Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1890-10-01
PACKING HOUSE FIRE.
Burning Of the eAnglo-American Establish
mene ct Chicago,

Burning Of the Anglo-AmericAn Establish
msnt st Chicago.
CHICAGO, Sept. eo,--The Anglo American n
Packing company establishment at the
stock yards was damaged by FIRE early yes
terday morning to the extent of $3.50, 900.
The fire was one OF the worst the depart
ment ever had to deal with The alarm
was turned In just before o'clock, when
the flames were seen in the packing room.
When the first engines arrived this room
was a mass Of flames. Water had little ef-
feet on the grease se-soaked floors. and the
fire soon reached the room where thirty two
tanks OF lard were located. These exploded
one after another and the melted lard
added fresh fuel to the flames. The heat
was so intense that the firemen were forced
back and compelled to work from dis
tance. The flames then spread to the cool
ing room, where the carcasses Of nearly
1000 hogs were stored. They burned like
oil. Water seemed useless. and the twenty
engine companies At work made little head
way. More engines were summoned. but
two hours after the fire started the roof fell
In and the flames seemed to spread more
rapidly than ever. Over 100 streams of
water that were being poured on the fire ap-
peared to have no effect. About this time
the flames reached lot OF saltpetre and the
fumes from this. stified the firemen, over
coming several Of them. The fire marshals
directed all the efforts OF their men to pre-
venting the spread OF the flames from the
Anglo-American plant. Within short dis
tance from the establishment are several
other large packing -houses, and for time
It was feared the flames would communicate
to them. The Hremen succeeded, however.
in controlling 1t. At o'clock in the morning
1t was seen to be impossible to extinguish
the burning pork and water was thrown on
IL to keep the fire down as much as possible.
1t will have to burn out, and 1t will proba-
bly, be day or two before entirely extin-
guished. The FIRE department succeeded In
saving other portions Of the Anglo -Ameri-
can plant from serious damage. The loss Is
entirely covered by insurance. Recently,
however. new company was formed, known
rs the Fowler Bros. Qimitcd), incorporated
In England, with . capital of $3.50, 900, with
= proposal to acquire the business of Fowler
Bros. Qimited), OF Liverpool; Fowler Bros.
Of New York, and the Anderson Fowler
company, of New York; Anglo American
Refrigerator Car company; Anglo America n
Packing company. Of Chicago, and the
Omaha Packing company. of Omaha.
Caused Drop In the Market.
1t was nearly noon to-day when the fire
At Fowler Bro. 3 packing house WAS extin-
guishod. Tho Fowlers have made arrange
ments by which they will temporarily
occupy the Allerton slaughter
house. They slaughter almost ex-
clusively for the English market, and
the throwing on the market of hogs
which would have gone to them had they
been working caused drop of 10 to 20 cents
pcr hundred weight in the price OF light
hogs. Aggregate insurance on tho Fowler
buildings Is 100000 and on contents s5sl.-
900. Much of tho property thus covered
was only slightly damaged.