The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1909-12-16
THE CITY OF
RACINE SUFFERS
100000 FIRE
BIG PLANT OF RACINE MkNUFAC-
TURING CO. is DESTROYED
BY BLAZE.
MILWAUKEE SENDS AN ENGINE.
Members of Chief Clancys Force Relay
Racine Firemen and Suffer from
Blizzard and Blaze.
FAMILIES FLEE IN NIGHTCLOTHES

RACINE. Wis, Dec 13.-Fire early
Sunday morning destroyed the plant of
the Racine Manufacturing company and
several adjacent buildings, entailiug Il
loss of 100000. Frozen fire plugs and
inadequate water supply contributed to
make the fire the most disastrous expert
enced by the city in many years. En-
giues were sent from Milwaukee and ke-
nosha the firemen lcnding welcome relief
to the local force.
For while the fire seemed certain to
destroy the big plants of the J. |. Case
Pillow company, the Mitchell-Lewis Wag-
OH company and the kilnkert brewery,
together with nearby buildings. AS il
was, the Danish brotherhood hall, the
Peter Xinnin block, a saloon. boarding
house and the warehouse of the Mitchell
Lewis company were burned, while four
teen rcsilen in the vicinity were dam
aged to from 500 10 $1,000.
Origin Not AScertained.
The fire, of unknown origin, started III
the milroom of the Racine Manufacture
ing company and spread quickly to the
other five buildings comprising the plant,
in which were made piano stools ana
automobile bodies. On their arrival the
liremen found the nearest hydrant frozen
soidly When connections were made
finally with other hydrants the water
pressure proved inadequate.
Fire Marshal Cape's call for aid was
responded to by Engine company No. ~
and ten men under Capt. William riot
ter, who came from Milwaukee on Il Spe'
cial train over the NOrth-W eStcrn road
ON their arrival there were not suihcIeht
hydrants TO which to attach hose 50 me
apparatus was not unOaded. but the
Iol II Ia, -
O'Clock in the afternoon
The Racine Manufacturing company
employed 200 WOrkmen. all OF whom
lost their tools, worth from 500 to $40
per set Most of the residences dam,
aged were owned by this company and
occupied by its employees. This com,
panys loss isS6OO,OOO. with S21O,OOO
insurance. The main building was six
stories high, the others being four
stories high.
Firemen Suffer Much.
No lives were lost. The tremen suf
fered greatly from exposure in the biz.
card which was raging, and many had
FACES burned and blistered from the fierce
heat. which cast glare so strong that
new spaper could be read ten blocks
away.
Destroyed in the manufacturing plant
were 10000 piano stools and 5000 auto
mobile tops. The loss of the latter VIII
greatly discommode a number of eastern
and Chicago automobile plants, which
utilize this part of the concerns output
The Sixth street viaduCt was so badly
burned il will be out of commission for
some time, and hundreds of telephones
and electric lights are useless because
Of melted wires. The heavy snowfall
doubtless saved many residences when
blazing emherS were blown upon the
roofs. As it was, families fled in their
nightclothes for fear Of being caught III
the fire.
Strike Was Considered?
Some of the employees say there was
to be a strike AT the factory this morn
ing, they having been refused an ad
vance in wages, but Il grievance commit
tee was to be appointed today to meet
the officers of the company.
The Racine Manufacturing company
has had remarkable growth and it was
organized il 1902 with a capital Of SOS
900 under the name of the Racine Nov
city company. y year ago the company
amended its articles of incorporation in
creased the capital stock to 100000 and
began the erection of four, tive and six
story buildings.
1t soon became the leading factory of
the country in the manufacture of auto
mobile bodies.
All patterns and designs of the com
pany have been destroyed by the fire, as
we'll as books and records, as there was
no opportunity to save any property.
Whether the company will rebuild its
plant is unknown, but it is believed it
Will. The company has spent $4,000
within three months i'll the purchase of
property on which to erect factory build
I