The semi-weekly messenger., 1907-12-10
(FrOm Fridays MessengerD

the Independent Ice Company, on
Campbell street, between Second and
Third stress, were completely de-
stroyed by fire yesterday morning and
valuable property in the Immediate
vicinity was saved frOlG destruction
only as the result Of heroic work OF
the part of the men in the local fire
department.
The fire started in the ice storage
plant, a one-story frame building, be-
ing due it is believed to a match having
been dropped in the building during
the previous niSh- by tramps who are
alleged to have occupied 1t, and it
spread Immediately to the big cold
storage building adjoining On the west.
Both structures were of wood and they
were soon a seething mass of flames
Both of the buildings were entirely
empty, except for a tank containing
about $500 worth of ammonia, used
in the manufacture of ice, which was
released from the tank by Mr. l.. II.
Simmons, manager of the plant, soon
after the fire started, and the loss
which will amount to about $4,000,
represents only the value Of the build
ings.
The fire started shortly after seven
o'clock yesterday morning, and the
flames soon gained headway being
famed by strOngnorthWest wind. The
{ alarm calling out the fire department
, was sent in from the A. G. l.. depot
and several valuable minutes were
lost ty the department going to thai
location, making it necessary to cover
again, over slippery ground, part Of
the distance, but when the fire was
located no time was lost in beginn-
ing the fight on the flames.
There was much criticism yesterday
as TO the poor Wcytc" pressure fur
nisher at the beginning and it was
only after the engines started Wo1k
that the streams W3r3 Of sufficient
force to make any t1Way against
the advancing fire. For awhile 1T
seemed certain that the three story
frame residence on the east occupied
by captain Charles Teel, and the ice
plant on the west were doomed to de-
sSruction, but the firemcn fought va
liantly and their efforts succeeded
in preventing a spread from the two
structures. Several times Captain
Teel's house caught on fire but each
time the flames were suppressed before
any headway could be gained. The en-
tire side of the ice plant was badly
scOrched and charred and will have to
be partially rebuilt.
When the destruction Of Captain
TeeFs house seemed certain, parties to
the eastward, in the course of wind
driven flames, were preparing to move
their furniture from their homes, it
seeming for awhile that large pOr-
ton of the block was doomed, but
this was happily averted as the result
of the brave fight of the firemen.
Both of the buildings were Of wood
and they furnished fine fuel for the
Eames The cold storage plant was
erected several years ago at consider
able cost and it was one Of the most
complete of itC kind in tne state. The
loss on the building, as said above,
will reach about $4,000 and this is
partially covered by insurance, poll
cies amounting 70 $500 being car
ried in companies represented by Col.
Walker Taylor.
The cold storage plant, it is stated
by officials of the company, will prob
ably be rebuilt in the early future, al
though the necessity for this building
Awill depend largely on the size OF
Wbipments of the truck crops next
spring
The ice storage building had not
been in use for some time and only
recently it had been rented to the
Anheuser-Bush Co for storage pur-
poses but they had not begun its use
when the fire occurred.
The firemen battled with the flames
for more than three hours and large
crowd Of spectators witnessed the de-
struction of the building.
Fireman Jack Hart of the Hook and
Ladder Co., during the fire, slipped
from a pile of lumber on which he was
standing and he suffered a dislocation
of his knee cap, making it necessary
for medical attention which was given
him at the James Walker Memorial
hospital.
During the progress of the fire
Nessrs. W. G. vonGlahn and o. M.
Ffllyaw served coffee and sandwiches
to the firemen and their thoughtful
ness, on the cold, unpleasant morn
ing was deeply appreciated.