The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1903-10-12
WhitehOuSe-CrimminS Plant
Destroyed Yesterday.
WAS OF AN NCENDIARy ORIGIN
Loss Is $4,000 With but $4,000 In
surance-company Will Immedi-
ately Rebuild.

One Of the most destructive fires
that have visited Walla Walla in re-
cent years early yesterday morning
destroyed the planning mill and lumber
yard of the WhitehOuse-C -Crimmins
company. Mr.. Whitehouse this morn
ing estimated the company's loss at
s75, 900 with insurance of but $14, ,45O.
Of this amount the loss on lumber
stored in the yards and manufactured
stock is placed at $4,000 and on the
plant $25,000 Most of the insurance
carried was on stock, the rate OF 9
per cent on the plant being almost
prohibitive.
Although the burned district was
yet glowing in places, the manage
ment this morning began planning for
the building of another plant, but
of brick or wood had not de-
cided upon this afternoon. Mr..
will leave this evening
for Portland to buy new machinery,
while Mr.. Crimmins will attend to
the plans for rebuilding. Men and
teams were set to work early this
morning removing the debris left by
the fire and the work Of rebuilding
will be commenced Immediately, Mr..
estimating that the plant
will be running within six weeks 1t
will be necessary to install new ma
chinery throughout. the old machinery
being rendered absolutely worthless
by the fierce heat. Mayor Hunt this
morning generously rendered the
the use Of his planning mill
until the new plant can be erected.
The burned district covered nearly
a whole block, the company using six
lots on the west side of Third street
for the lumber yard. offices and stock
warehouses. The planning mill occu-
pied three lots on the east side Of
the street.
The blaze started about lis yester-
day morning in a small building and
pile Of lumber in the northwest corn
er of the yards and was undoubtedly
Of incendiary origin. Residents in the
who were aroused By the
free light and cracking declare the
flames shot up as if fed by inflam-
mable material and spread with start
ling rapidity, Officer Sanderson
standing near the fire station noticed
the bright light and turned ia an
alarm Immediately. AS the depart
ment was leaving the station resi-
dents near the burning yards sent in
another alarm.
The department has been subject
to no little criticism on the part Of
property owners for the manner in
whichc the fire is alleged to have
been handled. and the council in exc
cutive session tonight will thoroughly
sift to the bottom reports that the
engines were not in working order
The statements were freely made to-
day that the fire was badly handled
and that there was no excuse for the
south part Of the yard or the planning
mill burning Three streams were
turned onto the burning mass but lit
tie headWay could be made against
the flames, and one after another Of
the big piles Of lumber quickly caught
and were consumed until the ware
house, office and plant across the
street were attacked and eaten up.
Most of the efforts employed in fight
ing the blaze were directed to saving
residences in Cherry street,
which were threatened by the fierce
heat, compelling tenants to seek safer
quarters. A slight breeze carried
burning frebrands over the north
part of the city and the setting of
several other fires was narrowly
averted by watchers.
At O'Clock the flames had prac-
tically devoured everything consum-
able in their path, though debris con-
tinued to burn fiercely, necessitating
the throwing of much water.