Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1905-09-15
elevator BURNS;
Loss A million
GRAIN TO AMOUNT OF 100000
BUSHELS DESTROYED IN
FIRE AT CHICAGO.
FlREMEN SNATCH
NINE FROM DEATH
Men Overcome Are Rescued by Fire
Fighters-Forty Engines at Work
on Blaze - The Confagration Is
Spectacular.

chicago, Sept. 11.-More than 1,000,-
600 bushels of wheat were destroyed
by fire Saturday at the Santa Fe ele-
vator, Twenty-seventh and Wood
streets. In addition, the flames con-
sumed 100000 bushels of corn and 1O0,-
900 bushels of oats. The elevator it.
self was total loss and In the great
confagration, wonderfully spectacular
In its immensely, over $1,000,0OO in
property was wiped out of existence.
For many blocks around the scene
smaller fires started in various lum-
Der yards, originating from flying en-
bers from the elevator. Five engine
companies were kept busy extinguish-
ing these little fires and fighting to
save the lumber district from great
disaster
The fire is believed to have started
from spontaneous combustion in a
grain bin ON the top floor. The build
ing was five stories high, of steel
frame, and covered with corrugated
iron. OF late the receipts had been
very heavy, and day and night shifts
of men had been employed receiving
the grain. Only few hours previous
to the fire two vessels unloaded their
Icargoes at the elevators. The total ca
Ipacity of the bins was 100000 BUSH
|els, and the limit had been almost
reached. The elevator was controlled
by the Harris-Scotten company. The
building was valued at $150,000.
Forty Engines at Work.
About 40 fire engines were at work
at ono time at the elevator and in
the vicinity, and several fire boats as.
sisted in the fight The fire tug Denis
j. Swenie was the first of the depart.
ment to arrive. The fire boats Chi
cago and Illinois came later.
Many Of the engines were unable tt
pump water on the fire, as the dis.
tance from the hydrants was too great
The nearest water plug was more thar
200 feet away, while others were al
most 400 yards from the building. Foul
engines were used on some leads. The
fire tugs each threw three streams
on the building.
Forty or more grain cars were stand
ing on side track near the building
when the fire started. Engines were
called and these were moved after con
siderable difficulty by the train crews
None Of the cars was burned,
Flames Gain Rapidly.
Within il minutes after the fire hat
been discovered the entire building wa
in flames. An hour after the fire start
cd the floor collapsed, and later tn,
sides Of the building gave way. Thou
sands OF bushels of grain poured int
the river from the north side OF tn,
building.
i While on the way to the fire engin,
company No. 25 narrowly missed be
ing struck by train at Sangamon ant
West Eighteenth streets. The driver
in order to avoid the accident, wa
forced to drive the engine into tn
icurbing Of the street, which is un
paved. The wheels sank into the sof
earth. The harness was broken an,
the flremen were delayed for almos
an, hour.
The Chicago Union Traction com
pany sent wrecking wagon and tn
engine was towed to the fire. TIL
bad condition OF the streets in tina
portion Of the city hampered the fire
men.
Nine Men Overcome.
Nine men, employees of the elevate
company, were overcome by smok
while fighting the flames shortly afte
the fire was discovered. They wer
rescued by fremen, who dragged then
out Of the building The men wer
Michael Hogan, night foreman; A. 1
Parker, superintendent; Frank ia
cobson, w. w. Wolff, William Hegstor
John Parker, Albert Parker, Willia1
soper and w. Hurlbut. Superintend
Ient Parker gave possible explanation
OF the IRE. He said he believed tina
an elevator strap had broken and tina
thefriction had started the fire. The ele
vator ruins presented striking sigh
Heaps Of half-cooked grain were piled 1
miniature mountain ranges. while q
least 500 women and children wer
carrying OF wheat and corn in bag
aprons, baskets and pals. The Ell
forts Of the police to keep them ava
4 were in vain