The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1898-04-22
ANOTHER BAD FIRE,
Estey Carriage Co. IS Factory Totally De-
stroyed-Narrow Escape of City Mills
Loss Over $40, 600 90.

Estey Carriage Co. s Factory Totally De-
stroyed-Narrow Escape of City Mills
Loss Over $40, 600. 90.
The entire plant of the Estey Carriage
Company burned to the ground shortly after
midnight Tuesday morning, making a total
loss OF some 10000, only about S27, 900 of
which Is covered by insurance, and throw
Ing some forty-6ve men out of employ
ment. 1t Is one of the most severe losses
which Owosso has ever been called upon to
bear.
At twenty minutes of one the nightwatch
at the factory .telephoned the alarm to the
water works, where the fire alarm was
blown, but as no box number was given IL
was not generally known at once where the
fire was, and some even connected the
blowing of the whistle with the war scare.
BY the time the department reached the
factory the nature of the contents as we'll as
the material of which the factory is COM
posed, all combined with the location OF the
fire near the elevator shaft, had conspired
to put its control out of the list of possible
things. The flames had ascended Through b
the building by the elevator shaft or that
part OF 1t through which the weights run,
and had spread on every floor. The build.
Ing, which has been used during the greater
part OF twenty years for finishing wood
work, either furniture or carriages, was not
only as dry as tinder, but In some places
doubly infiammable from accumulated drip
pings or oil and varnish. The result was
one OF the hottest fires Owosso has ever
seen.
IL was apparent at once that the whole
factory including the new ware house built
last year west of the factory was doomed.
but the fremen worked hard to keep the
fire down sufficiently to protect neighboring
property. AS it was several poles belong.
ing to the telephone and electric light COM
panies were destroyed and the Michigan
Telephone Co.'s Detroit lines were melted
in two. Bill boards caught fire as did also
piles of lumber and slabs in the vicinity of
the factory. A barn on the east came rear
burning. The big Estey factory and yards
were In danger from the falling cinders but
that property was under the close watch of
sufficient force armed with the company's
Babcocks, and as much of the company,s
hose as had not already been sent over to
help at the big fire. The Estey oil house
was in the most danger but that but for a
few minutes. Had 1t not been for the rain
which had been falling all night, 1t is quite
prabable that the fire would have spread
over large area and have done incalcula-
BILE damage.
The greatest danger, however, was in
front OF the factory, where 1t was so hot
that hose filled with water and lying:in the
street was ruined by the heat, and where it
appeared at times that the new City Mills
might go at any time. The old elevator
directly acr 1ss from the factory and few
feet east of the mills caught fire in the
cupola and burned quite stubbornly. 1t
was finally saved, however, and with 1t the
mills, which escaped with no more serious
injury than scorched and blistered paint. In
the elevator were some ninety barrels of
-four stored by Hall Bros, and about five
hundred bushels of oats owned by Parshall
& Co.
The work of the fire department was un-
usually difficult owing to the great heat
which blistered and burnt the faces and
hands of the boys and cracked their rubber
coats. Hose was attached to every hydrant
pear the fire and In all eight streams were
being thrown. After the flames were COM
pletely checked the boys were served with
hot refreshments by Mr.. Parshall of the
City Mills, In testimony of at least small
part of his appreciation for their good work
IN his behalf.
Considerable sympathy has been mani.
tested among the business men for the
Messrs. A. ID. Whipple and G. s. Williams
who were the heaviest losers, while the
whole city has keen interest in the loss;
Is 1t is yet quite uncertain whether or not
The factory will be rebuilt. 1t Is to be hop
I'D that the stockholders will find the condi.
ions warrant their rebuilding, and that the
company will rebuild on a plan not only
more extensive but more convenient and
safer than before.