The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1904-02-02
BUCHER.C|BBS
PLOW WORKS
SUFFERS FROM A DlSAS.
TROUS FIRE.
Three Large Warehouses
Were Destroyed.
LOSS NEARLY Sl5O, 600
origin Of Fire is a Mystery--The
Buildings Were Full Of Valuable
Finished Work-Strenuous Fight to
Save the Main 6uildings-Loss is
Fully Covered by Insurance.

Save the Main 6uiIdings-Loss is
Fully Covered by Insurance.
Fire broke out in the central ware
house of the Bucher.Gibbs .plow
works at s o'clock last ulght and be.
fore the flames could be stopped the
three large frame warehouses that
stand side by side were totally de-
stroyed together with their contents.
The loss is estimated at from 100000
to S150,0O0, fully covered by insurance.
The buildings stood in an l. formed
by the main shops OF the company and
were packed from floor to roof with
the finished products of the shops
plows, disc harrows and other agricul.
tural machinery, and all of which
were destroyed by the flames
The flames were discovered by
Watchman Miller who had passed
through the building just a few mo-
ments before. Another employe was
in the building at the time. An alarm
was sent in to the department and
then the hose in the building was
utilized in an effort to stop the fire
before it gained much headway. The
highly inhamable material in the
building fed the flames and they
spread so rapidly that the workmen
were compelled to retreat. When the
firemen reached the scene they were
delayed in getting into the building
by box car which was in the en-
trance next to the fire, and the result
hot .,rh1 80
building was in flames. The three
buildings are united in front on
Eighth street and divided by narrow
passage ways in the rear. 1t was but
few moments until all three Sec
tions we're on fire beyond hope of
saving them, and the efforts were di-
rected to saving the main buildings,
which are built OF brick.
The firemen found great difficulty
in gaining access to the warehouses.
When they broke in the windows in
almost every instance they found
numberless plows piled up against
them, which interfered with the play
of the water. 1t was not long until
the floors began to give way under the
weight of the implements and there
was constant dropping to the ground
floor, which made it dangerous for the
flremen to attempt to go into the
building.
A successful fight was made to save
what is known as the dripping room, |
where were stored in three large |
vaults over 1000 gallons of paint |
This department was right next to |
the shops and it was feared that if |
the flames reached the plant and there |
was an explosion that the main build. |
ings would be destroyed.
The works had been closed down for !
two days owing to the death of Mr..
Henry A. Cavnah, president of the |
company, and no work had been done
except that on Thursday a car had |
been run in and loaded with some |
stock that had to be sent out imme-
diately. A fire had been built in a
stove near the place where the work
men had been employed and it is !
thought that possibly the fire origlnat-
ed there, as it was near this point that |
the flames were first seen. The ra-
pidity with which they spread was
something amazing.
The light from the burning build !
ings attracted large crowd of spec
tators and thousands stood about and
watched the firemen in their fight to |
save the main structure. A large !
number of tho minute men were press
ed into the service and as many
streams of water as possible were
kept playing upon the buildings.
W. j. Poyser. secretary of the COM
nany, stated that there could be no
definite estimate made Of the loss I'M
I'll an inventory is taken. All the |
books and records that were in the |
buildings were saved and the company
hopes to be able to fill all their or.
ders, which are quito large. There are
large quantities Of goods stored in |
the old Berger works and there is in
transit material for beams, etc, that
will make 1t possible to keep right on
with the work. None of the goods in !
the export room were damaged.
The insurance upon the contents of |
the buildings burned, Mr.. Poyser
stated. is $4,000. which will more
than cover the loss. Tho amount upon
the buildings could not be given. The
company will Immediately rebuild the
warehouses. making as near as posi-.
be brick fire proof structures. No
men viii be thrown out CT employ.
ment, but The company may have to
increase its force to catch up with it's
csders.