Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1902-09-04
DRY KILN BURNED
AT THE WESTERN COOPERAGE
CO.'S WORKS, TUESDAY.
The Utmost Exertions We're Required to Save
the Entire Plant Of the Company From
Destruction. Gallant Fire Fighting. With
Limited Water Supply. hoquiam to the
Rescue.

During noon hour, Tuesday, fire was
discovered in the large dry kiln of the
Western Cooperage Co., and for four
hours the fire departments OF Aberdeen
and Hoquiam, aided by hundreds of citi.
zens, labor.d to prevent the spread of
the flames to the other buildings of the
works, and the neighboring dwellings.
Those efforts were successful, and the
fire was confined to the dry kiln, which
was filled with 10000 feet of finished
barrel heads and slaves. 1t is safe to
say that no better work was ever done
at fire by volunteer firemen than was
performed on this occasion.
The fire started from a spark from the
fire pit, where the mill refuse is burned,
which burned hole in the roof of the
dry kiln, and had got under good head.
way among the slaves before it was dis
covered. The Aberdeen Fire Department
was soon on the scene after the alarm
was given, but was seriously handicapped
by the small supply of water available.
When the cooperage works moved to
this site, after being burned out in South
Aberdeen, three years ago, there were no
other buildings in that vicinity, and the
plant then was small, being valued at
81, 900, and four-inch water main was
thought sufficient. This plant has been
increased since then, until it is now
valued at $4,000, and dwelling houses
enough have been built in that vicinity
to make a respectable sized town, and
the fire Tuesday clearly demonstrated
theimmediate necessity for larger main,
for the protection of the brewery and
shipyard as we'll as the cooperage
works.
AS soon as the gravity Of the fire be-
came known, all the mills in the city
ceased work and sent their men to fight
the fire, and they did great work, man.
ming Che Old hand engine and otherwise
aiding the firemen. tlvq~;..... -v..s 81,
pealed to for help and Immediately re-
sponded by sending up large detach-
ment of her fremen and steam fire
engine. 1t is to the services of this en-.
CINE that the cooperage company owes
the saving of its plant, as the two streams
that the home department were able to
get from the 4-inch main were wholly IT..
adequate to the task of extinguishing
the flames, and, had the wind been as
high as it usually is on the water front,
the works and entire neighborhood could
scarcely have been saved from destruc-
ton.
The wind raised about 2 o'clock, and
it was thought the Office and some of the
near dwellings were doomed, and the
most portable effects were removed. The
water mains in other sections of the city
were closed, and all the water diverted
to the main leading to the scene OF the
fire. and l20 pounds pressure was main
tanned at the pumping station.
Several workers at the fire were affect
ed by the extreme heat. Chas. Louth
tainted from the effects of the smoke
and heat, and was removed to his home.
l.. L. Maley was affected by the heat,
but remained until the danger was over
before going home. DIR. Paul Smits re-
ceived a severe cut on the head from the
pick on the back of fire axe. The doc
tor was inside the bnilding directing a
nozzle, and the place was filled with
smoke. A fireman was cutting a hole
through the partition wall, and, as he
drew the axe back to strike blow, the
pick struck the doctor. He went up
town, had the wound dressed, and re-
turned and fought fire to the finish.
The dry kiln is 1O4x2l feet, and 12 feet
high, inside measurement, and contained
slaves and headings for 10000 sugar
barrels. g. P. Clerin, one of the com.
pany, says the loss will be between
4, 900 and $1,000. and it is included in
the general insurance policy which covers
the entire plant, so that the loss to the
firm will not be Known until the matter
is adjusted, and it is learned what pro-
portion the burned property bears to
the entire amount of the policy.
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