building. How long it will be before they can be put into use was not known immediately, but Rigdon says "emergency numbers" will be taken care of first.

An exchange this large will require heavy-duty emergency equipment. It is possible some extra use may be made of substations, which were not affected.

Dorothera Logan, employed as a housekeeper, first noticed the fire at 6:45 a.m. when she opened the switchroom door, on the second floor of the old building.

"She saw the flames on the main frame in the switch room," Rigdon said. The main frame is the equipment linked to an underground connection for every line coming in. From it, the calls go in and out of switching equipment. It is the lifeblood of the utility.

When fire hit the main frame, it was only a matter of a few minutes before telephone communications were cut off. Only two calls went out. One was to the Fire Department. The other was to the chief operator. A call to Rigdon was cut off before it could be completed.

15 In Building

Approximately 15 persons were in the building but none was hurt. Most of them were log distance operators in an immediately adjoining area.

Because of the potential spread of the blaze, and the difficulty in fighting it, all available fire companies were summoned. Firemen's off days were cancelled.

Radio communication became the only way available and it was not long before emergency hookups were being established by Civil Defense, city, county and state police, Citizen Bands and amateur operators.

Separate stories appear elsewhere.

Richmond's commercial radio stations, WKBV, WGLM, and WHON were a valuable help.

State police cars and squad cars roamed the streets. Radio equipment was set up at the city building, at Reid Memorial Hospital, at fire stations. Industries pitched in. Those with two way radio communications set up trucks at spots over the city.

Fire fighters came from Cambridge City, Williamsburg, Greensfork, Centerville, Liberty, Fountain City, Milton, Dublin and Hagerstown. Some were at the scene of the blaze. Others stood by at local fire stations. Boston sent a truck that was not needed. All told, eight pieces of equipment and 60 men came to help.

Firemen fighting the blaze first used chemicals because of the electrical equipment involved, but its effectiveness and the supply were inadequate.

Although electrical equipment is vunerable to water, firemen had to pour tons of it to put out the stubborn blaze.

The fire itself was confined to the second floor of the old telephone company building, but smoke and water spread not only to that structure but to the comparitively new building adjoining it to the north.

Water was standing everywhere.

With the temperatures near zero, ice formed on the street, sidewalk, and homes. Telephone company office girls served hot coffee to firemen. It came from the nearby First Federal building.

The toxic smoke was a stuborn handicap and firemen who finally got to the second floor had to wear gas masks to do it.

The flames spread to a false ceiling and firemen had to chop occurred the roof and through the side of the building.

An air compressor was used to knock through the brick, as well as a fire department battering ram. Repairs on that part of the building have already started.

Most of the damage was to the expensive equipment. How much was done by smoke or water in the Direct Distance Dialing facilities in the adjoining building so far was not known.

The second floor, scene of the blaze, covers an area of about 10,000 square feet. Local and toll switching equipment was located there

Damaged Undetermined

How much damage, if any, to utility records so far has not been determined.

Rigdon said until investigators can make a thorough check, the company has "no idea whatsoever" what caused the fire. There is someone in the building at all times.

A temporary management co-ordinating center has been set up by the telephone company in the YMCA building and will continue ti operate from there during the emergency.

A hurriedly called meeting about mid-morning was attended by Robert Twenty-third, division manager; William P. Rigdon, Richmond manager; G. A. Richwine, division plant manager; Larry Bricker, division traffic manager; G. A. Shick, division equipment supervisor; Willis Noll, district plant supervisor.

Louis Pells of Fort Wayne, safety director, happened to be in Richmond overnight and sat in on the meeting.

A news center has been set up by the telephone company in one of the radio station buildings.

How much of the damage is covered by insurance so far was not known, Rigdon said.

Telephone officials went to Centerville to make some phone calls and made use of police radio for others.

The telephone utility was purchased by General Telephone Co., from Richmond Home Telephone Co,, in December of 1960.

Street Boxes Only Means Of Fire Call

Radio Units Over City To Help Spread Word Of Emergencies

Plans to co-ordinate emergency facilities made necessary by the loss of telephone service were made by police, fire, sheriff's, Indiana State Police and civilian defense departments Thursday noon at the City Hall.

All residents are urged to abide by emergency conditions until full phone service is restored.

The plan is in effect until the emergency ends.

Chief Ernest Fredricks said the Fire Department's only means of communication now is by the fire alarm box system. A list of fire box locations is elsewhere on this page. Fredricks added that cruising police cars can be stopped and a fire can be reported to a fire station by radio.

Chief William Stultz said there are approximately 30 citizen band radio operators at work as well as 12 mobile units of the police department. Any of these can be contacted if necessary and the aid of a doctor or hospitalization can be handled by radio.

He said special guards have been placed in banks and other places.

Commenting on the possible problem of crime, vandalism and "Foolishness," mayor Edward L. Cordell said:

"We are in a state of emergency. There will be no foolishness tolerated. There is sufficient coverage to assure protection. Violators will be punished as stiffly as the law permits."

Indiana State Police Lieutenant James Sheets, commander of the Connersville post, said 15 of his units have been brought into the city for assistance to local police, both by radios in their autos and other help if needed.

More Co-ordination Due

These units are stationed throughout the city. A base radio station is being sent here from Indianapolis by the State Police. This will enable more co-ordinated communications.

Sheriff H. D. McCann, in reminding that the phones at the county jail are also out, said persons are urged to contact Centerville, Cambridge City and Hagerstown police stations according to their area.

He said a radio sub-station is set up in his residence for the northeaster section of the county giving service to residents in Fountain City, Bethel, Whitewater, Williamsburg, Greensfork and Economy. The phones are working and the number to call is 2541.

Radio contact can be made to the jail by contacting one of the sub-stations or a citizen band operator.

Paul Smith, civilian defense director, said the citizens band radio base station in the city building is serving as the center for most emergency dispatches. The Amateur radio group also is in service.

A list of the location of such operators is carried on Page 4. It should be clipped for use during the emergency.

Dayton and Montgomery county offered mobile police radio units to help, but it was decided that they are not needed presently.

Several Red Cross Disaster units form nearby cities also offered aid.

Avco officials have offered to try to get mobile telephone equipment brought to Richmond as might be available at military locations nearby. The local plant, defense manufacturer, cited the important need of telephones.

County Firemen Praised

Chief Fredricks joined with other city officials in praising the Wayne County Firemen's association for its help. Men and equipment stood by at each local station during the fire.

Communication was possible between stations as a result of the county group's radio connections.

Fredricks said the emergency points to the need for the county and Richmond departments being on the same radio band.

He sited the need of local departments also having more equipment to fight fires where there are fire gasses such as developed in the Thursday morning blaze.

Stay At Alarm Box

In case you need the fire department you can go to the nearest fire alarm box in your neighborhood. If this becomes necessary stay at the alarm box until firemen arrive so that you can take them to the fire. Residents are asked to check the list. Circuit 6 Boxes are "out of order." Residents of this area must report fires to the closest fire station.

All fire stations are in contact with each other via radio. The Wayne County Firemen's Association also is manning local stations with trucks and personnel.
Fire Box Locations

Phone Fire Most Serious in 6 Years

Thursday's fire at the General Telephone Co. has caused the third, and by far the most serious, major outage of local service in the past six years.

Most recent occurred Nov. 16, 1965, when water soaked into two large underground cables near North Tenth and F Streets. About half of the city's 26,000 telephones were out of service, many of them for almost 15 hours.

Most emergency phones, on the 962* lines, were restored about three and one-half hours after the trouble was noted, but some were not in back in service until late that night.

A bulldozer was blamed for a slashed cable which cut off most long distance service on Sept. 9, 1959. The machine was working at the corner of U.S. 27 and Farlow Beelor Road, south of the city, when it slashed a 207-wire long-distance cable.

The cut cable virtually isolated the city from incoming and outgoing telephone service, as it provided the only circuits for long distance service. It linked the lines of the then Richmond Home Telephone Co. with cross country circuits of the American Telephone and Telegraph Co.

The broken cable was not located for more than four hour after the accident occurred, and service was out another eight hours while repairmen spiced each wire back together.

City-County Fire Link Emphasized

The main theme of meetings between firemen of Wayne county and Richmond Fire Department were born out during the Thursday morning emergency.

For several months, Chief Ernest Fredricks of Richmond has preached the need of a close tie between county and city departments. His words did not fall on deaf ears as this cooperation became a reality in the General Telephone Co. Fire.

Critics of the combined efforts have said that Richmond's Fire Department was adequate to handle any city emergency. Therefore, the tie-up between county and city would result in use of city equipment to battle a county fire.

Chief Fredricks has debated this idea continually by saying that the major demand for help could come from an emergency in Richmond. Again his words have proven true.

Mal Price, educational officer of the Wayne County Firemen, and Don McCullough, public relations officer, have urged the need for a centrally located dispatching system that would tie all Wayne County, including Richmond with one dispatcher.

The reason for their encouragement for such a setup was based on, "What should happen if the telephone system broke down."

They received their answer at 7:24 a.m. Thursday.

In the Thursday emergency word was received throughout the county by other methods.

Newspaper Is Assisted By Amateur Radio Hookup

Emergency short wave radio receivers were set up in the newsroom of The Palladium-Item Thursday to assure publication of afternoon and morning editions of the newspaper.

When telephones went out of service, Richmond lost practically all contact with the nation's news centers.

Associated Press (AP) and United Press International (UPI) services halted abruptly. Teletypes and photo machines stopped.

Through Western Union, an emergency line was opened to link The Palladium-Item with the Indianapolis office of the AP. While firemen were still battling the fire at General Telephone Co., the first story was transmitted from Indianapolis to the newspaper.

Two-meter, amateur radio equipment soon was set up in the News Department.

Issues Call

Floyd Russell, an amateur radio operator and an engraver for the newspaper, issued a call for volunteers to report to City Hall. Civil defense officials were among the first to report. James Cain was in charge at City Hall.

Russell and Jerry Clackum set up sending and receiving equipment to keep the newspaper in touch with the outside world. Throughout the Indiana Phone network, Richmond was soon in touch with Connersville, Indianapolis, Hagerstown, Lynn and Lafayette.

Charles Sperling served as "net control" for the amateurs. Phil Wilson, 2520 North West A St., helped relay messages out of the city to other parts of Indiana and Ohio.

About 10 amateur radio operators were on duty Thursday before noon. About 20 operators, including 10 in mobile units, will be on duty Thursday night.

Sperling is manager of the Amateur Radio Emergency Corps. He said several operators were located in various sections of the city. Some were in autos and station wagons.

Word was received at 12:15 p.m. that a mobile unit was being dispatched from Indianapolis. It will report to the civil defense office at the City Hall.

Fire Run Made To North Eight; Damage Is Slight

One company of Richmond firemen fought a blaze in the basement of a double house at 319-321 North Eighth St. Thursday Morning at the height of the General Telephone blaze.

A man passing the scene of the fire drove to Central fire headquarters in the City building and reported the fire.

Firemen said an overheated furnace set fire to joists under the floor of the building on both sides of the house.

The amount of damage was not reported, but it was not believed to be severe.

District Towns Get Emergency Phone Orders

Civil Defense officials said Williamsburg, Whitewater, Webster and Fountain City were to call Phone 2541 in Economy in case of fire or any other emergency.

Centerville residents were to call 4022 for emergencies involving use of Richmond telephones.

Cambridge City residents were told to call the city building for a relay of messages.

Page 2 Fire Stories ...

Damage In Phone Company Fire Is Highest In City's History

50 Volunteers Go On Air To Aid In Emergency

Within an hour after Thursday morning's fire at the General Telephone Co., was reported, the Wayne County Civil Defense emergency network was in operation from the City Building.

Operators of Citizens' Band radio outfits quickly volunteered to help in the emergency, covering key points in the city with base and mobile units, including local schools, factories, and the radio station.

The locations of these units were broadcast by a local radio station, telling persons who needed emergency aid of any type to contact the nearest "ham" operator for help.

By 11:30 a.m., more than 50 operators had volunteered to help, according to Capt. Walter Stiut of the Police Department.

Only one emergency message was transmitted Thursday morning and that was a report of a fire.

Capt. Stout said the Wayne county unit will remain operational 24 hours a day until the emergency is over.

Radio Operator In Front Of Hospital

Bob temporary, of 207 National Road West, a member of the Citizens Band radio operators, was stationed in front of Reid Memorial hospital to receive calls. Pelfrey said he could receive calls from local as well as distance operators for emergency use.

Civil Defense Men Use Walkie Talkies

All kinds of Equipment, photographic, radio, television, and so on was noted at the scene of the fire. Civil Defense workers had walkie-talkie sets in use to communicate back and forth between themselves and the center set up in the City Hall.

Page 15 Fire Stories ...

Mercury At Zero As Firemen Battle Smoke;
Emergency Communications Rigged

[Photo] Firemen are on roof of building. Note oxygen tank strapped to back of fireman second from left.

[Photo] This group of Civil Defense workers prepared a county map in the City Courtroom Thursday morning pinpointing the locations of Citizen Band radio stations throughout the county. The Citizen Band groups will operate throughout the telephone emergency.

Standing from the left, are Phil Thornburg, a member of the Civil Defense organization and county surveyor; Fred Thornburg; Henry Blankenship, Assistant City Engineer; Mike Chambers; Rick McGuire and Denny White. Fred Thornburg, Chambers, McGuire and White are members of the Avco Explorer Boy Scout unit which is familiar with Citizen Band and Amateur radio operations.

[Photo] The city's aerial truck and another pumper stand in front of the Ninth street old halted to the telephone company building.

[Photo] East side of addition to telephone company's main building. This structure is located east of the alley between Ninth and Tenth Sts. A passageway connects the main building and addition. There was no fire in the addition but acrid smoke poured through this adjoining structure.

[Photo] Firemen were forced to smash hole in the south side of the main building.

[Photo] Two firemen are on ladders between the north side of The Palladium-Item building and the telephone company building. A narrow passageway separates the two structures.

[Photo] The "cherry picker" of the Richmond Municipal Light Plant was used to lift persons, including a Palladium-Item photographer to the top of the building.

[Photo] A fireman with a roll of hose strapped to his back, ascends a ladder to the roof of the main building.

[Photo] Fire-fighting equipment from departments of various surrounding communities responded to Richmond's call for assistance. They were parked on North Fifth St. near the central fire station or in a private parking lot directly across the street from the central station.

[Photo] A radio-equipped Indiana State Police cruising was stationed near the admitting office of the Reid Memorial Hospital to permit use of its two-way radio in handling emergency messages.

Citizen Band Operators Quick To Give Assistance

Citizen band Radio went on the air shortly after the fire broke out at General Telephone Co. Thursday morning, gathering news for The Palladium-Item.

Kenneth Ary and Jerome Roser in a mobile unit parked near The Palladium-Item office made contact with news sources in the Richmond area. The unit was parked at the curb just south of Sailor Street on North Ninth Street. Both are licensed operators.

At the time of contact Centerville had sent one fire fighting unit. Some towns farther away sent emergency equipment, but were protected by standby pumpers and men.

When contacted, Liberty reported emergency equipment on the way, and the Liberty fire chief came here.

One unit and about six volunteer firemen from Hagerstown came here. It was reported by radio that Hagerstown was protected by two units of fire fighting equipment and men.

Also Send Truck

Cambridge City sent one unit, but was reported back there by 11:15 a.m.

Charles Currens, captain of auxillary police, and William Hittle, auxillary police major, stood by a mobile unit in front of The Palladium-Item, in event of an emergency.

Ary said this was done in case something went wrong or failed in the equipment being used by Ary and Roser.

Ary said he first hard of the fire by Citizen Band radio; and was notified at work to report to the City building for emergency duty. He works at the Richmond Power and Light plant and lives at 1313 South Sixth St.

Roser, who lives at 1519 National Road West, reported to The Palladium-Item early Thursday that the mobile unit was ready to transmit and receive. This was the only contact the newspaper had with its correspondents in the eight-county circulation area.

Roser works for S&S Garage and is an amateur radio operator.

The two men made contact quickly with towns in the reader area, and for the most part the operators were women.

Ary said in most instances the wives of Citizens Band operators are licensed, too, and it was those women who were at their posts in the emergency Thursday morning when Richmond was completely without telephone service.

Ary said licenses issued by the Federal Communications commission (FCC) are good for five years. He said there would be roughly 2,000 to 2,500 licensed operators to Wayne county.

Roser and Ary explained that Walter Stiut, who is captain of the traffic division of Richmond city police, is also head of auxillary police, and added, "He is the one who assigned us today."

Ary explained that Stout is a licensed amateur radio operator, and that he was at the amateur radio unit in the City building with the zone unit, relaying messages.

Other Citizen Band operators are at 429 South Twelfth St., 1117 Berry Lane, 714 South Sixth St., 818 South Eighth St., 812 North West Fifth St., Roy's Pure Oil, 510 South Twenty-third St., 807 South Twelfth St., 1333 South Fourth St., 303 North West Sixteenth St., 1601 South Fourth St., 417 Gardner.

American Aggregates Supplies Radio Trucks

The American Aggregates Gravel Co., which also has radio-equipped trucks, has stationed them at South West First and Main, at Sixteenth and Main, at Thirteenth and East Main, and at the First National Bank branch at the Gateway Shopping Center. All are available to dispatch emergency messages.

State Police Cars Are Cruising City

Ten Indiana State Police cars are cruising the city. They are radio equipped. Citizens needing help are to contact them for emergency.