The herald., 1895-03-25
Reid Brothers Packing Houses
in Kansas City Burned
FLAMES SPREAD RAPIDLY
More Than One Million Dollars
Damage Caused
Heavy Wind Aided the Flames Disastrous
Explosion Prevented By the Firemen.
Work of Destruction Complete

NA4NOho VII IudTCu Zt.-ht O.OO
O'Clock tonight fire broke out in the hog
building of the Reed Brothers Packing
Company's plant at Kansas and Railroad
avenues in Kansas City, Kas., and almost
the entire group of buildings was COM
pletely destroyed, causing loss of over
$1,000, 900. At 10 80 O'Clock the following
buildings have been destroyed and the
fire is not yet under control, owing to
the want of water pressure. The three
story building, the four-story storage
building, the engine house.
When the fire was discovered a watch
man telegraphed the Kansas City fire de-
partment and general alarm was
sounded. The flames spread over the top
floor of the hog building with incredible
rapidity, the flames feeding on the meats
and oils. Before the tiremen had laid
line of hose the roof had fallen in. The
flames from the hog building communi
Gated with the engine house on the south
and soon wrecked the boiler and destroy
ed the effectiveness of the company's fire
apparatus.
A disastrous explosion was narrowly
averied by the tiremen who, at the risk OF
life and limb, rolled twenty barrels of gas
oline from the buildings. From the en-
gine building the fire spread to five one
story frame Ice houses, each oO0x125 feet.
lncoc WCTc Tdplulv CcVOuTeu Dy Uue
flames, and then the four-story storage
building, which was right in line, fe a
prey to the element of destruction.
1nere was $780, 600 worth of meats in
the basement OF this building. The first
floor was used as warehouse. The Sec
ond was flied with dry salt meats. On the
third floor were big hogsheads full of
meats ready for shipment, while the fourth
floor was packed with dressed meats. The
fire leaped from room to room, and roared
and cracked until the roof fell in, and the
flames shot fifty feet in the air. At this
point the Kansas City, Mo-, fire depart
ment was appealed to for assistance and
six hose companies and two engines re-
spqpded. The water tower from the
Armour Packing Company also assisted.
At 7:20 o clock the west wall of the hog
building fell with a crash. The flames
burst over the bridge connecting the
storage house with the beef house and the
bridge burned fiercely. The iremen
turned their whole attention to saving
the beef house and dozen streams were
turned on the burning bridge.
Notwithstanding the strenuous efforts
of the fire department. section after sec
tion of the bridge was partially destroyed
and final y fell to the ground where the
work of destruction was completed. Fin
ally the beef house caught fire and the
fremen were powerless to stay the greedy
flames as they ate their way into the
building through the bridge.
When it was seen that the entire plant
was in imminent danger of complete de-
struction more aid was called for, and
the entire force on the ground was turned
to saving the beef warehouse. In short
time the building and contents were safe,
and the firemen concentrated their efforts
on the storage building, which was burn
ing tiercely. A heavy wind coming up
caused the flames to burn with renewed
IL, l.
fell in, and soon thereafter the south and
west walls toppled over. But little time
elapsed before the building was COM
plete wreck. The three-story smoke house
is separated from the storage building by
thirty feet small one-sJory building
standing between them. This was soon
blazing. The wind veered to the east be-
fore much damage was accomplished,
however, and the building was saved.
At AS the fire was brought under
control, but as heavy wind was blowing
the tiremen were kept on duty to avoid
any posi- bility Of the fire spreading.
The entire plant is valued at $500, 900,
ranges from $500, Oooto 81, 600, 900. The loss
on the buildings destroyed will probably
be $4OO 900 to $500, 600, and that on the
meats, oil, lard and other products con-
sumed will bring the total to over 81, ,25O, :
000 The insurance is ample to cover all
losses. -Four men were slightly injured
1t is impossible tonight to secure de-
tailed insurance, officials of the companies
refusing to give it out at present.
INDIANAPOLIS, March 24.-In an in
terview with an Associated Press reporter
tonight Mr.. Samuel Reid, one of the firm
of Reid Brothers & Company, owners OF
the burned Kansas City plant said as to
their rebuilding that the directors would
decide it. but there was little question
but the plant would be rebuilt at once.