Omaha daily bee., 1889-06-09

The firemen stood around directing weak
stream against the walls Of the burning
ing. When the fire was at it's height, en-,
gino No. 1900, from the Union Pacific var ds-
ran up TO the building and was soon direct
ing a heavy stream on the flames,
The fire was very considerably checked,
and, had the water held out would soon
have been completely subdued. AS IL was,
the city department continued to hover about
the building until the flames had consumed
everything but the brick walls, and finally
died out for want OF fuel.
An Investigation as TO the cause OF the fire
revealed the fact that IL caught at the bot
tom of an enclosed passage way, through
which the shavings and sawdust were con-
Quoted from the second floor to the boiler
room, where they were burned under the
boilers. The bottom of this tiue was but ten
feet from the front Of the boilers, and there
fore very easy of access by the fire.
The building was completely destroyed,
and the heat probably totally ruined the ma
chinery. Had sufficient water been thrown,
1t is hardly probable that the building could
have been saved, but the loss to the ma
chinery, had 1t been prevented from becom-
ing so heated would hardly have exceeded
half what it did.
A large crowd quickly assembled, and citi-
zens We'd with each other in alternately de-
nouncing the waterworks company and the
fire department.
After the packing house fire, THE BEE
derstanding on the part of the fire depart
mcnt of the exact situation OF affairs in the
lower portion Of the city, in order to prevent
repetition of such a conflagration. Moth
ing whatever was done in the matter, and
yesterdays fire shows the result of the ne
glect to take suitable steps to prevent it.
1t has been often urged that the fire de-
partment Of Council Bluffs was rs near per-
fection rs could be reasonably expected, but
the supporters of that argument can hardly
repeat the assertion in the face OF recent de-
velopments. The officers of the fire depart
ment attempt to throw the blame on the
water works company, but an investigation
will show tho fallacy of such statement
When Jailor Barhyte was telephoned for
pressure, 1t was by an outsider, u man who
never was connected with the fire depart
ment Jailor Barhyte states that it was ff-
teen minutes after he had turned on pres
sure before he received official notification
by the fire alarm that it was needed He
states also that as the change was made the
pressure increased TO 12O pounds, and inside
of three minutes to 140, where it remained
until after o'clock.
The great mistake made at the packing
house fire, that of tapping the mains with
too many leads of hose, was the one respon-
sible for yesterdays trouble in securing pres
sure. 1t is also asserted that the fire depart
ment noZzles are altogether too largo for any
mains except on Broadway. The water is
allowed to pass so fast and freely that the
required pressure can not be secured.
The crew of Union Pacific engine 200 are
deserving of praise and too much can not be
said of their vigorous and effective work.
They took their stand on the south side of
the burning building, in the face of the heat
and smoke, and took much closer position
to the fire. Notwithstanding their dsad-
vantage, than did the regular department on
the other side. The latter directed weak
stream for fully quarter of an hour against
a little portion Of the brick wall, instead of
attempting to extinguish the flames raging
within
AS this is the second severe lesson received
during less than month, it may be reason
able to presume that the usual third may be
missed. The excessive tapping of mains
has resulted so disastrously that in the
future the same may be avoided. II is sim
cerely hoped that hereafter the amount of
water to be secured will be regarded and con-
sidcred as having something to do with the
pressure.
The loss will reach from sl2, 900 to SIS 900
with but very little insurance.
The heavy pressure put on the water mains
yesterday noon at the time of the fire, re-
suited rather disastrously. A few pipes and
water closets in buildings in the central por-
ton of the city were broken, but the loss
occasioued in these cases was nominal
Shortly after l o'clock, q sudden decrease in
the pressure gave the information that there
was a serious break somewhere in the mains
Chief Engineer Birkinhire, of the water
works company, Immediately started
down Broadway to locate the break
After passing Twenty sixth the paving was
seen to be in very uneven condition, there
being numerous depresslons, ana at Twenty
eighth street the break was found Water
was pouring out of great holes in the ground
on either side of the street, and the paving
at the intersection was rising and falling,
the blocks dancing about in sliapeless con-
fusion, tossed by the raging whirlpool un-
derneath. The pumps at the pumping sta
tion had been stopped on noticing the fall in
pressure, and the water was running to the
break from the reservoir at the head of
Glen avenue
The stop valve at Twenty first street was
closed, also the valves at Pacific avenue,
Eighth street and the Northwestern depot.
This stopped the flows ard a large gang of
men were at once put to work excavatine at
the corner of Broadway and Twenty eighth
streets to uncover the break and make nee
essary repairs. The paving from Twenty
sixth to Thirtieth streets was completely
undermined, and all travel was compelled to
cross the vacant lots on either side between
those two points. The damage will
amount to considerable, but the
exact amount can not yet be told.
Two, and perhaps four blocks of paving
will be repaired by this morning and water
service will be furnished the entire city the
same as usual. Aside from this break
other repairs will require several days to
repeat
The only accident that occurred was sus-
tained by Mr.. Birkinblne, who was thrown
from his wagon at the corner of Broadway
and Eighth streets, about3 o'clock, by The
telescopng of wheel, which caught in the
electric motor track. He was thrown vio-
lently to the stone paving. alightng on his
right arm which was badly injured. He was
removed to his residence where Drs. Lacey
and Green attended him. The elbow joint
was found to be broken and displaced max
ing an injury that will be very hard to treat.
The break of the bone in the joint will be
very liable to produce stiff arm. Mr.. Birk-
inbine will be laid up for SOME time, and his
accident is doubly unfortunate from the fact
that it is his right arm.
The plan conceived by e. Burhorn for en-
abling people to get valuable watch cheaply
is proving very popular. Join the club and
pay 81 a week and you are guaranteed first
quality Boss filled case watch warranted 25
years, with best Is jeweled movement.
within 35 weeks. The option is given you to
choose IA caret solid gold ladies watch or a
half caret diamond mounted up into either
stud or ring.
Bodine Roofing. Birkinbine En-
gineering aud Supply Co., 1l5 Pearl
ST., Council Bluffs.
Bechtele hotel central location ,frstclas
See Boodine Roofing If you are build