The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-07-27
FERTILIzING FACTORY DESTROYED.
Rauh & Sons Lose Heavily by Fire That
Sweeps Away Their Growing Industry.

The fertilizer factory of E. Rauh d. Sons.
near the Belt railroad, at the south end of
East street, was almost wholly consumed
by fire yesterday afternoon that caused
two alarms just as the storm
from the west and northwest was
ready to break upon the city. The building
was erected SO as to leave a rectangular
open space within, and this was stored
with valuable machinery and goods ready
for the market. The building had $50
foot front along the Belt, and was two
stories high. A short time before o'clock
somebody in the engine-room discovered
that the roof was on fire within. and, call
ing assistance. fastened to extinguish the
blaze with buckets of water. The storm
coming on just then famed the little blaze
into threatening flames aud made all efforts
to put ont the fire unavailing. By the time
an alarm was turned in the whole west end
of the building, comprising the engine
room and the factory adjoining, was aolaze.
When the first engine arrived 1T was found
that it would be of little use. since 1T took
5000 feet of hose to reach from the nearest
cistern on East street to the lire.
By the time one stream was brought
to bear upon the flames they were
almost beyOnd control. Another engine was
stationed at Pleasant run. short distance
south of the factory. but it was found That
worked bravely during all the binding
storm, and the people of the neighborhood
stood out and faced the rain and the NAL
Od0r0us fumes arising from the hre. All
the time the fire was progressing steadily
toward the east end of the building, which
had but little in the way of contents. A
little after 4 o'clock another engine was
wheeled into Pleasant run, and then two
good, steady streams Of water were DrOugnt
into action on the fire. BY this time all ex.
ceptng the almost-empty end and part of
the southeast shed was total wreck. All
the valuable machinery and the stores In
the upstairs portion were practically worth
less Under the south shed was long heap
of bones. several carloads, and these were
but glowing mass of Goals, the central
portion being piled high with bent shafts,
tanks, broken machinery and the bone
meal, sacked ready for shipment. All TINS,
when the building gave Way came nsst tul Of
the wreck. The nauseating stencil
the fire was enough to try the strongest
nerves. But with wall of fire almost sur
rounding them the firemen worked away.
playing their streams so as to save as much
as possible from the destroying element
Practically, however, the entire concern
was destroyed. Rauh g. Sons were engaged
in manufacturing bone meal and pressed oil.
A large amount of these goods are ship
ped to Europe, where. it is said, the
amount of oil further expressed from the
fertilizer by the foreign manufacturers.
more than pays the cost of shipment. The
company is composed of Leopold Rauh and
his two sons. Henry Rauh and S. T.. Rauh,
and employs eighteen hands. The city
office of the firm is at No. 219 South Penn
sylvania street. For some time past the
factory has been i'm operation night and
day, shutting off only for Sunday, but
beginning again at II o'clock Sun
day night. The buildings were SIM
ply frame structures, but what makes the
loss SO large is the valuable machinery and
material. both raw and manufactured The
product of the entire summers work was
stored in the building awaiting shipment,
and this was almost wholly destroyed.
How the fire originated is unknown. A
woman on Iowa street claims that just at
| the beginning of the storm she saw the
building struck by lightning, while another
person said that it started from a spark OIL
! passing Belt engine. The telegraph wires
| along the Belt road were broken by being
| near the factory. The value of the plant
| was estimated at about $4,000, while that
| of tue stock, it is said, would reach so, 600.
| This makes loss oi $50, 900. with an insur-
| ance. so far as is known, of $40, $50, as fol-
| lows.