Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-02-28
Loss is $5,ooo,ooo.

{ L 4 + -st : /, 4
Conservative estimates figure the
immediate loss at $5,000,000 divided as
follows:
Two elevators, warehouses
and sheds. -. 81, 800 900
%, 900 bales of cotton ...... 100000
100000 bushels of grain ,... $4,000
liz, 900 barrels of sugar ..... 100000
Cotton seed cake .......... 97,5001
Lumber i. -. .... ..... 16,625
Cement. -. -. ......... 56,250
Meal :. -. ....... 10000
Sundries 100000
City fire department. ..... $4,000
Private property and other
damages. ....... zlb,UO0
The railroad company carried its
own insurance and the contents of the
various elevators and sheds were in
sured in local and foreign agencies.
Apparently no lives were lost in the
4 fire though there were many, narrow
escapes among those engaged in fight
ing the flames.
In addition to the railroad property,
the fire destroyed the Crescent Ice
conapanyss plant, many small stores
and large number of small resi-
dences.
The fire will temporarily throw out
of work a large number Of employees.
Blaze Soon Beyond Control.
The fire is said to have resulted
from hot journal on a freight car.
The whole plant was equipped with
gigantic water tanks and fire extin-
gushing apparatus, but the blaze soon
got beyond control, spreading through
the conveyors to the elevator and
sheds. The response Of the fire de.
partment was prompt, but owing to
the fact that the terminals were not
readily accessible because Of fe IS
and tracks the engines found difficulty
in reaching the flames. In half an
hour the fire covered two squares, the
smaller elevator was consumed and
the fire was sweeping up and down
the river. Tugs fastened to draw YES
sells from wharfs into the river. Switch
engines pulled hundreds of box cars
out of danger, but hundreds more
were consum ed.
In two hours the lower elevator and
sheds and wharfs for six squares had
fallen. The flames swept to destruc-
ton many cottages of the poorer
classes, the occupants in many in
stances losing all they possessed.
The river boats, the employees of the
road and the fire department concen-
trated their energies to save the up
per elevator, but they were beaten and
the big steel structure, covered with
corrugated iron, suddenly burst into
flames and in half an hour was a
wreck.
At midnight more than nine squares
of the terminals had been destroyed,
and much other property damaged.
During the fire heavy north wind
carried brands to great distances
driving back sightseers Immense
pieces of hot corrugated iron, torn
from the sides of the larger elevator,
were carried through the air as if
they were feathers, and dropping in
every direction, constantly endangered
the lives of firemen and spectators.
The weather was warm, and $4,000
persons watched the progress of the
fire.
To Rebuild at Hot Springs.
Hot Springs, Ark, Feb. 27-Sunday
was a day of gloom here. The first es-
Inmates of the damage done by the
great confagration were not exagger.
ated. More than forty blocks were
burned, and the most conservative es-
innate places the loss at $1,5O0,OO
Insurance men say the figures will
reach S2,00O,000. The three bodies re.
covered are the only known fatalities.
The amount subscribed for relief is
$4,000 now, but it is steadily increas.
ing. Mayor Belding ordered all sa.
looms closed. Property owners are
planning with architects to rebuild in
the burned district.
Akron, o., Opera House Burns.
Akron, O., Feb. 27.-The Grand op.
era house burned Sunday, entailing al
loss of 100000 The adjoining build.
ing, containing the plant and stock of
the Commercial Printing company was
damaged to the extent of SIS 900.
Firemen William Shaughnessy, John
J. Jose, and John Dorner were injured
by falling wall. A hose that broke
away from other fremen injured John
L. Lodge and Leon L. Close.