The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-05-09

MUNCIE. Ind. May 6.-The william
n. Whitley reaper and mower works
were destroyed by fire this evening.
The factory buildings, which covered
five acres, were located just north of
Muncie.
The loss on the buildings, which were
constructed of wood and galvanized iron,
is not great but the destruction of 1000
machines ready for shipment and 1900
almost completed, the patterns, which
We're an accumulation that have cost
thousands Of dollars. and the costly new
machinery that filled the factory, brings
the loss up to S245.O0O without a cent
of insurance.
Whitley moved his factory to Muncie
from Springfield. o., two years ago and
has since furnished employment TO from
300 TO 500 men, a majority of whom came
here with him from Springfield
Mr.. Whitley arrived from Chicago this
evening while the fire was in progress.
He said that the factory would prob
ably be rebuilt on much larger scale.
The factory consisted of the
main building, 40 by 4S0, with
fifteen wings. each 40 by 200
ures covered with galvanized iron. The
factory and a strong north wind swept
the flames 10 all parts of the factory,
and in less than one hour the entire
building was consumed.
The factory was situated just across
the river in the new town of Whitley,
unavailable 70 the city fire department
and the rate of insurance very high.
The fire started from red-hot gas stoves
used to dry paint work on some rush
order machines to be shipped tomorrow.
While the loss is very great Mr.. Whitley
is by no means financially ruined, as he
has recently won damage suits from the
Mccormick and other reaper companies
for infringement on his patents aggre-
eating several hundred thousand dollars,
and IL is possible that the factory will
be rebuilt much grander than before.
Mr. Whitley was Frustrated and re-
fused to talk, grieving like a child. He
has been engaged in the business over
half a century. Two cars loaded with
knives and fine steel weref at the
factory today to be unloaded tomorrow.
Their destruction added $1,000 to the
loss Several men were Frustrated with
heat in their efforts TO save fine TOOLS
MUNCIE, May -Special.-Instead of
1000 finished machines being destroyed
in the Whitley reaper works fire last
evening the number was 500. but over
one Thousand others were in Course of
construction
MT. MnlLtlN tollUldltS HIS lOSS- very
conservatiyely at $4,000 but says that
a half-million dollars would not have Sc
cured his consent to have the building
fired as il was. The loss which was
greatest to Mr.. Whitley and on which no
estimate can be made. was on the valu-
able patterns. He had recently finished
models for a patent self-binder, which
was soon to have been made and given a
trial test
If his expectations had been carried
out ii alone would have made him rich.
He had It sold for a big royalty. He
will now devote his whole attention TO-.
If possible, replace these patterns first Of
all and get the machine out
Very likely the work will be transferred
to the Amos Whitley reaper works in
Springfield. o., pending the adjustment
of the ruins here.
Omaha. Neb today offered Mr.. White
~ $4,000 to establish his factory in that
city, and this exhibition of generosity
only caused the first smile TO creep to the
reaper kings face since the fire.