The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-06-09
Big Structure Threatened With De-
Structi0n.
ASSAY HOUSE WAS BURNED
DAMAGE WILL AMOUNT TO
MORE THAN $4,000.
Loss Is Fully Covered By Insurance
Aided By Inadequate Water
Supply, the Flames Gained Con-
siderable Headway Before They
Could Be Checked.
fspecial correspondencel

Robinson, June Sat $3.50 o'clock this
morning fire was discovered in the big
Mammoth mill. Before the blaze could
be subdued it had done damage to the
assay building amounting to $4,000
No estimate could be obtained on the
damage to contents, consisting of
chemicals and aSsaying apparatus, but
it will amount to hundreds of dollars.
The loss is fully covered by insurance.
The town was aroused by the hoarse
scream of fire whistles, which brought
the tired men just off night shift,
tumbling from their beds TO join an
excited crowd hurryinG TO the
workmen fighting the flames that
threatened to consume the Mann
moth mill. They found the entire east
end of the large assay building a mass
of flames threatening the adjoining
works
In five minutes fully 200 men were on
the ground. Superintendent Michael
O'Rourke, with the assistance of a
corps of helpers, was able to direct the
efforts of the sturdy miners, where they
would accomplish the best results.
Inadequate Water Supply.
For fully ten minutes the water sup
ply was woefully inadequate and aided
by northeast wind the flames gained
rapid Roadway. 1t looked for time as
if no power could save the great mill
and surrounding property from total
destruction. Telephone messages were
hastily sent to the adjacent mines di-
recting that the water be turned of,
thus giving the mill the full benefit of
the pumps at Cherry creek. The COM
pany has fire tank of it's own with a
capacity of 5000 gallons, and when
connections had been made, the COM
bined power was sufficient to furnish
three heavy streams in addition fire
eXtinguiShers were hurriedly rushed
from the Miners Supply and other
stores.
In the meantime the large retort room
had caught and was a seething mass of
flames. 1t was apparent that all eff
forts in this direction were useless so
force of 100 men was put to work
tearing down the adjoining store room
and removing such supplies as could
be handled.
At $50 the chemicals in the assay
room exploded and sections of the metal
roofing and bricks flew in all directions.
the report rising high above the roar
of the flames. That no one was killed
seems little short of marvellous, con-
sidering the reckless way in which the
employees exposed themselves to dan
ger. After an hours stubborn fight
ing on the part of the entire force, the
flames were gotten under control. At
this writing a tottering smokestack, a
smoldering mass of charred timbers
and twisted pipes is all that remains of
the building.
Origin of the Fire.
From what can be gathered it ap-
pears that the blaze was started from
the explosion of an oil stove in a hood
for evaporating and dissolving solu-
tions. Mr. Robbins states that he was
engaged in the furnace room adjoining
and hearing a slight report rushed in
to find the whole side of the building
in flames. The place being so satu-
rated with chemicals burned very cas-
lily. No blame can attach to anyone,
as the occurrence was unavoidable.
The loss includes a supply of valu-
able instruments, crucibles and all the