The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-09-19
BIG DEAL FINISHED
All the Kansas City stocks of Meats
Safely Transferred Here.

American enterprise and prompt meet
ing of unexpected emergencies was never
better portrayed than in the recent seri-
Gus episode of the disastrous fire at the
Kansas City house of the Jacob Dold
Packing company. The western spirit of
vim and push has been graphically dis
played all through this trying ordeal On
Saturday morning. September ., at 1915
o'clock fire was discovered in the plant.
and it was fully o'clock before the fire.
men had it under control.
The month previous the Dold company
house at Kansas City had bought and
killed and cut up S4OO cattle, II, $50 hogs
and 653 sheep. All this stock, with later
additions, was in the several processes
Of curing or else hanging in the coolers
ready for shipment. It was serious
enough to have any kind Of fire just at
that time, but 50 it happened that the
most vital portions of the big concern
were destroyed. If the warerooms or Of
fees, or most any other part Of the house
had been affected, the loss would have
been comparatively slight. and the annoy
ance and delay only temporary, but as It
happened. the most vital and critical or
tions of the establishment were destroy
ed, leaving the entire plant helpless.
All of the costly machinery Of the great
plant was destroyed in half an hours
time, and this machinery alone was val
ued by a member of the firm at the time
at 100000 At 2 O'Clock in the morning
the fire had been confined to the north
west side of the plant, but the eight big
engines and about all the costly machin-
cry had been destroyed. All the ammonia
tanks, the lard and oil receptacles, the re-
frigeration system, the electric dynamos,
and, in fact, all the mechanical and pow
e. contrivances were gone leaving the
immense amount of stock at the mercy
we're possible to be placed in action to
keep the desired temperature.
Mr.. Chas. bold was at the time alone in
charge of the plant, as his brother, J. C.
Dold. manager of the local house. was
then absent in the east on important
business. kilograms at once summoned
A. w. Dold. treasurer Of the corporation,
q. \.
and also Fred W. Dold from Wichita,
manager Of the local house. At once
came the question Of what to do with all
the immense stocks Of meats in the sub
cellars. 1t was all safe for the time. as
the dry salt cellars and the pickle end
nd not been touched by the devastating
flames All the other big packers in
Kansas City at once came TO the rescue
and promptly offered all their aid posi-
BILE, as did also the several cold storage
concerns. But the immense stocks OF
meats in process of cure weer too great
for any OF the big concerns OF the city 20
handle, willing and ready as they were
Then. too the underwriters and insur-
ance adjustors had yet to meet TO deter
mine as TO the final disposition OF the
meats. The four members of the bold
corporation then present at last decided
that this large stock OF meats must be
shipped TO Wichita simply for storage
and safe keeping until such time as Il
might be released or determined to whom
mense undertaking. but Mr.. Fred Dold
was equal to the critical emergency and
at once acquiesced in the plan and prom
ised with no hesitancy at all that his
Wichita house. already overcrowded with
overtime, neutrality-suspicious.
orders and every department working
overtime. should be ready and take care
Of all the stuff they might send down
here. Commencing with Sunday two
weeks ago day before yesterday. this big
pile Of stock began % arrive At ? O'Clock I
on that Sunday the first train load ar
rived. For Two weeks steadily all day
and part OF the night. day IN and day ont.
regular forces were kept on duty and ex-
ira gangs were summoned. and every idle I
man in Wichita was readily offered work