Omaha daily bee., 1905-08-23
FIRE LOSS THIRTY THOUSAND
Linsesd Oil Works Badly Damaged, but
Fully Covered BY Insurance,
BRICK STORAGE PLANT IS GUTTED
origin of Fire is Not Known-Good
work of Firemen, saves Large
Elevator Next TO Burn
ing Building,

The plant Of the woodmen IAnseed OIL
works, Seventeenth and Nicholas streets,
controlled by the American Linseed COM
pany, was seriously damaged by fire Tues
day morning. The estimated loss is placed
at $4,000 The origin Of the fire is unknown.
The entire plant was assessed at $500, all
Of which is fully insured. making the fire
loss fully covered.
The fire was discovered at Sis a. m, soon
after Night Watchman John II. Carroll
made his last round. Flames were first
seen near the southeast corner of the sec
ond floor OF the three-story brick building,
which is used as a cooperage shop on the
third floor and for storage and pressing de-
partments on the lower floors. The build
ing also contained the engine and boiler
rooms. The fire broke out in some wood
work surrounding a coal bin and at a point
where a number of electric light wires enter
the building
The cooperage stock accelerated the
flames, which spread with considerable ra-
pidity for awhile. A general fire alarm
was turned in and by hard fighting on the
part of the fire department and the absence
of wind the fire was confined to the brick
building, which was gutted. Had the fire
spread to the south the elevator Of the lin
seed oil plant would no doubt have been
caught, as would also the Holmqulst &
Merriam elevator, a few feet south of the
linseed elevator. both structures being in
the direct path of the fire. The sprinkler
system installed some years ago in the lin
seed oil plant kept the walls of the Wood
man elevator cooled and was of considera-
BILE assistance to the fire fighters.
Contents of the Building.
The brick building which was damaged
contained a stock valued at about $50 600,
including the machinery used for pressing
the fax seed. The stock consisted of large
tanks Of linseed oil, quantity of linseed
oil cake and empty oil barrels. This stock
is practically all destroyed.
The damaged building was valued al
about $4,000, and was erected in 1886 So
far as the building is concerned, the base
| ment and first floor appear to be intact
while much of the upper walls shows
| cracks, which will necessitate more OIL
| less reconstruction.
This time of the year is between seasons
for the linseed oil works, the busy time be-
ginning the latter part of October, wher
/ the fax crop comes in and is pressed fol
the oil at the local mills,
Manager d. NJ. Deininger, who was early
at the fire, stated Tuesday morning thai
the plant would be improved Immediately
so as to be in shape for the next fax crop
The local plant is considered fourth II
point of Importance among the thirty-fiv,
plants operated by the American LinseeC
company Eighteen men are regularl!
employed at the omaha plant.
The family of Jack Hansford, living
Just west of the burning building, moved al
their household effects to a neighbor'
house, their home being in jeopardy fo
some time.
OF the total insurance carried. H,70O Il
carried in long list of companies through
H. E. Palmer & Son of this city, the bal
ance being handled through eastern agen
cies