Evening journal., 1908-02-03
WORKS
PREY TO FLAMES
iremen Suff.r in Cod as
They BattIe TO Save ISen-
b,Tg Bros Place


Fire last night destroyed the mat
tress factory of the Isenberg Brothers
Company at Eleventh and Thatcher
streets. entailing a loss of about $4,000.
The owners of the plant are of the
opinion that the blaze was Of an in
cendiary origin and an investigation
will most likely be made.
The fire broke out at 7.30 o'clock
and because of the fierce wind blowing
at the time, the flames spread quickly,
and in a short time enveloped the
entire structure The thermometer
registered IA degrees below zero and
the firemen suffered greatly. They fire.
quently had to change with others and
seek places of warmth and many of
them were covered with ice from head
to foot
The Independence Fire Company was
first notified of the fire and shortly
afterward Patrolman Michael Barr sent
in an alarm from box No. 16 at Eighth
and Church streets.
Isenberg Brothers Company are
iobbers in mattresses, pillows and
cushions, and in the same building
there was a carpet cleaning, upholster-
! ing and renovating plant In the man
ufacture Of mattresses straw, jute, hair
and other indammable materials We're
used, which proved to be excellent fuel
for the flames to feed upon. The
flames licked up bale after bale of the
stock and quickly spread throughout
the entire building.
The fire continued for more than
two hours, and it was after 10 o'clock
before Chief Ward decided to call off
the companies
Blames lnoendiaries.
George B. Eisenberg, president Of the
concern, is Of the belief that incen-
diaries started the fire. In statement
made after the fire, he said:
"The fire is undoubtedly of incen-
diary origin. There was not fire of
any kind or nothing in the building
that would cause a fire since Saturday.
7 have every reason to believe the
place was set on fire, but knew of no
me who has any cause Of doing any
hing like that. / don't believe I have
'n enemy who would want to take such
revenge. and there isno one I know of
Who would want to do such a thing
"On Saturday evening Edward H.
Iill. who comes to the plant every
evening to feed the horses, found the
wire screen, which is fastened over a
window in the back of the building
'ut and pulled out and the window
broken He thought the incident
trauge, but after making an eXami-
nation and finding nothing to arouse
IFS suspicious other than the broken
window. he boarded up the screen.
Earlier this evening Hill returned to
| rFN 1ar IsuN
The boards over the window had been
pulled off This window was in the
back Of the bui' ding along the Eleventh
treet side. and any one could work at
Q without being seen from the street,
or the high board fence along Elev-
nth street would have shielded them
HIlll again made a perfunctory exam
nation this evening, but found moth
ng.
Tt has only been a short time that
The insurance underwriters were here
md examined the structure. and they
found all the electric light wiring in
drst-c'ass condition and fireproof The
fire could not nave started from cross
ed wires"
Mr.. Isenberg said the building, which
was a two-story brick structuce about
40 by 100 feet. originally cost $500 A
short time ago the firm made improve
ments to it costing s2,500. It had just
installed an immense stock prepara-
tory to the opening Of the spring trade
and only last week had made an In
ventory Of the stock. which 1t found
totalled $4,000 The building was filled
with stock, and the plant was really
overcrowded with work The whole
plant and entire stock was a complete
loss. The company carried $4,000 in
surance on the building and stock.
Cold Hampered tho Firemen.
The firemen were hampered in the
work at first. by frozen plugs and the
bursting Of hose. when the water be-
came coneealed in the latter. Il was
so cold that the water fro2e to every
thing into which II came in contact
except the fire. The fremen were
grateful to members Of the Senator
Boat Club who furnished hot coffee
lnring the night. making pot after poi
of the steaming beverage for the mer
employed at fighting the flames.