Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1876-01-21
SERIOUS CONFEDERATION.
Tom PAllner's Butter and Egg Depot
Entirely Destroyed.

| As our people were seated at the mid
day repast, about half-past 10 O'Clock.
Tuesday, they were aroused by the wild
ringing of the alarm bell, and soon dense
clouds of smoke were seen to arise from
the direction of the big MILL 1t was soon
ascertained that the fire was in Tom
Palmer's butter and egg packing house,
on the west side of the river, above the
dam. from the roof and ventilators of
which an immense volume of black smoke
from the hay stored in the loft passed
out soon followed by tongues of. flame
that rapidly spread and completely envel-
oped the whole upper part of tie building.
The tiremen were soon on the ground, the
Cataract engine, manned by the German
company, getting into position and COM
mencing to throw water on the fire with
celebrity that speaks well for their drill
The steamer, owing to unavoidable causes,
which reflect nothing upon the skill or eff
ficiency of the company, did not begin to
throw her powerful streams upon the fire
for ten or fifteen minutes Later, but did
grand work from that time forward
The inflammable nature of the contents of
the building and the start the flames had
got, rendered all efforts to eXtngush it
futile, though the well directed labors Of
the fremen saved the refrigerator rooms
in the east end of the building
These rooms were completely lined with
sheet iron, and over them was a heavy
iron floor, upon which in the hot season
was piled mass of ice for keeping the
air in them at uniformly low tempera-
ture. Thus constructed, with the aid of
the water continually poured upon them
by the tiremen, they formed practically
huge fire-proof safe for the protection of
their contents, some 5000 to 5000 pounds
of butter in filkins and tubs. At late
hour in the evening this butter was taken
out, and subsequent examination showed
to be entirely uninjured, with not "a
titlut vi ulc VI SlliOhc aDOut IL
The west end of the building, which
was 1870 feet long and 40 feet broad, was
occupied as horse stable, and two fine
horses belonging to Mr.. Palmer were
not removed until the stable was filled
with smoke About Is hogs IN the same
apartment were not so fortunate, how
ever, and fell prey to the flames. The
middle portion of the building was used
for an office, packing rooms, &c
The origin of the fire is somewhat of a
mystery. The most plausible theory is
that a spark from the chimney entered
one OF the ventilators on the roof and so
communicated with the hay stored above
tie stable. The peculiar construction of
the building and the nature of its contents
made the fire extremely nard to manage,
but our tiremen manfully stood at their
posts all that day and al night pouring
streams of water upon it; but for which
the wind might have carried the burning
fragments to contiguous property. The
department is worthy of the highest praise
and gratitude for their noble endeavors.
Mr. Palmer estimates his loss on the
building at from $4,000 to $12,0 900, and
on egg and butter packages, tools fixtures,
&c, $4,000. The loss Of stock was light
and fully covered by insurance He had
insurance on the building for $1,000 in
the following companies, of which c d.
Jones is agent:
Phenix, OF Brooklyn, N. Y.... So, 900
Pennsylvania Fire. .............. 1000
Firemcn's Fund, of Cal ....... 1000
Liverpool & London & Globe 800. 1000
There was also insurance of $1,000 on
the stock in the Home of New York, w.
II. Joslin, agent.