The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1905-11-03

Paducah Cooperage Co., said TO be
the biggest heading factory in the
United States, burned TO the ground
this morning between 1 o'clock and
daylight, entailing loss estimated
by men acquainted with the business
at not less than $150,00O fully COW
cred by insurance. The origin of the
fire is unknown but is supposed to
have been spontaneous combustion,
and the buildings were a mass of
flames when the fire departments ar
rived. Heroic work was done by both
firemen and volunteers, but that por-
ton of the plant was doomed.
The plant which burned was that
in which heading was made. 1t con-
sisted of turning room where the
rough material is turned into shape
and finished, and the dry kiln. The
main building, the turning and fin
ishing rooms, was brick, size look
ITO, and the dry kiln of wood, size
100x125 feet The buildings were
narrowly separated and the boiler
rooms were about twenty feet from
the main buildings, and when the
fire was discovered the dry kiln was
mass of flames. The blaze was first
seen about 1:15 o'clock when Night
Waterman George Markham was
making his rounds. He turned in an
alarm and the fire departments made
an excellent run. Streams were soon
playing on all sides of the buildings.
but served only to prevent a spread.
No amount of water could have saw
ed the building so great a Roadway
had been gained. --
The dry kiln was filed with ma
terial, about SO carloads of heading
being stored away for drying. Only
one car had been loaded and this
was showed away from the building
before it caught. Another car, an
empty one. caught fire and was burn
ed so badly that 1t will have to be |
rebuilt. This was the only loss, the |
railroad company will sustain.
The fire attracted hundreds to the |
scene and there were plenty of will |
ing hands to aid in saving property. |
Many hundred stacks of material in |
the rough surrounded the building
on the west side, but the good work
of firemen and volunteers saved this
from igniting.
The fire ragged for hours and at
noon the ruins were still burning.
The big stock of heading, all thor
oughly dried, made good food for
the flames and it is estimated the de-
bris will continue to burn for several
days. However streams of water are
played on the smolderlng
heap to cool it off and make II posi-
BILE to rebuild at once.
This, the heading department, was
formerly the Kilgore plant. 1t was
built in the fall of 1894 to replace
the plant owned by Col. j. l.. Kilgore
which burned few months before
Later consolidation was effected by
Messrs. j. l.. Kilgore of Anderson,
Ind; j. II. Hollingshead. of Chica-
CO. V. j. Blow, of Louisville, and ].
n McWright, of Huntingdon, Tenn.
all owners of valuable heading and
cooDerage plants. three being located
here, and corporation known as the
Paducah Cooperage Co. launched.
This comprised the big barrel factory i.
about two squares beyond
he burned building on the riverside,
he Kilgore plant which burned and
he Blow stave factory in Littleville. A.,
Also the Hollingshead plant at
lives, Tenn, and countless sawmills
scattered about the country.
No official estimate can be secur-
d on the loss of this mornings fire, 4,
he management having no complete .
gures. but from persons acquainted =
With the building, their value, the 8
and stock, say that the II
Dss will amount to not less than =,
100000. Whatever It Is the man A
cement has It fully covered by in
urance.
Mr. Blaine niigore, superintend-
mt OF the heading factory stated $
hat by tomorrow definite figures
'ould probably be given as to The
'ss, but today no statement would
Q made. ~
The machInery is all ruined and y
he walls OF the brick building torn bl
own. 1t VIII mean a complete re- q
of the plant, and work ~
i'll bQQin In "A fQW daVg and fl-a pi