The record-union., 1893-08-02
A COSTLY BLAZE.
MOhr & YOerk's New Slaughter House
Entirely Destroyed.
Two Men Seen to Run Away just After
the Breaking Out of
the Flames.

Shortly after hallpast o'clock last
evening an alarm was turned in from box
56, at Twenty eighth and NJ streets, but
an alarm was turned in at the same time
from box "a, and the signal was for some
minutes unintelligible at the Water
Works, and some time was therefore lost
before the whistle sounded.
1t proved, however, that the fire was
beyond the reach of the department, for
| it was found to be the new slaughter
house just completed by Mohr & Yoerk, a
short distance outside of the city limits.
By the time those who had started the
alarm reached the place the whole build
ing was in flames and nothing but the
frame remained, which was burning
fiercely. The heat was SO great that it
kept the crowd at a respectful distance,
and was almost unbearable to the men
who were working desperately to save
the remaining buildings.
Running westward from the slaughter
| house was long chute. connecting with
the pens and barns, and unless tho con-
nection could be cut off there was no
chance to save them, there being no water
available. Despite the heat, therefore,
several men worked manfully till the
chute was cut i'll two. Fortunately the
wind was from the west, and the sparks
were blown away from the buildings and
they were saved.
There seems to be very little doubt that
| the fire was of incendiary origin. Mr.
GWlnn, who lives near the slaughter
house and had the oversight of it. states
that ten or fifteen minutes before the
flames were seen he went over to the
building to see that everything was all
| right, the men who were working on it
having gone some time before. At that
time there were no signs Of lire and there
had been no fire in or around the build
ing throughout the day. The day before
the high tank had been pumped full, but
| the hose had not been connected with it.
Shortly after Mr.. Gwinn's return. his
son saw a small flame break out under
the chute where some Of the refuse
| blocks had been thrown when the build
ing was cleaned out yesterday.
As he ran toward it, he saw two men
run away across the field. Near to
where the fire started was the tank
frame. Young Gwinn climbed up to
turn the valve and let the water down,
but the flames spread so rapidly that his
hands were burned and he had to slid de
down the pipe to save himself. There
was strong smell ofkerosene perceptible
at the time and it is supposed it was used,
the rapid spread OF the flames giving
color 70 the suspicion.
Mr.. Elliott, of the firm of Sprague x
Elliott, who built the slaughter house.
stated that since he turned it over to
Mohr Il Yoerk, he had done large
amount of work on it, and had practi-
cally completed it. He turned over to the
firm $500 insurance which he had
placed on it during its construction, but
did not know whether there was any
more on it or not. The building, engine.
etc, cost between $1,000 and O,O00, ana
will be almost a total loss. The fine
cement floor is probably cracked and
badly damaged and the engine destroyed
The firm, which has Invested in the
extension Of their business the profits
they have made in it, and have done
much to build up and aid the progress Of
our city, have the sympathy OF the citi-
zeDs and many regrets were heard last
night for the misfortune which mas over
taken them.