New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-17
ARMOUR PLANT BURNED.
NOTHING REMAINS OF PACKING HOUSE
IN SIOUX CITY-Loss 100000

Sioux City Iowa Nov. 16.-The big plant OF
Armour & Co. which occupied three and a half
acres of ground at the extreme south end OF the
stock yards district. totally destroyed by
fire which started at 1850 O'Clock this morning
on the second floor of the fertilizer building
The loss estimated by Charles W. Lennon. man
ager of the company, is total. or S9oo,ooo Inc
insurance is S721, 800. The cause of the fire was
said by Mr.. Lennon to have been either spon-
taneous combustion or an imperfect dryer DIX
hundred men will be thrown out Of employment
all winter by the fire.
The fire was discovered by a Waterman OF the
building who only a few minutes before had
pulled q messenger box on the floor where the
flames started. The Armour private fire depart
ment of six men was quickly called out and
the entire city department followed. BY l:@o
o'clock six streams of water were being thrown
the fire. which was destroying the fertilizer
building but the pressure was inadequate. The
fertilizer building which was OF brick. 12ox6'
feet four stories high, was between the beer
killing house and the Chicago. st. Paul. Mime
apolis and Omaha Railroad tracks on the east
The floors and contents of the building burned
like chaH. At % O'Clock the roof fell in. and
moment later the fire burst through into the
beef killing house.
From the beef killing house 10 the oleo build
ing was only a step, and when the lard was
ignited the fire presented a spectacular appear
ance. The big beef house, where five hundred
carcasses We're hanging, caught at o'clock.
BY this time the entire plant, except the hog
house. was lake Of fire. Suddenly came ter
rife explosion. quickly followed by another and
another. Twenty-four drums of one hundred
pounds of ammonia each, exploded before the
reserve supply in the ammonia cistern was
reached. That ignition almost raised the entire
plant from its foundation.
At 30 O'Clock the flames burst through the
heavy fire wall that separated the big hog
house from the other buildings. The hog house
was the last building to the north, and the
largest of all. Steadily the fire crept against
the wind and through the Office building. which
from the first had been enveloped I'm flames
Not scrap of paper was saved from the Office.
About this time a burning roof of chute fell
upon number of live hogs, and their squeals
were added to the appalling chorus When the
hog house caught fire all streams were turned
In that direction, but the water seemed like oil,
In the building $500 dressed hogs and
2,J0obO pounds Of pork product.
After the fire got good Roadway in the hog
house all hope of saving any part of the plant
was abandoned. The shops. chicken packing
plant. ice house and ice FIinways and smaller
Cession. At 3 O'Clock the fire continued with
unchecked fury. The efforts OF the fremen
seemed without result. The terrible roaring
continued undated high brick walls crumbled
a spectacular view the fire a magnificent
sight
The fire continued to burn all day. and this
afternoon there was another terrific explosion,
which threw bricks and pieces of iron for hun
dredS Of yards, eudangering thousands OF spec
tators, but no one was seriously hurt.