Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1902-11-21
PACKING PLANT GONE
ARMoUR's IMMENSE INSTITUTION
At SIOUX CITY, ia, De.
sTaoYEp ~ FIRE.

monia Aid in the Work of Destruc-
tion-Fire Department Unable to
: Cope With the Flames.
Sioux City, Ia, Nov. 1.-THE big
plant of Armour & Co., which occupied
three and one-half acres of ground at
the extreme south end of the stock
yards district, was totally destroyed
by a fire which started early in the
day on the second floor of the fertil-
izer building. The loss, estimated by
Charles w. Lennon, manager OF the
company, was total, or $900, 900.
The cause of the fire was said by
Mr.. Lennon to have been either spon-
taneous combustion or an imperfect
drier.
There is 1871. 500 of insurance on the
Armour property. Six hundred men
will be thrown out of employment all
winter by the fire. The fire vas dis
covered by a Waterman of the build
ing, who a few minutes before had
pulled a messenger box on the floor
where it started. The flames quickly
called out. Six streams of water were
soon being thrown upon the flames,
which were cutting the fertilizer build
ing, but the pressure was inadequate.
The floor and contents of the building
burned like chaf. The roof fell in,
and a minute later the fire burst
through into the beef killing house.
Instantaneously with the catching fire.
Of the beef killing house, the cattle
chute ignitsd and lasted about five
minutes, when it fell with a great
crash. From the beef killing house to
the oleo house was only a step, and
when the lard started to burn, the fire
presented a most spectacular appear
ance. By the time the big beef house,
where 500 carcasses nearly dressed
were hanging, caught fire, the whole
plant, except the hog house, was a lake
Of flames. Suddenly there was a ter
rifle explosion, followed quickly by
another and then another.
Terrific Explosions Of Ammonia.
Twenty-four drums of 100 pounds of
ammonia each, exploded by the re-
serve supply in the ammonia cistern,
was reached. That ignition almost
RACED the entire plant Off it's founda-
ton.
The flames soon burst through the
heavy fire wall which separated the
big hog house from the other build
ings. The hog house was the last
building to the north and the largest
of all.
f. Steadily the fire crept against the
wind and through the Office building,
which from the first had been envel-
.oped in flames. A quantity of paper
of various kind was saved out Of the
Office. When the warehouse caught,
all streams were turned in that direc-
ton, but the water seemed like oil.
In the building were $500 dressed
hogs and $780, 900 pounds of pork
produce. After the fire had obtained
a good Roadway in the hog house, all
hope Of saving any part CT lie plant
was abandoned. The shops, chicken
packing plant, ice houses and ice uc,-
ways and smaller department houses
were consumed in quick succession.
The efforts of the fire department
were as feeble in effect as drops OF
rain in an ocean The fire continued
to burn all day and in the afternoon
there was another terrific explosions,
which threw bricks and pieces Of iron
for hundreds of yards, endangering
thousands OF spectators, but no one
was seriously hurt.